I did my best to avoid Seth now. My friendship with Darya had suffered, though I didn’t blame her—she’d never known I loved him. Somehow, that made my guilt worse, especially when she noticed the cooling of our friendship. Three years had mostly healed my wounds, but avoiding Seth and Darya was impossible, since he was our Viori tribe’s leader—the waldren, our leader.
Seth reached me in a few strides. “Going somewhere at this early hour?”
“I’m free to come and go, aren’t I?”
He blocked my path. “You know, you could look me in the eye occasionally.”
“No, thank you.” I moved to step around him.
He caught my elbow. “Seren, please. I’m worried about you.”
His grip was firm, his callused fingers rough against my skin. The faint scent of leather and smoke clung to him, a reminder of the nights I’d once spent in his arms.
I yanked myself free, jutting my chin up as I searched his rugged face. I hated that I still found him attractive—but in a repulsive way, like a food I’d once enjoyed but got sick from. “I’m fine.”
His full lips twisted. “Your sister was kidnapped, you were attacked, and now your father and brother are leaving the tribe for gods know how long. You’re my responsibility, Seren. You’re part of this tribe, and as its waldren, I?—”
“You don’t care about me, Seth.” My voice was ice. “You made that clear enough.”
“That’s not true.” He hesitated, searching my gaze. “I know I hurt you. I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve never stopped caring for you. What we had?—”
“What we had was a lie,” I snapped, my anger bubbling to the surface. “It was always about your ambition. Darya’s family had wealth and connections, and that’s all you wanted.”
He flinched, just barely, and for a moment, I thought I saw regret. Then his expression hardened. “You don’t understand the sacrifices I’ve made for this tribe—for all of us.”
“Oh, I understand plenty.” My voice turned to steel. “You’ll sacrifice anything—anyone—for power. Don’t pretend it’s for us.”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t deny it. “You can hate me all you want but I’ve done more for this tribe than anyone else.”
“Well, maybe it’s time for a change. Maybe someone else would do your job better. Someone like my father. Or maybe even me.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Only if you feel threatened.”
The low hoot of an owl reminded me of the early hour—how isolated we were out here on the path. Maybe I was a fool for pushing him, but I would be damned if I let him pretend he cared.
Seth’s fingers twitched at his side, as if restraining himself. “You have no idea what this job requires.”
I laughed bitterly. “You think you’re some great savior? You’re a coward, Seth. You betrayed me. You betrayed yourself. And you expect me to respect you for it?”
His expression darkened, and his fingers curled into a fist before relaxing again. “You should be careful what you say, Seren. As waldren, I can make life very difficult for you. I could make you untouchable—not out of respect, but fear. No man in this tribe would dare defy me. Not for you.”
The threat hung between us. My heart pounded, but I refused to let him see my fear. I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “Do it, then. Show everyone what kind of man you really are.”
Something flickered in his eyes—anger, frustration … and something else. Regret, maybe? Or doubt.
He reached out, as if to touch my cheek, but I slapped his hand away. “Don’t. You don’t get to pretend anymore.”
His hand dropped, and for a moment, he looked almost vulnerable. Then the mask returned, his expression callous.
“You’re making a mistake,” he said quietly. “You don’t want me as an enemy, Seren.”
A cold knot formed in my stomach, but my cheeks burned with anger. I met his gaze, unflinching. “You already are.”
I hurried away, no longer toward the Vangar barracks, but down a different path—one that would take me as far from him as possible.
When I was certain he couldn’t see me, I broke into a sprint, running headlong into the darkness.
