“I appreciate the meal.”
“Why are young men always so stubborn?” Prisca said. “Listen, boy. Anyone can look at you, at thetwoof you, and see you’ve gone through hell. There’s nothing you have to do tonight that can’t wait until morning. And from the sound of things, you don’t have anywhere to rush offto. It won’t kill you to stay one night somewhere safe and warm.”
“It might,” Rylan muttered.
“If you’re as against charity as Cassia, then consider it our thank you to her, for all the good work she’s been doing.”
Cassia bit the inside of her cheek and mouthed a thank you to Gramma Prisca, hoping Rylan would listen. He gripped the back of the chair with a frown.
“You’re good people. Thank you for the meal. I’ll be getting on now.”
“You oughta listen to ma,” Sath said gravely. “She’s got more sense than half the world combined.”
“Rylan.” Cassia stood from her chair and grabbed his arm. “Please, think about this. Just stay here a beat.”
“No.” Sadness creased his face. He lowered his voice. “Enough. Unless you’re coming with me—”
“Just wait until tomorrow,” she begged.
“Cassia,” she heard Aevrin say, the first word since they’d sat down. He sounded alarmed, maybe at the mention of her leaving. She heard his own chair scraping back as he stood.
“One night, Rylan,” she hissed, terrifyingly conscious that all the Rivekers were watching them.
“No doubt he’s got people looking for me, Cassia,” Rylan whispered. “Can’t hide forever.”
“You’re sure about this?” Gramma Prisca asked him.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Please, he has to stay,” Cassia told her. Gramma Prisca shook her head. Cassia could feel tears forming in her eyes again. She hadn’t expected Gramma to invite Rylan in at all, or offer him a place. But how could Rylan turn it down? And why wasn’t Gramma Prisca insisting?
“Grown people get to choose their own lives, Cassia. Alright, boy. Sit down and finish your dinner, and Sath will drive you to Lareo.”
“We should wait until morning,” Cassia begged.
“Cassia, you go pack up some food for him to take. Boys, why don’t you put together some clothes and travel gear and such. Sit, Rylan. Did you not hear me? Polish that plate off.”
She made it to the kitchen before the tears started falling, and before a pair of strong arms closed tight around her from behind. Cassia turned into Aevrin’s embrace, tucked deep enough in the dark kitchen that nobody in the dining room could see them.
“Don’t go with him. Please, don’t go anywhere,” he whispered, and tightened his hold around her until she relaxed into the safety of his arms.
She shook her head and buried her head tighter against him, drawing in a warbling breath. He was so steady. But then, Aevrin probably didn’t know the first thing about fucked up families and desperate times.
“Ishouldgo, you know. I’m putting you in danger if I…”
“Don’t you dare,” Aevrin whispered harshly. “We can take care of any trouble, Cassia. Don’t you dare leave because ofthat.”
“If any of you got hurt…”
“We won’t be.”
“I should have taken better care of him,” Cassia whispered. “I should…”
“No,” Aevrin said, and rested his lips on the top of her head. His voice trembled. “Don’t you start blaming yourself for all the ills of the world, Cassia Clarek. I have no doubt in me that you did everything you could, to the best of your ability.”
“Then I just wasn’t good enough.”
“Or maybe it wasn’t your job in the first place to protect a child who was just four years younger than you.” His whisper was harsh, begging her to agree.
