It took a moment for the words to register. By the time they had, Will had already turned back toward the fire and started on cleaning the blood from his hands with a scrap of clothing they’d stolen from one of the camps.
“A coward,” Aidon repeated. The word slipped down his spine, cold as ice. And yet it was heat that climbed up his cheeks and raced through his veins, a frown marring his brow as he said, “A coward like me, you mean.”
Will glanced over his shoulder, a single brow raising as he appraised him. “I didn’t realize we were talking about you, Your Majesty.”
“But that’s what you meant, wasn’t it? She’s not a coward, because acowardruns. Acowardflees. Just like I did.”
He wasn’t sure why he was surprised. It wasn’t out ofcharacter of Will to hit low and hard. For all they’d been through over the last six months—for all they’d learned to tolerate each other—they still were who they were. And Will was an expert at exploiting a weakness.
Will’s sigh was heavy as he turned to face Aidon fully. “That’s not at all what I meant, but it seems I’ve hit a nerve anyway.” The corner of his mouth twitched in the ghost of the telltale smirk that had Aidon knowing whatever the next words out of Will’s mouth were, they were going to make Aidon want to hit him.
“If you’re intent on discussing your cowardice, then I’d argue it’s not in fleeing; it’s in your recent refusal to touch your power.”
Aidon’s hand clenched at his side. “I told you in Milsaio. Using my power will kill me.”
“Ignoring it doesn’t seem to be doing you any favors,” Will retorted. He stared at Aidon for a long moment, his head cocked in careful consideration. “How long did you expect me to ignore the blood?”
The fucking bastard. Of course he knew.
Aidon’s jaw ached in a desperate attempt to contain his mounting anger. “Unless you have vials of tonic stored somewhere, I don’t know what you expected me to say.”
“I expected you not to be so damn prideful. You know how affinities work, Aidon. You know it will feed on you if it doesn’t have a release.”
“And releasing it only makes it feed faster,” Aidon spat. “Natali said there was no guarantee that using my power would ensure my survival.”
“And you’re, what, content to prove them right? What is this, some sort of self-flagellation for being born Visya? For something you can’t control?”
“It’s me trying to extend my fucking life!” Aidon shouted. “This power has taken everything from me. My crown. My country. Myfamily. Forgive me if I’m desperate to cling tothe last thing I have for as long as I can!”
Will stared at him in the wake of his outburst, his face unreadable. When he spoke next, his voice was calm. Measured. “You’re ensuring your own certain death by ignoring this. And I don’t have time for you to die.”
“You’re a selfish bastard, you know that?”
“I am,” Will replied evenly. “But you’re not. You’ve seen exactly what we’re facing. We need your affinity.”
What Aidon wouldn’t give to land just one blow. Perhaps hewouldsummon his Incend fire and use it to burn the pompous prick.
“So what do you suggest?” He’d meant there to be some bite in his words, but that exhaustion was pressing down on him, bleeding the anger from his voice as weariness settled in.
Will turned away from him, a soft groan escaping from him as he lowered himself to the cave floor. He leaned against the wall, his boots crossed at the ankle, head resting back against the rock. “You need to learn how to manage your power. There’s a balance to it.” His eyes fluttered shut. “Luckily for you, I’ve trained my fair share of Visya. Some even more hopeless than you.”
There was no heat to the comment, only jest. And yet Aidon couldn’t bring himself to match Will’s levity.
“We’ll start tomorrow,” Will concluded.
Aidon remained silent, his own muscles aching as he settled on a stolen mat. He forced his eyes shut, but his mind refused to quiet as he lay there and listened to the fire crackle.
“And if it doesn’t work?” His question was soft. Raw. And yet the fear behind it was enough to send his heart racing.
Will was quiet for long enough that Aidon wondered if perhaps he’d fallen asleep. But when he opened his eyes, he found the Enforcer studying him, his face grave.
“On my oath, I will put a sword in you myself before I let your affinity kill you.” There was a weight to his words, a sincerity that Aidon was unused to hearing in Will’svoice.
Aidon dipped his chin in acceptance.
In thanks.
“Tomorrow, then,” he murmured. He hesitated only a moment before he extended a peace offering of his own. “And then we head east. To the Druswood.”
