Evander’s warnings are loud in my mind. The sense of betrayal toward Aurora is sharp. But is it truly betraying her if the end result is the same? I am not going against what she would want…merely exploring another way.
CHAPTER 21
That night,I’m able to cook for Aurora on a small fire, off to the side. I take the scraps of meat given to us by Conri and roast them until the juices run clear. Evander has found me two bowls—better suited for mixing than for eating from, so the leafy greens I foraged earlier look like a comically small amount. At the fire’s edge are two root vegetables. Some kind of potato, so far as I can tell, that I rotate on occasion while preparing everything else.
“What did you two talk about?” Evander blurts after Conri leaves.
“Ah, thank you for finally asking,” I say without looking up from tearing leaves.
“Pardon?”
“I could feel you had something you wanted to say ever since I returned to camp.”
“I wasn’t about to ask with him here,” Evander mutters.
“Why do you want to know what we talked about?” I poke at the potatoes.
“I’m afraid he’s trying to win you over, and that he might be succeeding.” Severity and fear line Evander’s words, accompanied by an undercurrent of disgust.
I sigh.Is that what’s happening?In my effort to use Conri, is he using me?
“This is how it always goes…” Evander crouches next to me. “His charm wears everyone down in the end.”
“Evander, my goal is to free Aurora.” I drop my voice to barely a whisper, eyes flicking toward him. “Myonlygoal is to free her. I will do whatever it takes to accomplish that. I will explore every option and opportunity. And if you resent me for that, I’ll have to ask if you were ever really on my side to begin with.”
Evander leans forward, putting his face in mine. I don’t move. I don’t back away. If there’s one thing I’m starting to learn about the lykin, it’s that they’re constantly struggling for power—constantly looking for who has the upper hand and control in a situation. I can’t show any trace of weakness or doubt.
“Other than Aurora herself, I am the only one here on your side. And I think my actions have proved that.”
He makes it sound like I should be able to trust him without a moment’s hesitation. I purse my lips, willfully ignoring the fact that I have, up to this point, found it dangerously easy to give him the benefit of the doubt. “If you’re on my side, then why wouldn’t you?—”
“Be willing to work with Conri?” Evander raises his brows. The firelight glows on half of his face, casting the other half in a deep shadow. “Because that is one of the few things that would be worse than death. Don’t give in to him, Faelyn. His words are lies. His actions are a smokescreen for his intent. He can’t be trusted.”
“Yet, he continues to give me space. He listens to me when I speak. He even knows that I am working to resist his charm,” I speak hastily, getting the words out before Evander can launch another objection.
“He what?” Evander hisses.
“He knows I am resisting him and he is not forcing the matter,” I say. “That is why he gave me another cot. Why he is allowing me space and time as I need and please.”
Evander purses his lips, brow furrowing into a severe expression. He murmurs, “That is not good.”
“So far my life has been much improved here since my hesitation toward him came out.”
“Faelyn, he is not a man who does well not getting what he wants.”
“He said he likes the hunt.” I pull the meat from the flame and turn the potatoes again.
Evander grabs my wrist, bringing my attention back to him. “Yes, he loves the hunt. But what do you think will happen if he doesn’t get his prey at the end of it?” Evander continues to pin me with his stare. His expression is more demanding than his question. “Don’t know? That’s because, one way or another, Conri always gets his prey. He might be playing nicely with you now, but the moment he grows bored of this game, his tactics will shift, and the facade of a nice man you know will be gone.”
As someone walks between two nearby tents, Evander immediately releases me, head jerking in that direction. But the person doesn’t even so much as spare a glance our way. I use the moment to stab the potatoes, throwing them into the wooden bowls.
“You’ve been heard, Evander. Now I need to take this to Aurora.”
He escorts me to her tent without further word on the matter. Though I can feel his frustration steaming as hot as the potatoes. Aurora is expectedly pleased to see us both and the warm welcome she gives Evander makes me feel a touch guilty over doubting him. She truly does trust him.
Her excitement doubles the moment she lays eyes on what’s in the bowl. Evander leaves us to it, taking his position just outside the tent.
“Greens, vegetables, properly cooked meats?” Aurora sits cross-legged on the ground, situating the bowl in her lap. “How did you manage this miracle?”
