Owen halted, sharply turning. His jaw flexed as he considered Cirrus’ words, then he shook his head. “And be out in the open? Where Enyo’s men can track us without having to try?” His dark eyes pointedly flicked to the thin, bleeding cut on Cirrus’ throat. “You’re full of bad ideas today, Theodosia.”
Cirrus squared his shoulders. “And you’re ignoring the obvious. Look around, Thorne. This rainforest is strangling us, and if we’re ambushed here, we won’t be able to run. We’ll be dead before we can draw a weapon. At least by the river, we’d see them coming.”
The tension between them thickened. Vivienne didn’t need this debate turning into yet another clash of egos punctuated by a blade. Swiping sweat from her forehead, she turned to the river glimmering through the trees. Cirrus wasn’t wrong. The riverbank offered speed, but Owen’s concerns weren’t unfounded either.If we have to force our way through another mile of this entanglement, we’ll be lucky to reach the waterfalls by next year’s Harvest Moon Festival.
“The riverisa clearer path,” Lewis added. “We'd make better time.”
Vivienne met Owen’s gaze. "We aren’t making progress like this. The deeper we go, the denser it gets. If something or someone does attack, we’ll be sitting ducks. Imagine trying to escape Apocritas in this mess.”
Owen’s teeth ground. His eyes scanned the twisted trees, the knotted vines, and the razor-leafed ferns clinging to their boots.
She lowered her voice. “The riverbank isn’t perfect, but at least we’ll make progress.”
Cirrus shot her a grateful look, adjusting the straps of his pack. “She’s right. The river leads straight to the falls. If we’re careful, we can stay low and avoid unwanted attention.”
Owen remained silent, his fists clenching at his sides. Vivienne sensed he wasn’t happy about being outvoted, but he was pragmatic enough to listen to reason.
“Fine.” He released a tense breath. “We take the river path.”
The final stretch of foliage yielded to an open bank where the river snaked through towering canyon walls, worn smooth by centuries of rushing water. The sound of the distant waterfalls murmured ahead, a rhythmic pulse guiding them forward. Despite Owen’s apprehension, the path was clear, the terrain even. The strangling grasp of the rainforest loosened. For the first time in hours, Vivienne felt she had the space to take a deep breath.
“Not bad,” Lewis muttered, as they strode along the water’s edge. “Much better than being a needle in a rainforest haystack.”
Vivienne walked beside Owen in contemplative silence, her thoughts tripping over themselves. She hadn’t responded to Cirrus’ confession. She wasn’t sure what to say. Nothing about their circumstances had changed. He was still heir to Claringbold and expected to return to Roathe. Her path led elsewhere, to the Library of Metis, a kingdom away. She didn’t want Owen to kill him, but she wasn’t ready to pick up where she and Cirrus left off either.
A dozen feet behind her, hushed voices carried through the air, too quiet for Vivienne to make out.What are they talking about?
* * *
"What happened, Cici?"Lewis asked, nodding at the cut on Cirrus’ neck, fighting to keep his expression neutral.
Cirrus touched the wound absentmindedly. "A prick in the rainforest."
Lewis raised a skeptical brow. "Strange. I’ve never seen a thorn cut like a blade." He relished the frustration rolling off Cirrus in waves.
“This particular prick happens to be a ship commander,” Cirrus muttered, his tone darkening.
"Ah,Thorne, not thorn, got it.” Lewis smoothed down his hair, a smirk growing on his face. “And I know." He shot Cirrus a pointed look. "Who do you think told him where you and Viv had run off to?"
I did. I gave you just enough time to get yourself into a compromising position and then set the commander loose. How predictable, Cici, that the minute you two were alone, you couldn’t keep your hands to yourself.Lewis’ blood curdled at the thought of Cirrus’ hands, mouth, or any part of him being anywhere near Vivienne. Cirrus never deserved her and there was nothing that could ever convince Lewis otherwise.
Cirrus’ jaw clenched. His fingers curled into fists at his sides. "I should have guessed. What’s your problem, Blume?"
My problem? The arrogance of this asshole truly has no limit.Lewis shook his head. There were far more issues than a singular problem. There was not one thing, action, or betrayal fueling his hatred. It was death by a thousand cuts. It was every instance Cirrus dangled Vivienne over him, baiting him. Every tear he wiped from Vivienne’s cheeks after she and Cirrus argued and waded through her unlimited spring of grief when she’d ended the engagement. It was the injustice of having loved her for years, only for a stranger from another kingdom to swoop in and steal her heart. And now Cirrus was trying to do it again.
"Myproblem?” Lewis let out a humorless laugh. “My problem is you waltzing back into Viv’s life after years of silence, acting like you’re back in a relationship. Which, if memory serves, was still never going to work,LordTheodosia." He mocked a shallow bow.
Cirrus released a dry chuckle, devoid of warmth. “Oh, I see what this isreallyabout.” His voice lowered, sharpening into a weapon. “You’re still waiting for her to wake up and see what’s obvious to everyone else. What, Blume? Is her choosingmepainful for you?”
Lewis’ eyes darkened.Oh, fuck off."She already chose not to be with you when she called off your engagement."
"And she's had twenty-five years to choose you, and she hasn't. Wake up, Blume!" Cirrus’ tone turned acidic. "I'd prefer if only two people had a say in my relationship this time around."
A scoff escaped Lewis’ throat. There were never only two people in that relationship. He and Vivienne were a package deal, two halves of a whole. Even if Vivienne never came around, if their relationship never changed from their deep friendship—he’d rather die alone than standby while Cirrus caused her further harm and heartbreak.
"I'd prefer if you jumped off a cliff into shark-infested waters, but we don't always get what we want, do we?" Lewis scowled at him, his temper flaring.
Cirrus angled his head, his expression unreadable. "Are youlookingfor a fight, Blume?"
