“Well, that settles it then,” Farren says. Not questioning Zev at all.
That must be nice.
She was unsure about the plan until Zev said that it was safe, and she trusts him so much that she instantly felt better about the situation and relaxed, her shoulders dropping as the tension eased from them.
The soft smile on Zev’s face as he watches her for a moment speaks volumes about how much it means to him.
I wonder what it feels like to have someone trust you like that. The kind of trust that happens between two people who have a connection as they do is completely different from the trust between friends. It just is.
“Okay. We can head off to the compound in the morning, when we’re all well-rested and prepared for whatever may decide that it wants to attack us,” Storm agrees with a smile, although there is still worry in his eyes.
“I have to reiterate that I would not suggest that you go back to the compound at all,” Laikynn says. This time he doesn’t say it like it’s a suggestion, despite the way that he chose to word it.
“No?” I ask, relief coursing through me that someone else has said it, that he’s confirmed that it isn’t safe and that I’m not just being paranoid.
After all, that was the plan, that was where I was supposed to take them all, and to be fair, when they were just faceless, nameless people, that was fine. As I said though, I’m no longer feeling comfortable with it, and the fact that I relaxed when Storm said that we were going to stay here for the night and that Laikynn’s interruption caused me to feel relief and not want to push back and insist that we go anyway says a lot.
If I’m being completely honest, it’s as simple as I do not want them there because I do not want them in danger, and while they are in danger outside of the compound, I know the danger here, I’m familiar with it, and I have a feeling that the danger at the compound may be far bigger than I thought it was.
There is a small selfish part of me that doesn’t want to go back to the cells. My success meant my release, but I don’t trust that they will keep their promise once they get what they want.
“No, I would suggest that you go straight to your other destination,” Laikynn replies.
“Aren’t we closer to the castle than we are to the compound anyway?” Rival asks.
I nod, “Yes, although I have to admit that the castle is one of the places that we are taught from a young age is banned, no one is allowed to go there. Everyone avoids it, so while I know the direction,I don’t know the exact location.” I hesitate and add, “That would be a reason to head to the compound. They would be able to give us directions to the castle.”
Storm shakes his head. “If Laikynn says that it's not safe to go there, then we simply won’t be going there.”
“That’s okay, we can figure it out. I mean, if we’re heading in the same way that Zev and I did, presumably I will recognise it, even in the darkness,” Farren says.
“It would be counterproductive to head further away from the place where we’re supposed to go,” Zev points out. He levels me with a curious look, “I’m getting the feeling that you aren’t too happy with us going to the compound anyway.”
“I’m not,” I reply, surprising myself with my honesty.
Loki’s eyebrows rise. “Well, that was far more honest than I thought that you were going to be.”
I try not to smile, and fail.
“I think, since we’re staying, everyone should settle in and take advantage of the fact that there’s a shower because who the fuck knows when we’ll be able to shower again. We’ll get some food on the stove, and then maybe you should fill us in on what is going on with the compound,” Killian says, aiming the last part of the sentence at me.
I nod, “Yes, I think that’s probably best.”
My words sound confident, but I am not.
I have no idea how they’re going to receive what I’m telling them, and not for the first time today, I miss my best friend, who was so much better at this than I am.
Once again, I shut those memories down.
I can’t do that.
Not right now.
Farren
“Don’t worry about setting up watches for tonight. You all need as much rest as you can possibly get. We will keep watch over you,” Laikynn offers calmly.
I smile, “Thank you, friend. We appreciate that.”
