“All of them? What do you mean?”
“I mean that Priya has been tortured for my location, Quinn is—rightfully—convinced Talon did something to you, and Caleb is quite literally hunting for the rebellion without thinking of the consequences. Not to mention, I’m quite sure Talon has gotten to the point of looking for you too, based on his reaction to you in the Sham District. He never was one to let go, and it seems you’re his current obsession.”
“Well, Talon can go fuck himself and then die for all I care. Actually, Idocare. He needs to die. That’s the only option.”
“They’re going to suffer until I’m found.”
“Your father won’t find you.” He didn’t look at me, didn’t do anything but continue to fidget with the burner. “Okay, fine. Let’s go get your friends then.”
I hated saying it, but maybe that was the only valuable solution. And it wasn’t like they wouldn’t be helpful, as long as Altair could convince Otarn and Elders to not be purist assholes.
A sardonic laugh barreled up his throat, coming out like a violent choke.
“Oh yes, becausethat’sreasonable. Let’s just snatch three more heirs and pray to the stars the core families don’t really start looking for us. Four heirs and the holder of the stars’ essence? Nah, they aren’t valuable at all.”
“They haven’t found us yet,” I shot back, getting defensive.
Sarcasm bled from his mouth as he said, “You’re right. That means they’ll never find us.”
“You don’t have to be so rude, I’m just trying to help!”
“That’s just it! Youcan’thelp! I got myself into this mess and I dragged them down with me! It’s all onme.Don’t you see?” Slamming his elbows onto the table, he grabbed his hair, dipping his chin until his face was hidden in the shadows. “I’ve sentenced them to death after a lifetime of trying to save them. What does that make me?”
What was I meant to do? How could I even begin to make that better? He was right, it wasn’t really my place. I didn’t even like two of them.
What would Mama do? She was always so good at comforting people. No one in her presence ever felt sad or scared for long.
Channeling her, I scooted my chair closer, the sound of wood scraping against wood awkward and loud. He didn’t look up, though I could sense his attention on me. Like a sixth sensethat was dedicated solely tofeeling him.Maybe that was what cohabitation led to. I’d been that way with Talon, after all. Though, as my knees met his thigh, I could tell this was different. Altair was different.Iwas.
Fingers splayed and shaking, I dared to grab his arm, feeling his muscles tense at the contact. He was always touching me, and I’d never cowered at the idea of it before, so I wouldn’t now. Especially not when I knew he’d likely not had a lot of affection throughout the years.
Perfect timing to channel Mama.
“When I was little, my father would tell me stories. Not fairytales,legends. Ones from before the final war. Before the stars.” He still didn’t move. Clearing my throat, I continued. “There was this one about a little boy who always got lost. No matter how many maps his parents gave him, he just couldn’t find his way.”
I let my hand fall, resting it on Altair’s thigh. He flinched at first, but then he sighed, letting his hand fall on top of mine as he finally looked up at me. His eyes were bloodshot, but no tears fell. I was rather certain there was no tolerance for crying where he grew up.
“One day, he got so lost in the woods that even his family couldn’t find him. He spent the night in there, cold and alone, convinced he’d die for his inadequacies.”
He leaned in, listening intently.
“And then a treemoved.”
“I thought this wasn’t a fairytale?” Altair cut in, his brows stitched together.
“Shh, no interrupting. And it’s a real story.”
“Trees don’t move.”
“Anyway, the treemoved,and then the entire forest seemed to shake—to awaken.”
“How?”
“Shh! So the trees were literally alive—shut up—and the boy screamed, terrified that something was going to hurt him. Though he was tired, hungry, and cold, he forced himself to stand. The boy ran faster than he ever had before, his little heart racing.”
Death leapt onto my lap, sitting there with her tail swishing from side to side and her head tilted. Altair stared as well, finally quiet.
“Focused on running, the boy didn’t think to watch where he stepped. He tripped over a rock, rolling towards a large cliff. That was it. He knew it. The end arrived for him.”
