“No.” I shook my head. “Please don’t.” My voice cracked with the pressure of secrets. “I can’t say why, but there’s a reason I’m not telling anyone, and I need you to keep it a secret, too.”
His eyes—Malakai’s eyes—swept over my face, and I felt like they almost saw me as deeply as his brother’s used to. “Okay. For now.”
I took it.
“I actually wanted to apologize, though.” Barrett leaned back in his chair, crossing one ankle over his knee.
“For what?”
“If my arrival caused any…tension between you and Malakai. I can stay away if it’s driving you apart.”
“Thank you, Barrett, but it’s not necessary.” I fought the current of pain threatening to swarm me, swam against it until I surfaced. My spirit gasped for breath as I voiced the truth to this man who was so recently an enemy but had become a kindred spirit. “We were already on this path; we just needed to admit it. Besides, you leaving would be hiding from the problem, which is what we’d done for far too long before you arrived.”
“He sees it as me or him, doesn’t he?”
I gnawed my lip as the question did my heart. “I think part of him feels that I betrayed him by allowing you into our lives, but that’s nothing to do with either of us. That’s a scar from his father.”
“And you won’t coddle him.”
“I can’t make choices based on his pain when the entire continent could be at stake.”
Barrett nodded. “Well, I’m glad to hear it’s not my fault. I’d hate for my brother to blame me for him losing the woman he loved.” He laughed, lips twitching in a pensive smile.
“Give him time.” I hesitated, but stretched a hand across the table and held his. Part of me had expected him to recoil, but he didn’t. “He’ll come around to welcoming you into his life.”
He’ll heal, I didn’t add, but I hoped it was true.
Whatever Meridat sawin the Apex Moon was in my favor. She sent word confirming her earlier sentiment during the Rapture: The Soulguiders would ally with us officially against Kakias in whatever war may come.
After reports of the raid and the clear threat the Engrossians posed, Titus’s agreement came a few days later from a tight-lipped Vale, though he made it clear this was an alliance withthe Mystiques. His approval of my position still hung in the air, and Vale gave no indication as to why.
The Seawatchers gave their allegiance, too, but they couldn’t offer much in way of physical troops. Their warriors in the Western Outposts would stay there to fortify the border against the Faelish Waters, and those in the east would be split. Half would defend the coast; half would come to our aid. It was a small help, but it was something. Danya and I spent long afternoons planning where each clan’s troops would be stationed, defending the circumference of the mountains.
Esmond’s response was not quite as encouraging. Brigiet had passed on the alliance, claiming their territory’s location made it too tumultuous of a deal. But she did agree to offer the help of their healers—to both sides of the war, if Kakias requested it. I couldn’t fault her reluctance, but I did take out my frustration in the training arena.
“Easy, Alabath,” Tol hissed as I came within a hair of slicing his rib cage.
“Watch your left,” I clipped.
He tensed for another attack. “Noted.”
We danced across the dirt, and I stewed over the one outstanding response: Aird. The Mindshaper chancellor had yet to write back. After his initial refusal to support my appointment and our altercation on palace grounds, I had little hope that he’d come to our aid. Still, I’d included an additional plea in his letter that I hadn’t shared with the others. A reminder that while his territory framed the southern tip of the mountains, the range was undermyjurisdiction as Mystique leader. Should we choose to cut him off from resources, his people would suffer. But should he choose us, we’d offer access to the precious streams of magic within the rock.
The threat was ash on my tongue as I swung at Tol, but Aird had forced me into it. The truth was, the Mindshapers had the largest army of any minor clan, followed by the Bodymelders. If he allied with Kakias, we’d be in trouble.
Tol’s sword grazed my thigh, pushing Aird from my mind. Dammit if Vincienzo hadn’t actually been working hard these past months. He’d always been skilled—he was infuriatingly good at everything—but he’d gotten better.
“Cypherion’s lessons seem to be paying off,” I teased.
Tolek raised his brows, dodging my sword. “Surprised?”
“Only because normally,” I huffed over the clashing of weapons, “I would have taken you out by now.” Around us, the arena was a masquerade of sparring partners. We’d expanded into the garden, taking over part of the lawn for workouts. Younger trainees practiced in arenas in the city rather than the palace grounds.
“What if I was going easy on you?” Tol taunted.
“Were you?”
He laughed at my skepticism. “No. You’ve always been too good for me.” But as he said it, he got his blade under my sword arm and held it against my throat. I’d been wrong to think he wasn’t a challenge. Tolek Vincienzo was anything but easy.
