I know that he wants me too. I’m not crazy. I see it in his eyes. I don’t understand why he’s holding back. Who cares if he has shit going on, it doesn’t mean we can’t get wrapped up in each other for one night.
This should make the journey tomorrow quite awkward.
At least we don’t have to pretend to like each other any longer.
Chapter 34
Everyone made it to the stables on time without a hitch. Besides Gaethri and Rhydra, who we’ll meet in town. We’re off to a good start. Besides the part where every moment between Daegan and me is tense and awkward. Meela catches on immediately, flashing me a look. I ignore it, imploring her not to press with my eyes.
We all ride in silence through the chilly, foggy morning until we reach town, where we meet the others at the stables. And then we take off again, not wasting any time. We can’t afford to. The routes don’t give a lot of wiggle room if you want to make the next inn before nightfall. Wandering this far from home, who knows what could be out there. I’d rather not find out. From what I’ve heard, you won’t come across too much during the day, though it’s not unheard of. After nightfall, anything can come at you. And you won’t see it coming.
Most of the morning, I ride toward the back of the pack in silence. When we stop for water and a break, I talk mostly with Rhydra and Gaethri. I haven’t spent as much time with them as I’d like, so I use this opportunity to not only ignore Daegan but also get to know our other two members better.
Rhydra has no family. She met Gaethri a few years back, and they became bonded over their hatred for the kingdom. Both have vengeance they need to extract.
I want to ask Gaethri about his family more, but I don’t want to push. I’m waiting for the right moment. He seems like someone who’s lost everything, and now has nothing left to lose.
When we continue on, Gaethri falls back next to me as we trot slowly for a bit.
“What is your end goal?” he grumbles with curiosity. No malice.
Rhydra hears us talking just up ahead and then falls back to my other side.
“To be honest, I have none,” I muse. “See the stars? Let the land breathe again.”
Rhydra takes on a faraway, dreamy look. “I want to see the mountains. Their peaks.”
“You don’t want to be queen?” Gaethri continues.
“No. Not even a little bit. In fact, I wouldn’t be upset if we ended the royal line altogether.”
“You’d have to kill the king for that,” Rhydra muses.
I stare off into the distance. The veiled, dark distance. My father is a monster. I’m learning that. He lets thousands and thousands of people die and does nothing to help. He may have even had a hand in some of it. But I’m not ready to call for his murder. At least not out loud. But I also don’t blame my friends for wanting to end him. I don’t know if I’d personally have it in me to do it, but I wouldn’t stop one of them from attempting it. The other day with him was my breakthrough. When he looked me in the eyes, acknowledged that the dragon shifters are dying, and showed absolutely no remorse for it. If anything, he looked pleased.
“I’m sure plenty of people would line up for that honor. After the curse is broken.”
“Why not now?” Meela asks.
“The elvish regime is still feared throughout the land. People are just trying to survive. But if the curse were to be broken… who knows. Hope does incredible things to people. Makes them brave,” Rhydra answers.
Daegan has barely spoke all day. To anyone. He rides up ahead, avoiding me, I think. And that makes me irritated, because I’m the one who should be avoiding him. I do catch him briefly glancing back at me now and then, as if he’s checking on me.
I’m tired of all the mixed signals from him.
“I think I’d like to get into politics, maybe,” Raef says thoughtfully.
Meela laughs. “You?”
“Yes!”
“I just… didn’t expect that. You don’t take much seriously,” she replies.
“I take many things seriously,” he responds matter-of-factly. “Look at the journey I’m on right now. I love when people unite and work together. I’d like to see more of that. Sometimes, I just prefer to do serious things with a smile and a positive attitude.”
Meela pinches her face thoughtfully while Gaethri chortles.
“Maybe he wouldn’t be so bad,” Gaethri adds.
