He shrugged. “Unless you’d like to continue eating alone…”
She paused and considered him a moment. “I could eat.”
“Perhaps later, you can accompany me deeper into the forest. Help me with the creature that tried to kill me yesterday.”
“Shame it missed,” she bantered, to which he smiled. She eyed him again, pondering his being nice to her. “Remind me again why I am helping you?”
His gaze flickered over her, and he shoved his hands in his pockets. “Because we made a deal. And because your little princess rode in here this morning like a bat spat out of Duarb’s roots and I am the only reason she is not dead.”
Her eyes widened. “Nyssa is here?”
Draven’s jaw clenched and he gave an upwards nod towards the stair case.
“—off of me!” she heard her younger sister complaining.
“Shut up, Nyssa, and come here,” Aydra called out.
She heard rushed footsteps up the stairs, and met Draven’s annoyed gaze as Nyssa reached the deck. The young girl didn’t hesitate before bounding into the bedroom.
“Drae!”
Nyssa’s jumped into Aydra’s arms and nearly knocked her off balance. Aydra grasped to the poster of the bed and held tight. “Nyssa, please. You’re—you’re hurting me—”
The strength of the girl’s grasp around her made her wince. Nyssa pulled back and placed her hands on Aydra’s cheeks.
“Are you okay? You—” Nyssa’s face suddenly furled, and she took a quiet step back from Aydra. “Has he not let you bathe?” she whispered.
Aydra’s lips pursed, and she could see Draven smirking at her from the balcony. She pushed it from mind and shook her head. “What are you doing here? I told the Orel to tell you I was fine—”
“Rhaif thought it was a trap devised by the Hunters,” Nyssa whispered, glancing around them as though to make sure Draven was not near. “He thought they’d kidnapped you and forced you to say you were okay. The only reason he is not here with an army is because I convinced him to let me come to you and find out for myself.”
Aydra’s eyes danced over Nyssa’s face. “He thought I was coerced?”
Nyssa leaned forward. “He thinks they are taking turns raping you.”
“Taking turns—WHAT?” Aydra shook at the thought that her brother thought such of her. “None of them have touched me. They have helped me. Draven has been nothing but hospitable, aiding me, helping me heal. Did you tell my brother I could not walk?”
“I did. But he did not believe me.”
“And will he believe you when you go back without me and tell him I am okay?”
Nyssa frowned. “But you’re coming back with me.”
“I am not finished here,” Aydra argued. “I will remain the remainder of the Dead Moons. Draven needs my help with some things.”
The brows on Nyssa’s face furrowed, and her eyes danced around the room in confusion. “But—“
“Nyssa, did you know about the boats?” Aydra demanded.
Color faded from Nyssa’s face. Her weight shifted on her feet as she stepped back from Aydra. “What… what boats?”
The fear in the girl’s eyes made Aydra’s blood boil. She clenched her jaw. “The boats on Lovi’s shore. The boats my brother refused to help the Venari and Honest defeat. The boats of strangers who Draven asked for help defending the realm from. The boats who’s strangers on them killed some of Draven’s and the Honest people. Theboats, Nyssa.”
“What?” Nyssa managed breathlessly. “What—what are you talking about?” Her gaze darted between Aydra and back to Draven’s stiffened facade leaning on the railing. Nyssa took a step back and shook her head voraciously. “I… I… I didn’t—”
Aydra’s nostrils flared. “Nyssa…”
“I didn’t know that would happen,” Nyssa promised. “I swear, I had no inclination that these people were dangerous, that a battle would be fought. I thought… Rhaif… I happened to be in the Chamber when the letter came, and he threw such a fit. He made me promise not to tell—”
