The silence stretched on.
Killian’s temper was bubbling just beneath the surface. The thought of leaving Kade to this fate terrified him, which then made him angrier. At Kade for keeping this from him. At Sila for holding said debts. At Tanya for her taunts. At himself for not realizing something was wrong.
“Dammit, Kade. Answer me!”
“No,” Kade shouted, whirling around. “You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to ignore my questions and then demand I answer yours. It’s not fair.”
“That’s different and you know it. I’m trying to help you.”
“Help me?” Kade’s voice was low and dangerous. His words weapons. “You leave tomorrow. What fucking help will you be from Ingara? No.No. This is none of your concern. Stay out of it. I mean it. I’m taking care of it.”
Killian growled.
“Look,” said Kade, taking a breath. He took a few steps closer, but still kept a safe distance. His hands were out in front of him.Peace. “I don’t want to fight with you. Not tonight. Socan you please just fucking let it go. You can yell at me another time. It’s not so bad, I promise. I can handle it.”
“Would you tell me if you couldn’t?”
Kade’s eyes flickered to the floor and then back to Killian. “I would. Really, I would.”
Killian hated this. “Alright. Fine.”
Kade let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
There was a beat of awkward silence.
“So.” Killian said slowly, trying to give himself time to think of something to say.
“So.”
“Since when was peach cobbler your favorite? I thought you hated peaches.”
“I don’t hate peaches. I was allergic.”
“And you’ve somehow cured this allergy?”
“There’s no cures for allergies,” Kade said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “But there’s a tincture I brew that suppresses the symptoms. Temporarily.” He looked at the discarded dessert. “As annoying as she is, Tanya does makes the best cobbler.”
The two of them looked at each other then, the same idea forming in their minds.
Killian said, “I’ll get the plates.”
“I’ll pop a potion.”
And all was forgotten. For the night.
CHAPTER NINE
KILLIAN CHECKED THE ties on his saddle bags and the tightness of the saddle’s girth for the third time.
Unable to put it off any longer, Killian grit his teeth and turned to face the two elves waiting on him.
Eria stepped forward first, smiling. She kissed him lightly on each cheek and said, “Journey well, my child. Know you will be missed.”
Killian smiled weakly. “As will you, Eria. More than I can say.” He took her hands, they were wrinkled and worn. “Is this it, then? I really won’t see you again?”
“This is it,” Eria said, not unkindly. “I am old, Killian. I’m ready. Soon, I’ll see my Oriphen again.” She squeezed his hands. “Don’t you even think about coming back here. Forget this place. It’s time for you to move on.”
“How could I ever move on from you?”
