“Push her away. Shift back,” he snaps.
“Or don’t,” Kalix’s voice, barely a faint whisper, travels around me.
I gasp for air and thrash, as a single tear soaks into the veins that branch out from under my eyes.
Everyone is standing together—near the table, but pushed back—to give Silas the space he needs. The familiar sea breeze travels through the room, mixing with the sighs I hear coming from their mouths. My back is pressed against the cold wooden table as I gaze up at the tall ceiling. The pain settling in my shoulder slowly becomes more apparent, and it quickly snaps me back into focus.
Silas’s hands wrap around my jaw, and he moves closer. “Push her down.”
I slowly sit, gripping my upper back, and glance around the room. The exhaustion slams into my chest, but I feel her drift away as my eyes shift back.
The blood has been cleaned, and my gown remains somehow untouched by the mess. Maines and Oak’s faces are filled with horror. Warrick’s expression is as hard as stone, and Larkin ispale—utterly devoid of color—with small beads of sweat coating his face.
“You were going to do it. Weren’t you?” Silas fumes, moving back into my line of vision. “You were going to fucking listen to her.”
I blink through the haze, my hazel eyes fully returning, and see how serious he is.
“Answer me,” he bites.
His piercing green eyes are so close to mine that I can see the anger dancing within them. His chest heaves with fury, while the others watch us in confusion.
Tears begin to fill his eyes as he whispers, “Fucking answer me.”
Silas remembers this time.
He knows what I was feeling in the presence of Kalix, and so do I. It all makes sense now.
I remember everything.
I know what Silas is to me.
Chapter 16
“Get out,” Silas snaps, looking over his shoulder to the others, letting anger drive his words. “I need to speak with her.”
Oak and Maines stiffen as Warrick and Larkin move almost immediately, reminding me that orders from Silas must be quite standard for them.
“Wait a second,” Maines says, angrily stepping toward Silas and me. “Briar just blacked out from something you pressured her to do, and now you’re kicking us out? Silas, we thought she was dying. I need answers about what the hell just happened.”
Larkin and Warrick halt.
“Get. The. Fuck. Out,” Silas orders.
He pauses and turns his glare back toward me. Shame washes over me, and I clench my jaw, just seconds away from my chest imploding.
“No, Nastronde. We’re not leaving.” Oak shields Maines with his body. Bolts of light flicker around his large frame as anger radiates from him. “And, I suggest you never speak to Maines that way again, either.”
Silas bores his gaze into mine.
“We need answers,” Oak barks. “Now.”
Silas pushes away from the table and turns to face Oak, the challenge evident. Their eyes meet, and they stand face to face as fury leaks from Silas around the room.
Larkin and Warrick hang back, making themselves nearly invisible against the wall.
“I’m not fighting you, Silas,” Oak says. “That wouldn’t end well for anyone; I fucking promise you that.”
A crackle of lightning zaps from Oak’s hands, and Silas moves his gaze down to see the magic building around his friend. Shadows begin to build upon Silas’s back.
