Otho shook his head.
“What?” I asked, distracted from my story, even though I was about to bring it to an end anyway.
“It just sounds like a lot of work. They could have just liedabout your brother’s birthday or parents and brought you to Adis.”
“I think you are missing the part where they didn’t want to part with either of us,” I corrected him. “While your parents might have been okay sending their children to Adis, I don’t think my parents could handle it.”
He shook his head a second time a hiss coming from between his lips. “You know Adis doesn’t collect the children until they are around ten years old, right?”
The color drained from my face. “Huh?”
His lips twisted. “You were in Adis’s house. Did you see any children running around? Nursemaids teaching them basic manners?”
I thought for a moment, already knowing he was right. “No.”
“Exactly. Your parents would have gotten to keep you until you were about ten or maybe twelve. Then, at that moment, they could lie and say either you or Milo was older.”
My mind was spiraling, wondering why my parents hadn’t just followed the rules . . . “So they were more scared of the coven than Adis.”
“That’s what I think.” Otho moved from the bed, reaching to pull his shirt over his head. I couldn’t resist getting one last look at his muscular back, though I knew I would need to chastise myself for it later. He was taken. “I think your parents were deeper in the coven than they let on.”
“Leif says in the Eastwoods coven, the Seid don’t have any concerns about twins. Not like they do in the Westwoods coven.”
All the good nature that had previously occupied his features evaporated instantly, and he was once again the gruff army general I had been introduced to that first day I had been taken by Adis. “I don’t think you should trust Leif.”
I bit my lip, not sure what to say. I didn’t trust Leif, not really. But he was also the only human whom I felt I couldconnect with since my cousin had turned out to be someone I didn’t recognize. “Why not?”
He stalked toward the door, not even glancing over his shoulder as he said, “I just have a bad feeling about him.”
And just like that, he ducked out of the room, closing the door behind him, leaving me sitting on the bed, staring at my hands, and wondering how I had messed up the conversation so badly.
CHAPTER 22
Cal and his wife, Alaine, were some of the nicest people I had ever met. Then again, I hadn’t gotten to enjoy my adult life much anyway—always afraid to grow too close to people out of fear that they would discover Milo and I’s secret.
Life in Salheim appeared to be much more at ease than life in Ralheim. Though the town was aware of the war, the fact that they weren’t featured on any maps kept them out of the worst of it. Namely because Cal was almost certain Adis was unaware of their true size since his father had changed the maps before his birth. Of course, he knew there was a group of people living in the woods, and many inhabitants followed the law and submitted their second and third children to Adis, but I got the distinct impression that only some families reported. How they selected who would give their children to the viscount was unclear, but the glance that passed between the brothers during the conversation had told me I wasn’t ready to know. At least, not yet.
Now, as we sat around the table eating a hearty and delicious stew which practically melted on my tongue, Cal’s attention turned to me. “So, Runa, tell me about yourself. Otho here was very tight-lipped this afternoon.”
My gaze found Otho’s dark one, wondering how much I should share with Cal.
“Runa is a private person,” Otho answered for me.
At least now I knew that whatever side Otho was on, it didn’t include Cal.
“I must know, Runa,” Alaine interrupted, likely trying to change the subject, “where you got your eyes from. They are just so unique! I’ve never seen anything like them.”
It had been days since I had been able to look into a mirror, but I didn’t need one to know that she was asking about the gold rim around my brown irises. A subject I definitely wasn’t going to speak about.
“I was born in Ralheim,” I stated, reverting back to the previous topic of conversation as a lesser evil to the eye question. “Unfortunately, my parents passed when I was fifteen, so I don’t know a whole lot about my family history, other than the few things I was told as a child.” It wasn’t a lie, and I hoped it would be enough to stop their prying. I had a feeling that the Purge, which had taken my parents from me, was not a thing here, so I left that part out.
“Runa and I will head back to the front lines tomorrow.”
I dropped my fork at Otho’s words. Just thinking about crossing through the town that had tied me to a pole, was enough to cause me to nearly choke. I had thought we would stay here longer based on what he had said when we had walked into town earlier that day.
“So soon?” Cal asked. “You just arrived today.”
Otho nodded. “I’m not on official leave this time. I had to pick up Runa in the plains.”
