“About?” I’m exhausted, freaked out about losing control with Rey, and starving. Not in the mood for an interrogation. I toss my phone onto my bed and walk over to him. I can at least play dumb, even though yes, I know what he’s asking and yes, heshouldbe worried.
Please, universe, let her accidentally sneak into my room again. Even if she brings the mug.
“Rey,” Reeve states blandly.
I lean against the windowsill and gaze out at the night sky. “Absolutely not. I know where we stand, and I’ve firmly drawn the line in the sand. If you think I smell like her, it’s only because she could have nearly died in my arms just now. I lost more control than I expected to.” I hope it’s enough information to satisfy him without wanting more details.
Reeve jerks his head in my direction. “What?” His eyes are wild. “Care to repeat that?”
“We were out by the lake. You know my job is to get close to her.” It’s a half-truth. “So I created an ice wall and we…argued.”Made out. “You have nothing to worry about.”Total lie.
“You went by the water and created some ice walls?” Reeve repeats. “You showed her your power…just decided to bust it out right in front of her?”
“It’s not like she doesn’t already know.” I leave out the partabout how intense the kiss really was. “I know what I’m doing.” I’m downplaying it, which, by the way he’s reacting, is probably a good call on my part. Besides, I barely understand it myself. Reeve may not have any of his own abilities awakened, but he knows how powerful, how dangerous mine can be.
Reeve starts pacing in front of me. “You do realize what that place is, right—or any place near this godforsaken water?”
“A large lake that Sigurd thinks carries the souls of the fallen. Honestly, it really wasn’t a big deal at first—”
“Are you serious right now? It’s a fucking tomb, you dumbass!”
I slowly lift my head. “The graves, you mean?”
“They call it theriverbedof tombs, leading to the lake, remember? You’ve heard the stories. Or do you just tune everything out if it doesn’t interest you?” Reeve runs his hands through his hair. “The river of tombs reflects those who have fallen in honor of the Gods. It’s sacred ground. Just like the mirror at the Hall of Omrir reflects the souls of the Gods. The riverbed pathway is what carries souls into the lake, trapping them until Ragnarök.”
I almost laugh. “I saw nothing but strong currents and murky water and a stark little reminder of what Odin did to our kind.”
“You need to wake the fuck up,” Reeve grumbles. “Not the point. The point is, someone like you”—he stops himself—“someone likehershouldn’t be in a place that powerful, that meaningful. The last thing you want is to trip into the water, have an accident, or Gods forbid have a weak moment and she uses it against you!”
“Hey.” I give him a shove. “I’m alive and I’m fine, and so is she, and we’re both back in our enemy camps. Nothing happened.”
Liar.
Reeve throws his hands up in the air. “If I told you she was sent to kill you, would you listen?”
I bite down on my lower lip. “Listen? Yes. Would it matter inthe end? No. We’ve been heading toward a reckoning for years.”
Plus, Rey already admitted as much.
“Not as dumb as he seems,” Reeve says under his breath. Then he looks up at the ceiling and groans. “Listen, I’m not going to say anything that’ll just mess with your head, but what I will say is this: Rey is not here to be your friend. You need to stay alive at all costs, or every little moment I’ve spent protecting you will be for nothing.” He makes it sound like he’s single-handedly kept me out of trouble when, in the end, with the power I have at my fingertips, wouldn’t it be me saving him?
My eyes narrow. I touch my chest. It feels like something’s pressing against me from the inside out, trying to break free, and then I hear a door shut and shuffling from the other side of the wall. Rey’s back.
“Go,” I tell Reeve, my voice dripping with disdain. “I’m done talking about this.”
Reeve’s eyes narrow. Anger crackles off of him like static. But in the next second, his shoulders deflate. “I lost my temper. I’m sorry. I just don’t want to lose my brother. We’ve both seen too much loss.”
Yeah. Thinking about our parents guts me. I lean in and give Reeve a hug, the pain between us a living, breathing thing.
“I’m headed to bed.” Reeve moves to leave but turns around when he reaches the door. “She’s bad news, Aric. She’s using you—I know it feels real. I know you’re drawn to her. But have you ever asked yourselfwhy?”
The door clicks shut behind him.
I walk over to my bed and lie down, staring at the wall between my room and hers.
I can’t believe in my soul she would actually kill me now—but why would Reeve lie about something like that? What would he have to gain? And why do just a few words from him have me questioning so much after what Rey and I shared?
My head starts to pound.
