Behind her, the man nodded. “Of course. You can ask me anything.”
When she turned to face him again, he looked so sincere that she could only assume he was being honest—that he was trustworthy. She drew in a deep breath and released it before she spoke. “Why did you really come here? My father told me about you wanting to resume our betrothal. Is that the only thing that will seal this alliance?”
He shifted uncomfortably, running his gold-decorated fingers over the shadow of stubble along his jaw. “I didn’t want this to be how I told you, Nymiria. I was hoping that we could get to knowone another for a while longer before I mentioned it, but…yes. My parents believe that the only way they can trust Eadyn and your father is ifyouare included in that deal.”
“Does my father’s integrity mean that little to you all?” She almost laughed, a silent rage growing inside of her.
Everand shook his head, his hands coming up to brace her shoulders. Nymiria stepped away from him. “That is…no. That is not what this is. I have always admired you, Nymiria and I do have a great respect for your father. But when Alvaros was burned and we were all sent away, my parents learned of your mother’s betrayal to her people.Andus. She told Dorid where we were weakest and how they would be able to get past our elemental forces.” He heaved a long, desperate sigh. “I would not ask it of you if it was not the only way.”
“Thorn isnotmy mother.” Nymiria nearly growled. “And to insinuate that he would do such a thing after having liberated the Mystics from the camps says more aboutyour parentscharacter than it does his!”
Everand reached for her again, fingers barely brushing her elbow before she jerked her body away from him. “Yes, that is very true. We believe your father. It’s just…”
“It’s justwhat?” She snapped, arching her brow at him.
“It’s Aziel, Nymiria. Aziel is Dorid’s son and we all know who he is and what he has done.”
“He tried to help people.” She retorted.
His brow lowered. “Heimprisonedus!”
She was not about to stand there and argue with him any longer. She shouldn’t have had to spill all of Aziel’s deepest, darkest secrets in order to have anyone understand. Instead, she charged towards the door to the boutique and rushed out into the street with Everand following right behind her. “Why are you so angry?” He demanded. “Just because he is your mate doesn’tmean you have to keep defending him. We all know what he’s done—”
Nymiria whirled on him. “Don’t youdare.” She growled. “You have no right, absolutelyno rightto say anything about him. You don’tknowhim.”
“I don’t want to know him, Nymiria. Not when he is what’s standing in the way of me having you.”
She stared at him, unblinking until the words registered. “Having me?”
Everand drug his hands through his hair, growling in frustration before he looked at her again. “Isn’t it obvious?” He began. “I’ve been in love with you since we were children.”
Nymiria shook her head in disbelief, taking a few slow steps backwards until she finally turned and walked away. She didn’t look back at him, but she knew that he was following her. By the time she made it to Aziel’s palace, Everand finally disappeared.
Her anger burned like acid in the back of her throat, her body trembling with fury as she climbed those stairs and walked right into their shared room. She didn’t bother knocking. She didn’t care. She was too blinded by her rage to care for much else.
Aziel was still asleep when she walked into the room, her pillow clutched to his chest. When she slammed the door closed, he lifted his head, eyes squinted and his jaw already squared in defense.
“He said that marrying me is the only way his parents will form an alliance. Imustbe used as collateral or they have no reason to trust my father because Inasha was the one to inform Dorid about their safe houses and the ways to get around their defenses and becauseyou, my father’s second, were their captor.” The words came out of her all in one breath, her chest aching for air by the time they were spoken. “I may be making assumptions, but I have reason to believe that they think you have ulterior motives.”
Aziel slowly dragged himself up into a seated position, mulling over her confession as he watched her throw herself onto the foot of the bed. “Why are you angry about that?” He asked.
“Because you had no other choice and they will never understand that.” She grumbled into the mattress. “Because you, Trio, and Thorn risked yourselves to bring them back and they are too self-righteous to acknowledge it.”
He made a quick humming sound and when Nymiria finally turned her face out of the fluffy duvet and looked at him, he was rubbing his temples. “He’s testing us.” Aziel muttered sleepily. “I think the ambush in Gillian was him trying to prove that we needed him—a way to secure you.”
Nymiria released an exasperated groan and rolled onto her back. “I’m so angry I could punch something.”
“Well, let me get out of the room before I become a victim.” He huffed as he rose to his feet, his whole body heavy as he began grabbing for articles of clothing. Nymiria watched him for a moment and then laughed. Aziel’s lips tilted up at the corners, his eyes gleaming as he turned and walked into the washroom. “Don’t even think about following me.” He called out. “You should dress in something more comfortable. We’ll start lessons early today.”
“Keep your eyes closed.”
Aziel was leaned against a tree, his long legs crossed at the ankle, arms folded over his chest as he watched her. He’d been shouting commands at her for the last hour and a half, only coming to her assistance when she collapsed to the ground in a breathless heap. He’d give her water from his flask, help her to her feet, and then they would start all over again.
Nymiria ground her teeth and muttered her curses under her breath. She could feel his smug grin, could sense the enjoyment he found in this torture. She rolled her shoulders, reaching into herself to find that spark. It always appeared to her mind’s eye no larger than that of a pin prick, a needle point of silver light in the dark depths of her core.
Locating the source of her power never proved to be very difficult, as she’d always known that it was there. But it rested in a sort of stasis, never moving—always dormant. A perpetual bead of light. When the runes were removed from her back, it had been the first time that she’d felt that power swell, that it had appeared larger than a pea. She remembered what it felt like to pull at it, to let it unleash itself into the world.
The feeling was akin to a scream of rage finally leaving the lungs of a battered woman. And ithadbeen.
