“I could ask you the same thing. I didn’t know you still come here,” Rhay replied, standing up unsteadily. Was there a part of Karwyn still clinging to the past? Had Rhay been wrong to assume the worst? But when he looked into Karwyn’s eyes now, all he saw was the late king.
“I have not been here in a long time,” Karwyn replied, staring at his nails—a dead giveaway that he was lying.
“Do you remember the first time we stayed hidden here all night?”
Karwyn snickered darkly, dropping his gaze. “Of course I remember.”
Harten Adelway had asked his son to show his powers during the celebration for his eighteenth birthday. Under too much pressure, Karwyn had been unable to produce the tiniest gust of wind. The subsequent beating that had followed once the dinner was over had been more gruesome than usual. Karwyn’s nose had been broken, his lip split open, his eyes sporting a bloodish black eye.
Inching closer, Rhay lightly tapped Karwyn’s nose. “I fixed you up good back then, but I should never have had to.”He should’ve never hit you.Karwyn’s eyes lingered on Rhay’s mouth as his head inched closer, their breaths mingling.
Was Karwyn going to go through with it? Was Rhay still manipulating him, or was he getting caught up in his own game? It could be the alcohol that warmed his skin. Feeling heat rush through him, Rhay swayed on his feet.
Karwyn crinkled his nose. He moved back. “You’re drunk. You reek of cheap alcohol.”
Two could play at that game. “I didn’t drink before I met you.”
“You were achildwhen you met me.”
“No,” Rhay insisted, almost stumbling over his own feet. “I meant before I met therealyou. The only way I can take away the pain of knowing who mybest friendhas turned into is by constant drinking. I’d rather be useless than of sound mind. Because when I am sober, the veil starts to lift, and I fear it will be the end of me.”
Karwyn moved closer again, his steps slow and menacing. “Do not blame your weakness on me. I am not the one responsible for your mess. You should be glad I am still friends with you.”
“Arewe friends? Were we ever? Did the things we’ve said to each other in this secret place mean anything?”
Karwyn’s unrelenting gaze twisted into sorrow before it was quickly replaced by nothingness.
In his friend’s turquoise eyes, Rhay could still see the child who had cried over his mother’s death every night for the first year Rhay had been at the palace. The child who had sought him out for comfort after his father’s cruel punishments. Rhay had seen a hint of that child when Harten Adelway had died unexpectedly earlier this year. But now all he saw was a monster. What did that make Rhay?
“I’m afraid we’re too far gone,” Rhay whispered, turning off the lamp and plunging them into darkness as he headed for the doorway. “We’re both damned.”
There had been some good in Karwyn’s heart once. But it had long been replaced with darkness. Rhay just didn’t know what to do about it.
Chapter35
Lora
Sweat made a strand of dark blonde hair stick to Lora’s cheek. Rhay’s training sessions had become a real workout. It was exhausting yet exhilarating. Learning how to wield her dagger felt purposeful.
The fight in Quarnian lingered in her mind with each strike at Rhay, even weeks later. Fighting in Quarnian had felt different than that time in Rubien, like she had chosen to fight. In Rubien, she’d stayed because of Eyden. In Quarnian, she’d stayed because it was the right thing to do. And sometimes that included getting a little stabby.
Having gained not only strength but also confidence, her burning dagger hit Rhay’s sword with such force that his weapon split in two with a loud crack. Small pieces of almandine drifted to the ground as they splintered from the broken blade.
Rhay grinned at her even as he stood there weaponless. “You’re getting quite good at this, love.”
Lora’s smile was true as she pointed her dagger at Rhay. “Do you yield, then?”
As Rhay dropped his broken sword, Lora lowered her weapon, turning to the bench behind her. Sitting down would be heaven.
She didn’t take one step before Rhay grabbed her arm, twisted her wrist to make her drop the dagger, then knocked her legs out from under her. She landed on the hard wooden floor with a curse on her lips.
Breathing hard, she asked, “Why the hell did you do that?”
“You never turn your back on your opponent, especially when they’re as dashing as I am.” Leaning over her, he offered her his hand, and she took it gratefully, letting him pull her up.
Panting, she retrieved her glass of water and drank it greedily as she took a seat on the bench. “Lesson learned.”
Rhay swiped at his sweaty forehead with a towel and sat down next to her. “We should work on your fire now.”
