Riven’s forehead wrinkles in confusion. As does mine. The ticking on my chest speeds up, racing to sync with the beat of my heart.
“How?” Riven asks.
I hold in my shuddering breath as shadows bleed from Caspian’s fingers and wrap around Riven’s wrists. He stares at them, unmoving.
“All I need is the word and they’ll be gone.”
The air in my lungs hardens as I watch the war race across Riven’s face. My eyes cut to the side as Thayla’s small laugh echoes back to us. Neither she nor Willow has noticed that the eight of us have stopped walking.
Riven peers over his shoulder toward her as well. He shakes his head as he glances back down at his shadow-covered wrists.
“No.” He swallows, then clears his voice. “They’re my reminders, so I’ll keep them. I’ve got some unfortunate news for you, though.”
“What’s that? Caspian asks.
“I may or may not have killed your great-great-great-great-great-great-granddaddy. My bad.”
The tension in the air snaps as Draken, Tillman, Corentin, and I snort. Creed huffs as Amick examines everyone’s reaction. A pleased smirk crosses Caspian’s lips as he withdraws his power from around Riven.
“He obviously deserved it.”
Not the reaction I was expecting, but I greatly appreciate it.
If I get a chance to pull Caspian to the side alone, I may take him up on that offer.
Tillman grunts beside me as his eyebrows draw down. I drop my grin and deepen my mental thoughts.
Don’t.
His gaze continues to scan me, searching for something he isn’t going to be able to find.
“Secrets among brothers will only weaken your relationships, not strengthen them.”
My body flinches. The last fucking thing I expected was a response.
“Did you forget to mention you could also communicate mentally?”
“Forget? No. Just didn’t have anything to say privately, yet.”
“Have you been communicating with your Primary this whole time?”
“Yes, and my brothers.”
I roll my shoulders out and subtly suck my teeth. I hate to admit I’m highly impressed with that ability. And jealous.
It’s actually pretty damn convenient.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but my brother finding out he wasn’t the only one marked will do nothing but hurt him.”
“I’m not saying that it is my business, but I’m almost two hundred and sixty years old. I’ve learned a thing or two about honesty in my time.”
Yeah, I can’t deny that’s more than likely the truth.
That doesn’t mean I’m going to listen at this very moment.
He shakes his head and rolls his eyes before focusing back on the other six.
Their conversations have drifted into a mildly heavy silence. It isn’t laced with any sort of animosity or anything like that,but the focus on Riven’s marks definitely broke up the laid-back direction we were heading.
