Ilyas let out a noise of exasperation, clearly taking my lack of response for disagreement. There were times, like this, that I wished I could communicate through my Bond to Ilyas—but the Bond only permitted certain understandings, all of which related to using or storing power. I could sense when he was tired and worn out from me drawing too much, and I could feel essence flowing from his body into my own. But that was the extent of our internal knowledge.
It was frustrating being so close to another person but not having the ability to actually communicate anything significant.
“He doesn’t need me complaining,” I muttered as the doors swung open of their own accord, and Ilyas and I strode inside,bypassing the mess hall in favor of our shared room. My Bonded shot me a look that was pure judgement, and I gritted my teeth in annoyance.
“You mean the man who asks you every day how you’re feeling would be annoyed with youactuallytelling him for once?” The big man snorted as we climbed the stairs together, always in sync.
I sighed again, my steps faltering as we neared our room.
Ilyas continued for a few feet before turning to regard me, standing still, my hands pushed deep in the pockets of my black training pants.
My ever perceptive Bonded closed the distance between us, taking me into his arms immediately. I leaned into his chest, pulling strength from his embrace.
“He’s trying,” Ilyas mumbled into my hair. “I know it’s not enough, but heistrying.”
I nodded against his chest, and Ilyas released me with one final squeeze. Unable to meet his eyes, I scuffed a boot against the floor.
“Yeah, I know. Maybe I will go tell him,” I said, finally meeting Ilyas’ eyes, only to avert my own again as his look of pure understanding flayed me open. Instead of interrogating me further, Ilyas simply nodded his head once before gently pushing me in the direction of the stairs without another word.
Ilyas was right, the Generalwastrying. He’d distanced himself initially after I survived the Awakening experiments, but when it became obvious that I wasn’t going to approach him, Rohak made it a mission to close the distance between us and repent for his sins against me.
The most fucked-up part of it was I had already forgiven him.
A soft murmurof urgent conversation punctuated occasionally by a louder, more insistent voice bled through the cracked door that led to the General’s office in the Academy. I was shocked that he was eveninthis room—generally he preferred his office in the administration building across the street, but since I was already in the Academy, I figured I would check here first before trekking across the vast open square.
His presence, coupled with the cacophony of voices streaming from the open door, pulled at my curiosity, and I paused just outside.
“That is not a viable option,” General d’Alvey’s cool, commanding tone broke above the sea of voices, silencing the other parties for a brief moment.
“Andwhyis it not?” Lord d’Refan’s tone was hard and biting, barely suppressed rage bubbling beneath the surface. “We have the numbers, the irrefutable evidence.”
“Are you certain it’s so concrete, or do you just wish it to be so?” Rohak never rose to Lord d’Refan’s bait, keeping his voice at a low rumble.
Lord d’Refan growled at his general, and I winced in response.
“If I may . . .” The third voice was soft and lilting, incredibly familiar but entirely foreign at the same time.
“No, you maynot,” Lord d’Refan barked, and the voice fell silent.
“Truthsayer, if you’ll recall, I was the one who elected to stay here as your . . . advisor after my time in your house ended.Iam the one who chose to betray my people; shouldn’t that be evidence enough of my trustworthiness?” The familiarity of hisvoice pulled at the back of my mind, but I frustratingly couldn’t recall it.
Lord d’Refan huffed.
“Yes, but choosing Vespera and Kaos over your goddess and home is one thing—sanctioning their destruction is something entirely different.”
My blood turned to ice at the flippancy in Lord d’Refan’s voice.
“Perhaps we should ask the Mage standing outside the door?”
Abruptly, the door swung all the way open, revealing the General’s dark, sparse office and the three men standing just inside.
Lord d’Refan stood in front of me, hand clutching the knob of the door, his face masked with murderous rage.
“What did you hear?” he ground out.
My mouth flapped open and closed uselessly, like a fish out of water, before Lord d’Refan extended a hand and yanked me inside the room, closing the door with abangbehind me.
He dragged me to the center of the men before releasing me with a huff. I stood awkwardly, aimlessly patting down my black tunic and pants to avoid looking each of the men in the eye.
