‘I’mtired,’ the prince spat. ‘Tired of people telling mewhat I need. Lie down, Kinlear. Rest, Kinlear.I am the prince of Lordach. And I willnotbe commanded by you.’
‘Brother,’ Arawn started. ‘Don’t speak to her like?—’
His words fell away as Kinlear began to cough again, until he was gasping. Until he bent over, the sound of something wet and terrible in his lungs.
He spat blood on the stones.
And when he came up to standing, his eyes were bloodshot.
‘Calm down,’ Arawn started. He walked towards him, reaching out as if to help.
‘Enough!’ Kinlear yelled. ‘That’senough.’
His teeth were red. He coughed again, and reached for the vial around his neck, but Ezer already knew it was empty. So he cursed, recorking the vial with shaking hands, and let the chain fall against his chest again.
He wasn’t himself.
‘Kinlear,’ Ezer tried, approaching him slowly, like he was a wounded animal. Her heart broke at the sight of him. ‘Please. Sit down … with me.’
‘I will sit when I’m dead,’ he growled. He wobbled and placed a hand against the stones. ‘I’m tired of resting. Tired of withering away in the shadows, while life goes on … and right beside me.’ He glared at Arawn next, and something seemed toshiftin his eyes. He smiled. But it was cold and thankless. ‘But what perfect timing, since I’m awake. Since we’re all three together now! Are you going to tell her the news, Brother …’ Kinlear raised a dark brow. ‘Or should I?’
Ezer glanced back and forth between the two men.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Arawn said slowly.
The two were stuck in a glaring contest, the flames of the fire sending strange shadows across the cave wall behind them. Where Six had now begun to pace, her tail twitching back and forth as if she sensed the tension about to overflow.
‘I only learned about it yesterday,’ Kinlear said, looking back at Ezer. ‘And imagine my surprise when I approached my dear brother to discuss how we should break the news to you … only to discover he’d already known. He knew months ago, before either of us ever met you.’ He looked back at Arawn, the other side to his coin. ‘Since you’ve clearly grown so close, it only seems fitting thatyoushould be the one to tell her.’
‘Tell me … what?’ Ezer asked.
‘The truth,’ Kinlear said.
She looked to Arawn now.
Whose eyes had suddenly fallen, downcast. ‘Kinlear,’ he said. ‘Please.’
‘She deserves to know,’ Kinlear said, and coughed into his sleeve. ‘Or were you going to carry on using her, hiding the secret until someday, she discovers it on her own? And it utterlyshattersher.’ He shook his head. ‘You may be okay to play with her heart. But I will do no such thing.’
Ezer whirled on Arawn. ‘What is he talking about?’ She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly cold. ‘Arawn?’
His face was pained.
He wasn’t looking at her anymore.
Why wasn’t he looking at her?
‘Tell her now,’ Kinlear said. ‘Or I will.’
Arawn glanced up. His eyes were haunted, utterly broken, as he looked at her and said, ‘Your uncle isn’t dead, Ezer. He’s alive.’
A breath left her lips.
‘What?’ she whispered.
She could hear nothing but the roaring of her blood in her ears.
Could feel nothing, beyond Six, who suddenly paced to her side and pressed her warm body against Ezer’s, like she knew she needed her strength.
