“Did you ever really think of me as your friend?” I asked.
“Of course I did,” she replied, her tone rising in defensiveness.
“Then why would you do that?” I asked. “I’m trying to understand. Because you were jealous?”
“I wasn’t,” she began to say, her voice rising, her brow furrowing.Then she laughed. She shook her head. “Actually, yes. Now you know the ugly part of me, Erina. Iwasjealous. You got whatIwanted. Guess I couldn’t stand it.”
Her tone was mocking, sarcastic. But didn’t she realize that she was telling the truth?
Suddenly I didn’t care. I was done caring. I could simply walk away. It wouldn’t matter at all to Velle.
“Did you know Kaldur and Lydrasa were in his study last night?” I asked. The only thing I wanted confirmed. “Did Lydrasa put you up to it? Or was it your idea?”
When she said nothing, I knew that was answer enough. I wondered what was in it for her…
A sliver of knowing pierced me. I realized she’d told me last night.
“I hope you have a good life with your noble,” I said, inclining my head at her. My tone was cool, almost chilled. “I’m sure Lydrasa picked well for you.”
With that, I turned to leave. I didn’t want to waste another moment more with someone who so clearly wanted to hurt me. She didn’t try to stop me.
I doubted I’d ever see her again.
Good riddance,I thought, determination soaring through me when I looked over a lightening Vyaan. The morning was cold, and I wore my heaviest coat to save room in my bag. I was grateful for it, especially during the long walk into the village.
First I posted the letters. One to Luc, which should reach him tomorrow, telling him of my plans to come to Laras. The other to Syndras with an explanation and with promises to write. She likely wouldn’t see it until the following week, or whenever she returned from her trip. I was only sorry I couldn’t say goodbye to her in person, when she’d helped me so much, but I knew she would understand.
Next I went to the creditory to check my account, stepping upinto a private booth to access my funds. Maudoric had always deposited my pay from the keep, and I’d saved up a healthy amount. I withdrew some coins for food along the journey to Laras.
I paused when I spied the tenvronthat had come in just a couple days ago. My first payment from Kaldur. I debated only for a brief moment…but I knew if I accepted it, it would always be a lingering regret.
I rejected the amount. It would return to House Kaalium’s account, where it’d come from. And while I wondered about the logic of that decision when I was about to upend my life, I didn’t linger on it. What was done was done. I didn’t want anything of his. After everything that had happened, I wanted to beclean. To be free.
But the credits I’d earned as a keeper…those were mine alone. I’d earned every last one.
When I left the creditory, I felt lighter. A weight off my shoulders. He didn’t own me anymore, and I owed him nothing. Our contract was void. He’d taken and I’d given. And I vowed that I’d never let another Kylorr feed off me again.
I stocked up with food for the journey at one of the only vendor stalls open, one meant to feed the builders and merchants this early.
My final stop was the transport station. A bleary-eyed small group had already formed, humans like me or hybrid Kylorr with no wings, and I got in line.
“Do you know when the next caravan to Laras is?” I asked the older female in front of me. She was a full-blooded Kylorr but likely too advanced in her years to make a long trip by flight, especially with luggage.
“Shouldn’t be long now,” she replied, eyeing my bag. “Visiting the capital, are we?”
“Moving there,” I corrected with a small, polite smile I didn’t feel. “And finding an old friend.”
Over my shoulder, I looked over Vyaan. The only home I’d ever known.
A short while later, I heard the rumbling of wheels clattering down the stone road. The caravan. A covered vehicle, larger than I’d anticipated, came into view.
Move forward,I reminded myself, even though I was scared.Start new.
CHAPTER 25
KALDUR
Iwoke with the beast inside me rumbling.
