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“For talking to them.”
“Could they talk back?”
He laughs. “No. But sometimes they understood me.”
“Then why would Demechnef buy you?”
“Because they’re afraid of the forests. Afraid of the undiscovered species. They saw an opportunity to train me, make a weapon that could control these beasts. Some gentle, some malicious.”
“That must have been horrible for someone who loved those creatures so much.” I sigh, leaning against the bars that separate us. My arm brushes his. “They were your friends.”
“It was. But Dessin eventually broke us out, and I was able to go rogue.”
His back straightens enough to tell me he isn’t exactly happy talking about this part of his life. I don’t blame him. If my parents sold me, I wouldn’t be able to talk about it with anyone. The memory would be too painful to revisit.
We spend several minutes listening to the eerie circus music that runs in a never ending, glitchy loop. Cringing as it breaks apart with white noise.
I can’t stop sneaking peeks of Warrose taking care of Skylenna. Why does he have to have this soft side? Why couldn’t he continue to be that graceless brute?
“Are there any animals you don’t like? Any you’re afraid of?” I ask, feeling this tugging need to know more about him.
“Only one, though I’m not sure if it’s a myth or actually exists.” He scratches the facial hair lining his jaw. “A Dralutheran. They’re these ginormous reptilian leviathans. Like mutated basilisks and dragons. They only hunt apex predators but have never actually been seen in combat. Always isolated. But said to be indestructible, the most feared of all beasts.”
I picture the giant monster in my head. “I bet DaiSzek wouldn’t be afraid of it.”
“No, I don’t suppose he’s afraid of much.” Warrose nods in agreement. “But based on mythology, that might be the only being in the world that could truly challenge him and win.”
I go eerily quiet at the idea of DaiSzek losing a battle. Chills prickle over my bare skin. I wish he never said that. It’s a gift to believe DaiSzek is unmatched in every way. I hope he never shares this theory to Dessin or Skylenna.
“Please don’t ever pull the shit she pulled today,” Warrose says under his breath, changing the subject.
“Pull what?”
“Anything out of line. This could have easily been you.”
“It could have been any of us.” I narrow my eyes. “But thank you for pointing out again how much of a weak link I am.” And there’s the tactless moron I know.
He grunts. “That’s not what I’m saying—Skylenna got lucky she figured out how to pull them all into that prison place. We can’t do that. You can’t do that.”
“What’s your point, War-Man?”
“If this was you, bloody and beaten in my arms, I’d never fucking forgive you. Okay?” Anger simmers off his skin like a steady puff of steam.
I scoff. “Fine by me! I’d be unconscious or probably too dead to notice.”
He whips his head in my direction, glaring with brilliant seafoam eyes. His lips part to say something. They shut almost immediately. Open again, then he growls as he turns away.
“Cat got your tongue?” I mock.
He grinds his teeth, looking straight ahead. “You’re so fucking oblivious.”
“Yeah? What else?”
“Annoying.”
“Mhm.”
“Stubborn.”
