From one leader to another–“No.”
The word echoed around us on a loop. It melded with his relieved sigh, before they both vanished between the metal crevices.
“So you understand,” he said, less guarded than before.
“I do.” But that didn’t mean I could forgive. “It’s more than that, though. You’re ready to give me half of this land, but you keep things from me.”
His body went strangely rigid. “What things?”
“Taking Geryll to the Capital? Asking Nadya to watch Dax?” I spread my arms to the sides. “What is that, Ryker?”
The corners of his mouth tensed. “Can you honestly tell me there is nothing weird about Dax?”
“Heis weird,” I said, heart slamming into my chest.
He knew.
Or he suspected.
But the seed of doubt and vigilance had been planted.
“Allie, come on.” His lips tightened further. “He’s hiding something.”
“What did you say?” I raised my chin. “This information is not mine to reveal?”
We stood on a precipice once more, only this time, each of our Clans’ secrets pulled us farther apart.
“Alright,” he said, sounding like nothing was indeed alright. “What’s the issue with Geryll going to the Capital? He needs some space from all the expectations.”
“Exactly!” My own voice turned to steel. “It’s agoodidea. One we could have celebrated together. You not telling me stole that opportunity. It’s not just about Clan-destroying secrets, it’s about everything. The small and inconsequential. The huge and life-altering. You said you’d always be there for me–”
“I will,” he said, unflinching.
“Then do it for real!” A scream tore at my throat. “Not just with your presence. We need to be on the same side. With ourminds and our hopes and our fears and our dreams and our plans.Everything.”
I stopped with ragged breaths and placed my hands on my hips, feeling like I’d run down that damn frozen hill again.
Like I’d made myself vulnerable once more needlessly.
“I understand,” was all he said as his eyes drifted to the weapons. Just when I’d resigned myself to the disappointing silence and another crack rattled my heart, he went on, “I think your cousin and the Dragon are fated mates.”
I shook my head in surprise at the change and the news. Like before, it was easier to focus on someone else. “Like in the fairytales?”
Perfect matches for perfect souls destined to live in perfect bliss and perfect understanding.
The perfect ruse.
“They can’t sleep without each other and feel the other’s feelings. They won’t admit it, but I can tell,” he said softly.
“That’s…” So close to legend, I couldn’t quite believe it. “...unexpected. If it’s true, then him going to war is not going to be easy on either of them.”
Evie had never been formally trained. She had no place on a true battlefield.
His jaw began working again. I steeled myself against whatever was about to come out.
But his next words knocked the air out of me.
“I’m afraid you’ll want to join the war,” he said, as if he’d forced the thought out from a dark place he barely recognized. “And you should. You’d make the Serpents tremble with your arrows. I’m ashamed that I want to shield you from a battle you’d face with the courage they’ve written odes about. I know I have no right. It’s a foolish wish. It makes no tactical sense. But I can’t shake the instinct to stand between you and any danger.”
