“I’ll meet you outside the house before the sun rises. Don’t be late, or I will be forced to not like you.” Larkin turns on his heels without looking back. “Again.”
He moves from the balcony through the wide door and back into the living space. He walks to Silas and slaps his shoulder, telling him a quick goodbye. Maines and Oak wave as he walks up the stairs and disappears into the darkness above. His words play over and over in my mind, and I can’t help but think it does have something to do with who I am.
I plan to learn a lot tomorrow, including what he knows about my brother.
With the house quiet, Oak and Maines settle in one of the chairs near the opposite wall’s fireplace. Rose finished making her various dishes and excused herself for the night, leaving me alone with Silas finally.
His heavy steps echo as he approaches behind me. He wraps his arms around my shivering body and presses his torso firmly against my back. Silas leans down and burrows his face in the curve of my neck and kisses my skin gently.
“I’m so fucking proud of you,” Silas whispers.
His soft lips send a tingle through my entire body, and as badly as I want to lean into him, I know I have to tell him who he is to me—what he’s destined to be.
I just pray to the Gods that this doesn’t change everything.
Chapter 21
Iremain in his embrace and close my eyes. The crashing waves fill the air outside, and I try my hardest to hold back the tears that are eager to leave my eyes. Silas notices my tension and pulls away, turning me around to face him. He places both hands on my shoulders and slowly traces his hands down, reaching my trembling hands. His face turns to stone, and he can immediately sense the emotional distance between us.
“What is it?” he asks.
“It’s so much,” I reply.
“I have time.”
I open my eyes, and tears stream down my cheeks. Silas brushes my tears away with his thumb and cups my face. His piercing green eyes lock onto mine, and I fear my legs might give out. I want to speak, but I don’t know where to start.
I open my mouth, but no words come out.
“Come with me,” he says, as he furrows his brow. “I want to show you something.”
“I can’t. Larkin and I are leaving in a few hours.”
His hand squeezes mine tightly. “I don’t really care.”
“Silas.”
“Larkin can wait if needed.”
My gaze turns hard, and I stare at him for a moment. The corners of his mouth curl into a devious grin.
“You know you want to,” he says, tugging my wrist. “You are too curious to let this pass.”
“You’re right.”
His smirk grows larger this time. “Say that again.”
I let myself go with him, and we become mist together. The world around us seems to pause, and the weight of the secrets I know vanishes along with our physical bodies. The figures around us blur as we move through the shadows of the night. I snap my eyes shut and let him lead the way. Even though we are weightless, I can feel Silas’s strong hand wrapped around mine—a perfect fit.
We land with a thud, and I try to catch my breath quickly. Silas continues to hold my hand, as if he’s afraid that if he lets go, the distance will grow between us once more. The darkness around us becomes overwhelming, and I quickly realize we are deep in the forest on the outskirts of Andorwood. Fear floods me, and I remember the third trial—lost in unfamiliar woods and darkness.
Silas notices my flinch.
“We’re safe,” Silas whispers. “This part of the forest is warded. There is absolutely nothing here that can touch you.”
I glance around the dense trees that sway gently in the night, grabbing his hand harder. The forest around us pulses as if welcoming us—or Silas—back.
“There are a few acres around the entire kingdom that are permanently warded.” He grins and walks me a few paces forward. “Even if something tried, it would be dead before it got close to you.”
