I realized what she was saying. “I wouldneverhurt you,” I growled.
“I know,” she said, her expression softening, which only added to my confusion. “But just like inDothik, what happens if there comes a time when we want different things? What happens if there comes a time when I will need to make decisions for myself? I have my family to think of. I cannot be controlled. Especially by you.”
“So you will just control others?” I snapped. My heart was racing and I felt her press her palm harder against the angry thrumming, as if she was trying to soothe it.
“I’m trying to be realistic, Davik,” she whispered. “We—we both know that this is temporary. A small piece of time before everything else comes rushing back in.”
I cursed low under my breath.
“I can protect you,” I rasped, the words sounding stilted even tome.
She smiled but it was sad and that expression tore at me. Because I realized that she believed Icouldn’t.
“Can’t…can’t we just enjoy this?” she asked softly. “Can’t we just enjoy this while it lasts?”
In her eyes, there wasn’t an alternative. And I realized that I couldn’t give her one without revealing our plans to her, without revealing that we never intended to give in to the Ghertun’s demands, which she believed. Without revealing that I’d been deceiving her, that I knew where the heartstone lay, that Lokkaru had told me its location long ago.
Give it time, came the voice. It didn’t sound like my own. It was much too calm, much too rational.Give it time and maybe soon, she will trust you. Maybe soon, she will realize that youcanprotect her, that she has nothing to fear…
“Please,” she whispered, leaning forward to brush her lips against mine. And I felt myself give in to her. Releasing a breath, I returned her kiss, cupping the back of her neck, pressing her into me.
“On one condition,” I rasped.
She pulled back, wariness in her gaze. “What is it?”
“Tell me what memory you dreamed.”
Her parted lips closed.
“On one condition,” she said back.
My brows rose.
She swallowed, her eyes flickering back and forth between mine.
“You tell me about your sister.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
It was a gamble.
A large part of me thought he would shut me down, that he would grow angry since I knew it must be a painful subject.
But the expression that stole over his face was knowing. As if he’d been expecting it. His eyes flickered over my shoulder, looking towards the shadows. As if he thought talking about Devina would summon her. As if hewantedit to.
“I cannot promise—but I will try,” he finally said.
I blew out a small breath. I hadn’t realized how much I’d wanted him to confide in me about her until I felt my heart beating with anticipation. I wanted to hear about his sister from his own lips, not from his stolen memories.
“Last night,” I started, knowing that I would’ve told him regardless of whether he’d agreed or not, “I dreamed of when you and your sister—and your horde—were somewhere with these beautiful waterfalls deep in a valley.”
His chin dropped again. “TheTrikki. The southlands.”
“You were older. You both were compared to the first memory I had of theungira. You were leaving the…theTrikkisoon, I think. You said you had to help your mother pack up chests. That’s what you and your sister spoke of. She said that she was tired of travelling all the time, that she wanted to get married and settle in an outpost, or maybe inDothik. She said she thought a male named Jarun was handsome and thought maybe she would marry him.”
Davik stiffened underneath me, tension coiling tight in his body. He’d been protective of his sister, hadn’t he? Was that the reason for his sudden unease?
“She said she hoped he wouldn’t want to be adarukkarbecause she didn’t want to live among the hordes any longer,” I said quietly, looking at him, leaning forward to touch his scarred cheek in an effort to comfort him. He was still sitting rigid underneath me. “Though you did. You never wanted to leave the wild lands. Even still, you said you’d follow her wherever she wanted to go but begged her to settle in an outpost, not inDothik.”
