Someone I hadn’t wanted to think about since yesterday, but who’d haunted me just the same.
“What are you even doing here so early?” I asked when we neared the patch of forest flanking the fortress.
Other than the guards permanently stationed at the entrance, Nadya and I were the only two souls to brave the cold at this ungodly hour.
“Pretty boys in the training arena think they’re better than me. I need to prove them wrong. That means more practice.” She patted Francisca, strapped to her side. “I need to squeeze in any chance of training I get since I promised the Commander I’d keep an eye on–”
She missed a step and pursed her lips so hard, they disappeared in one line.
Blisters of anger burned at the edges of the numbness I’d cocooned myself in. It had been the only way to survive staring at that dagger. “Me?”
Nadya took one look at my frown and quickly shook her head. “No, no, he trustsyou.”
No, he didn’t.
He truly didn’t and it broke my heart.
“Dax.” I let out a frustrated sigh and marched harder up the steps, uncaring of the curious looks. I got them any time I breathed, anyway.
All the fury I’d suppressed burned the emptiness away.
“Sorry.” Nadya chased after me. “If it helps, I would have done it even if the Commander hadn’t mentioned it.”
“It does not.” I pushed the doors open before they had a chance to swing wide by themselves.
Gods help whoever stood in my way.
The absolute gall of him to suspectmycousin whenhisdagger had been stolen and used for murder.
Myfather’s murder.
“Where is he?” I barked.
Nadya raised her brows at me. “Where do you think he is?”
“Probably destroying something.” I sneered. “Or rescuing a wounded doe.”
There was no in-between with him.
He was either the unflinching Commander or the calm Ryker who plundered my thoughts all the godsdamned time.
He didn’t know how to meld the two together and justbe.
I shouldn’t have judged, since just yesterday I’d been wondering who I truly was, but judge I did. It only made me angrier and angrier as I marched up neverending steps, guided by a force stronger than me. One I didn’t dare look at too closely right now.
“How’s Geryll?” I asked to keep from screaming.
“Beside himself.” She rolled her eyes. “All he talks about is going to the Capital and studying boring, dusty parchments. I’ve never seen him so excited.”
The rage boiled hotter. Another detailhehadn’t bothered to share with me. “He’s going to the Capital?”
“Yeah, the Commander thought it would do him some good to pause the training for a while. Until his leg heals, you know?”
I did not know.
Because he didn’t bother to share it with me.
I couldn’t even congratulate theCommanderon the brilliant idea–Geryll had no place on a battlefield.
