It hadn’t. Five days out from receiving my injuries, I definitely wasn’t ready to be moving like that. If I tore a stitch, Felda would skewer me.
“Anyway, Harthon will be pleased you know where to go. You’ll probably be leaving by the end of the week, assuming you’re healed.”
It felt a little too soon to be thrown into another life-threatening situation, and based on the dark aura surrounding the Horrads, this would be an undeniably dangerous excursion. But I couldn’t deny the anticipation welling inside of me.
To enter the Domus—to see the city that’d been isolated from our world for twenty-five years, the resources and greenery that thrived there—was something I’d never let myself imagine for most of my life.
“He said we were going after the Conquering Day celebration. How soon is it?”
“Three days from now,” Callen answered. He frowned. “I’m surprised Ana didn’t give you the details yet.”
I bit my lip, guilt creeping in. “I don’t think she’s particularly fond of me at the moment.”
I really should have kept my mouth shut back in the bedroom. Sure, I’d been on the verge of an emotional breakdown, but it’d been a blatantly irresponsible thing to say.
Callen’s brows slanted in. “I doubt that. You should hear the things she says to North when he tries to insult you.”
The guilt just thickened. “It was something I said.”
When Callen didn’t respond, I turned to see him waiting with an expectant expression. “Are you going to tell me?”
“No.” Because I was ashamed of it, and because I didn’t need Callen to know I even cared about Harthon’s past relationships.
“I know her better than you. If you tell me, I can help you fix it.”
“And what if I don’t want to fix it?”
“Then you’re a liar, because your eyes are all sad.”
I sighed and stared out at the garden, wishing I was better at hiding my emotions.
“There’s probably a simple solution, but I can only give it to you if you tell me,” he said matter-of-factly. “I’m a vault. Whatever you say stays with me.”
“You arenota vault.”
His head drew back, face twisting. “When have I ever ratted you out?”
“You told everyone about our training bet,” I pointed out.
He lifted a dignified finger. “Thatwasn’t a secret. If you wanted it to stay a secret, all you had to do was say so. I was simply forewarning everyone that they should prepare to call youFish Eyeswhen you inevitably lost.”
I shook my head, searching the sky for patience. “If I tell you this, you cannot breathe a word to anyone. It’s bad enough I said it once.”
I couldn’t believe I was actually considering this. But what I’d said to Ana had been hurtful, and I needed to make things right.
“A word of what?” he asked innocently. “I know not what you speak of.”
Well, okay then.
Twisting my fingers, I quietly said, “I pointed out how Harthon refused to commit to her, and that she, more than anyone, should know he can’t feel anything close to love.”
Callen released a low whistle. “Any context?”
“Is context necessary?”
“Very.”
I’d already committed too far to back out now. “We were talking about Harthon.” Skies,this was embarrassing. “She was implying things, and Koerlyn had told me about their past relationship, and I was just overwhelmed and talked out of my ass.”
