His companions part almost instinctively to let him walk through.
They’re headed my way.
My brain is telling me to become one with the wall. Disappear and don’t look back.
But my nosy ass gut is telling me not to miss a single detail.
Two of them, with their helmets in their hands, are talking in hushed tones, low enough I can’t make out what they’re saying. The leaner one, with short blond hair that’s buzzed all over, nods at what the other one is saying. The one talking is broader with beautiful braids.
But my attention keeps coming back to the lethal-looking one now in the front.
Footsteps from behind cause me to stiffen. I don’t turn around, though. I just focus on staying hidden. I’m definitely more visible from that direction, and it’s very obvious that I’m not only hiding but openly spying.
The Noctryn with the arrogant gait zeros in on whoever’s approaching. His head dips, and his gloved hands clench into fists before visibly relaxing again.
“Nori, what are you doing?” a familiar voice asks from behind.
His voice drips with humor. A voice that instantly makes me want to punch something, particularly him. He really does havethe worst timing. That’s if and when he can actually make the time to show up.
Pain slices through my lip as my teeth sink into the bottom one. Slowly, while I try to rein in my annoyance, I turn and face him, giving the approaching dark wielders my back. Ambrose is gifted with nothing short of a look of pure disdain on my face.
He tilts his head back and blows out a large breath before bringing it back down to look at me. I’d like to think I’m seeing regret on his face, but who knows. The only thing I’m sure of is that he knows I’m pissed. If the crossed arms, defiant stance, and pursed lips didn’t give it away, he would know by the fact that I haven’t moved toward him.
The first thing I normally do when I see him is throw my arms around his neck or land a playful punch to his bicep, anything to just touch him. Right now, the only touching I want to do to him is to inflict pain, so I keep my distance.
“I’m sorry. You know I am. I wanted to be there, but I had other obligations that took precedence.” He delivers this sentence like it didn’t just punch a hole in my already bruised heart.
I uncross my arms and let them hang at my sides. I refuse to look vulnerable right now. Even if it’s just a front to protect myself in the smallest way, it’s something. “Yes, you’re fellow captain kindly informed me,” I answer sarcastically. They say not to hurt the messenger, but at the moment, I’d like to hurt them both.
“Then you know exactly how bad I wanted to be there.”
“No, what I do know is that you weren’t. I also know that you knew you wouldn’t be there before I even entered the final trial. You lied to me.” I know the hurt shines in my eyes, but regardless of how much I try to hide that vulnerability, I can’t. He sees it, too, because he’s doing his best now to look anywhere but directly at me.
“I didn’t lie, Nori. I just slightly omitted.”
“It’s the same thing!” I snap, my hands curling into fists at my sides. I can feel the hurt turning to anger. I can feel the need to lash out and hurt him the way he hurt me.
The sounds of boots behind us draw closer.
“You know I would have done anything to be there, to see you not only succeed but achieve one of your biggest dreams, but I have responsibilities,” he delivers in brutal honesty. “Something you should understand, given that you are the assigned lieutenant of your bracket. It will only become clearer if they allow you to keep that rank upon placement.”
He leans forward like he’s going to reach for my hand, causing me to step back even farther into the alcove. Disappointment washes over his features before he quickly masks it. “You can’t be upset at me for doing what’s required,” he scolds, his jaw clenching the moment he closes his mouth.
The audacity of this man.
“I can and will be. You don’t get to dictate what upsets me!” I dig my nails into my palms and do my best to keep the violent urges subdued. “I know that I would have been there for you, and I deserved the same. If disappointing you and being forced to lie are the benefits of having the rank they bestowed on me, then they can keep it.”
I’m downright seething on the outside. But inside, I’m a complete ball of devastation. When did I become an afterthought to him? When did he become so cold and detached? And ambitious? I never thought I’d see the day that reckless Ambrose became ambitious.
“Still winning the hearts of ladies throughout the realm, I see,” a husky voice calls out.
Shaking his head at me as if he’s disappointed, Ambrose reluctantly turns to face the approaching Noctryns. “Fuck off,Griffin, this doesn’t concern you,” he bites out to the one with the shaved head.
“Touchy today, aren’t we?” Griffin responds, his mouth pulled up in a smile. It seems to bring him great pleasure to see Ambrose upset.
“Don’t you have some blood ritual to do or sacrifices to be made?” Ambrose asks in an exasperated tone as if this is the last thing he wants to deal with.
“Why do you want to know? Are you volunteering as tribute?” he counters back in a saccharine voice.
