In hindsight, that wasn’t Emmeric’s best idea.
“I’m sorry, I—” Emmeric floundered for words.He hadn’t expected her to be so spooked.“I only wanted to see if you could hear me.When you were talking to Altair, I could hear some of what you were thinking…” He trailed off.Iyana’s gaze was searching his face, and abject terror roiled through their bond.
“Let me down,” she said suddenly.
“Iyana, I’m sorry, can we talk about—”
“Let medown!”Iyana started to swing her leg over the side of the horse, so Emmeric had no choice but to stop and let her clamber off.
The others had reined in their horses as well, looking over with confused expressions.Iyana appeared to be shaking as she jumped into the snow and stalked over to the horse Talon and Kaz were riding.
“We need to change.I’m riding with Talon.”
Kaz glanced between her and Emmeric, a furrow in her brow.“Okay, sure.”
Emmeric’s heart squeezed in his chest.He really couldn’t understand what was happening.They had been doing so well together.Iyana had been trusting him, seeking him out during her weaker moments.And now, all of what they’d built seemed to be dissolving.They shared emotions and pictures—how was this any different?
He could only watch as she climbed onto the saddle in front of Talon.Emmeric didn’t even move as Kaz sat in front of him; he still only had eyes for Iyana.He walked the horse closer and opened his mouth to apologize, or ask for an explanation, but she held up her hand.
“I can’t talk about this right now.”Iyana turned slightly to address Talon.“Please, let’s just go.”
Tal glanced at him, and Emmeric gave a slight nod of his head.But the benefit of having been friends for so long, Emmeric knew that Talon would get to the bottom of what was happening and fill him in.As the woman he loved and his best friend walked away from him, Emmeric felt Iyana put up her fire barrier, cutting him off from her completely.
Iyana
Shecouldn’tevenlookat Emmeric.Iyana made sure her barrier was fully intact, with no holes.She didn’t want a single drop of her emotions to escape.
It didn’t stop Emmeric’s hurt from filtering through to her, though.
Talon nudged their horse into a trot to put some distance between them and the others.
“Alright, Smalls, what was that about?”
Iyana shook her head.“It was hard for me at first to accept this bond between Emmeric and I, and the fact that I could sense his emotions and pain made it even harder.I’ve spent most of my life having to be strong for those around me, and someone being able to see through me was scary.But once I got used to it, it brought a bit of comfort knowing I always had somebody.Knowing he’d always be in my corner.And after”—she swallowed hard—“after Altair…I knew I could trust Emmeric because I couldfeelhim.I would know if he was ever going to deceive me, because he literally couldn’t hide from me.”
“I understand,” Talon said softly.
“Sharing pictures, though, and dreams or nightmares seemed so much more intimate.I also didn’t want to share those images with him.I didn’t want him to know how much I was struggling with the memories, and to know that they were flowing to him without my knowledge was really embarrassing.”
“He knew, Iyana.We all knew.”
She sighed.“I understand that now.But it doesn’t change the fact that I didn’t want to put that on my friends, you know?”
“I think I know more than most, Smalls.”
Her heart broke anew for her friend.Talon had been through more than she ever had, and guilt overran her.It seemed to Iyana that her problems were small compared to his—he had literally died to save his best friend’s life, whereas she had been stupid and put her trust in the wrong person.
Iyana placed a comforting hand on his arm.“Tal, I’m so sorry.Have you talked to Zane at all?”
“Oh no you don’t.You’re not going to turn this around on me.We’re talking about your shit right now.”
She huffed out a breath.“Fine.I don’t know, Tal.Just now, IheardEmmeric’s voice in my head.He said ‘Mouse.’”Iyana shivered.“It feels more…intrusive, I guess.It’s too reminiscent of having the stars in my head after Imothia was first attacked.And now it’s making me think of all those times that it seemed as though Altair was reading my mind…maybe he actually was.He kept reassuring me that he wasn’t in my head, but he lied about so many other things that could have been a lie, too.”
“You know Emmeric isn’t like Altair.You just said so yourself.And if he ever did anything so stupid, I’d kick his ass myself for screwing things up with you.”
Iyana chuckled.“Thanks, Tal.”She frowned again.“It’s just a lot.”
“I get it.You know,” he said hesitantly, “this may be a good thing.”
