“Your friend is heading this way,” Darcke observed, finally offering me an inch of space.
Ivren’s face was pale as he strode across the glen, and from the way Viljan glared after him, he must have ordered my guard to stay back.
“You can leave,” I said.
“But this looks like it’ll be so much fun,” Darcke said, making Kilia laugh.
A small hand touched my shoulder.
“Do you need me?” Ilse asked. “If not, I might go nurse my injuries from last night.”
“Aw, is that why she chose you? Because you’re going to protect her from us?” Kilia stared down at the girl, who was almost two heads shorter than him. “Doesn’t seem like the wisest decision, given that hand.”
Ilse’s smile was so sweet it hurt my teeth. “I’m fairly certain she chose me because she’s far cleverer than she lets on. Hencewhy she is going to allow you two bastards to swing your stupid axes around her.”
Kilia’s face fell, while Darcke’s darkened.
“Go,” I urged. I didn’t need to be responsible for another person getting hurt today.
“Thank you,” Ilse said. “Not only for letting me rest but for choosing me. It’s an honor.”
Darcke scoffed so loudly several people who’d had their backs to us turned around. “Fuckhonor.”
Ilse grimaced before slipping away as Ivren reached us.
“What the fuck are you thinking?” Ivren demanded.
“What the fuck areyouthinking?” I shoved my finger into his chest, hating that my voice shook at the end of my question. “You’re supposed to be my friend.”
“I—” Ivren opened and closed his mouth a few times. “Come. I need to speak to you alone.”
He took my hand and dragged me away from Kilia and Darcke. Only because I was curious as to why he’d stabbed me in the back—why he’d fuckingkilledme—did I allow him.
“Well.” I crossed my hands over my chest when he stopped a few feet away, keeping us half shielded against a tree.
“I… I’m sorry,” Ivren said. “I wanted to talk to you about it before, but after hearing from Viljan you were going to select Kilia, I knew you wouldn’t listen.”
“Listen to what? I don’t see how you can explain this away. You’ve all but killed me yourself, Ivren!Youknow!You know, and you did it anyway!”
“Elvara!” Ivren grabbed my hands and dragged me to him. “It’s because I know that I did it.” Ivren’s hand flew out. “He doesn’t even touch you! He is too proud to disobey the orders your father gave him. Look at what happened yesterday!” He lowered his voice. “Lika would want me to do whatever I could to protect you.” His eyes dipped to the grass. “Even if it meant you hated me.”
“How isthisprotecting me?” I tried to calm my voice so Ididn’t draw even more attention to us. “How is this protecting my people?”
“Elvara, ever since you came here, you’ve put your people first.” Ivren’s hand flew out behind him. “Look what it’s done to you! You have only enemies here.” He covered his face with his hands. “Gods! I all but served Fedic up on a plate for you! He’s the perfect second—he was supposed to be mine, for fuck’s sake. I made Viljan second—the one who will take overmypeople—so that you’d see I did it with honor.”
I shook my head as Ivren pulled me closer.
“That attack yesterday?” His eyes were wild as they went between mine. “That is not the first one, nor will it be the last. I needed you to have someone who could be trusted to protect you when I’m not there. It’s not like you have any friends, and I?—”
“You should have told me,” I snarled. “You should have let me make that decision.”
“I didn’t fucking imagine you’d choose the two men who hate you the most here!” Ivren all but screamed in my face. “What the fuck are you thinking?”
“I need them,” I snarled. “It’s the only way.”
“No, it isn’t,” Ivren growled. “You haveme. You should have listened to what I was trying to tell you!”
“I can make my own decisions. I am as much an heir as you are.”
