Samian snorted and shook his head, the first movement he had made since Sybil confessed to what she was hiding. “That sounds like her. Being a seer, she must be careful with whatinformation she can divulge. She’s allowed to give someone just enough to consider their future and act. Go back to the part about the darkness. Did she say there’s a darknessinyou, orinterestedin you?”
Sybil’s eyebrows furrowed. “She said there’s a darkness growing in me and that it was curious about me, I think. But she didn’t say more than that. Just that it was interesting.”
Samian crossed his arms, bringing a hand to his chin, and frowned. I glanced between them, my blood boiling. How were they acting so calm? It was as if Sybil had just told us she was reading a new book, as if this conversation were mundane and normal. I couldn’t stop my hands from curling into tight fists, from my heart pounding in my chest. “Samian?—”
“Kieran,” Samian interrupted. “Wake up Daelan and Ivara. I believe they should be part of this conversation.”
“Do you really fucking believe that they should be a part of this?” I snapped. “We just learned thatourmate is going to die, and you want me to go retrieve them like some dog?”
“Kieran…” Sybil whispered, her eyes wide. There was a sadness in her expression that I chose to ignore. I would not sit there and pretend that this was all okay. Irefusedto let her act as if this were going to happen.
“No, I don’t want you to retrieve them like some dog,” Samian snarled. “I heard her, and I am just as upset as you are, but losing control of your emotions will not help anyone. Ivara and Daelan may have some information we don’t, so go. Get. Them.”
Growling, I sprang off the bed and threw on my shirt. Sybil followed me, reaching out her hand. Her soft fingers wrapped around my arm, burning my skin with her touch. I jerked my arm away and immediately regretted it. Sybil’s face fell, her eyes lining with silver. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Princess,” I murmured, bringing my hands to her face. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her to my chest. “It’s not you,” I said softly. “I just—I will not lose you. I will kill every motherfucker here before I allow that to happen.” Sybil began to speak, but I put a finger to her lips, stopping her. “We can talk more when Daelan and Ivara are here.” I pressed a soft kiss on her forehead before walking around her, leaving her bedroom.
Entering the dark passage, my anger finally exploded from me, and my fist met the cold, hard stoned wall. Cracks splintered from the force, and pain ruptured up my arm. Hissing, I pulled the stale air into my lungs, letting it calm my mind. I rolled my shoulders, giving myself a moment to settle down. Finally, I moved down the hall to Samian’s room, pushing open the door that led to the living area of his room. Grimacing, I inhaled the sharp scent of alcohol from the empty wine bottles scattered across the table.
Daelan lay sprawled out on Samian’s chaise, his head uncomfortably hanging over the edge. He would feel that once he was awake.
“Kieran?”
My head snapped to Samian’s bedroom, my eyes landing on Ivara standing in the doorway. Ivara studied me carefully, her lips thinning as she marked the tension gathered along my body.
“She told you, I see.”
My lips dipped, my back straightening. “Told me what?” My voice dropped dangerously low, daring her to speak.
Ivara sighed, her head tilting as she raised an eyebrow, though she remained silent.
“Youknew,” I seethed, baring my teeth at her. “You fucking knew?” I marched up to her, only to bump against a wall of air. Twisting, my snarl ripped through the room toward Daelan, who now sat up, blinking the sleep away from his eyes.
“Now, now, Kieran,” he yawned, moving to the middle of the room. “It’s too early for all this commotion. Let’s take a deep breath before we do something we’ll regret.”
I quickly closed the distance, grabbing Daelan by his shirt and slamming him into the wall. I pressed my forearm against his throat, cutting off his air. “Did you know, too?” I roared.
“Let him go, Kieran,” Ivara said calmly. “He doesn’t know anything.”
I pressed Daelan further against the wall, snarling, before pulling my arm back, letting him drop to the floor. He coughed, rubbing a hand along his throat, murmuring furiously that it was too early.
“How long have you known?” My voice shook from my spiraling fury, and I closed my eyes, trying to rein it in.
“She told me in Thanlyl.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me? To tell Samian? You were our friend,” I growled.
“And I still am. However, Sybil is my friend as well. I promised to keep her secret, as long asshepromised to tell you.”
“Does anyone want to fill me in here?” Daelan sighed, picking himself off the floor.
“Samian has requested the presence of you both,” I scowled. “You can find out then, unless Ivara wants to tell you before we leave.”
Ivara strode toward me, her hips swaying. Stepping in close, Ivara put a sharpened nail under my chin, letting the point dig into my skin. “I’ll allow you your anger this time, Kieran. She’s your mate, and you are upset; however, youwillbe careful of how you speak to me once we leave this room. I will not tolerate your sarcasm and rudeness for long. Is that understood?”
My eyes narrowed, a growl rumbling deep within my chest. The air around us became heavy and charged. Electricity snapped around us, my hold on my magic slipping while the airheated from Ivara’s flame surrounding us. Our magic clashed, sparks of fire igniting as Ivara pressed her nail deeper into my skin.
Daelan cursed, pushing Ivara and me apart. “How about we not catch Samian’s room and the palace on fire?” he grunted. “Ivara, you obviously did something upsetting to Kieran—apologize. You too, Kieran. Ivara kept the promise of a friend. She did not set out to betray you.”
