The feelingin my legs starts to return as we reach the camp, and I don't want to walk in looking like this, so I try to loosen my grip on Talen but instantly regret it as I almost trip over a tent rope.
“Give it a few hours,” he reassures, pulling me in closer as the central square opens ahead of us where a few recruits are gathered waiting.
“Oh god. Ezzy!” My fingers clamp around Talen’s as I suddenly remember she wasn’t there when I woke.
He squeezes back then glances over at me with a small smile. “She’s back in your tent.”
“She’s okay?”
He nods, and I open my mouth to ask more, but the words die on my tongue as Darren comes into view outside the Food Tent.
I stop so suddenly that Talen’s next step drags me half a pace forward before I stall completely in place.
Moths fly around him, caught in the dim lantern glow, but neither he nor Nex pay them any attention. Instead Darren's head is down, staring at his hands as he turns Neeve's silver engagement ring over and over between his fingers. And each time the blue stone catches the light, my heart shatters so violently it feels like someone is reaching into my chest and crushing it with their fist.
I don’t want to do this. Not now. Not yet. I want to keep pretending she’s still here, that any minute Neeve will come around the corner with her long braid swaying down her back, smiling like none of this ever happened.
But then Darren looks up and sees me, my lips quivering, head shaking, and the fist around my heart turns into a fucking blade as the hope in his eyes drains out so fast.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter, barely audible.
“No,” he stammers, his face paling. “No.”
“I tried.” My eyes sting but there are no more tears left. “I tried to get to her. I tried, but I?—”
“She went because of you!” Darren sways as he pushes himself up from the bench, grief twisting hard across his face before fury burns through it. “She’s dead because of you!”
Shoving the ring into his pocket, he storms toward us.
One step. Two.
Then his hand lifts, fingers spreading as his Threads flare around them—violent and alive.
Shit.
He’s a bloody arsehole, but he’s still Neeve’s Darren. I don’t want to hurt him, not like this, not after losing her, but I don’t want him to hurt me either.
Cold sweat breaks across my temples and on instinct my free hand snaps up, muscles flexing for magic that doesn’t answer.
Magic that's still dulled from the ceremony.
Oh fuck.
Stumbling back, I almost fall, but Talen’s grip stays firm around mine. He gives my hand another small squeeze, and one second Darren is there, rage plastered across his face, heading straight for me, and the next the air around us detonates and he’s ripped off his feet and thrown back across the square.
My head jolts up to Talen, and every trace of warmth has vanished from his face.
“You’re lucky Ahria isn’t here,” he all but growls as he cocks his head at Darren, who is now sprawled in the dirt outside the Food Tent. One hand pressed to his ribs as he tries to drag himself farther away from Talen. “Attacking a fellow rider, unprovoked, in front of their dragon is a fucking death sentence.”
Brown scales flash past us as Nex drops from the air, landing and curling around Darren's shoulders before her body swells to twice its size. Snarling, her jaws open in warning, but Talen doesn’t stop, doesn’t even blink.
“And you’re even luckier, Lyra’s Threads are still dulled from the ceremony, because usually, she is more than capable of destroying you.” My pulse jumps at the cold certainty in his voice. “I’m letting it slide because you just lost your fiancée and you’re not thinking straight, but if youeverput your hands on her again, I won’t hesitate to let Cal decide your fate.”
The threat is aimed solely at Darren, but the authority in Talen’s voice has me holding my next inhale, and Nex must hear it too, because she shrinks back to her tiny size around Darren’s shoulders.
“Hey, Goldie, you ready to—” Lucien strolls around the corner with JC, his words cutting off as his gaze jumps between the three of us. “Uh, maybe you need a minute?”
“No, it's fine,” Talen bites back, his hand still around mine but not taking his focus off Darren. “We’re already late, let's go.”
