“I don’t expect your forgiveness. I never anticipated having to see you, as you can imagine. My visions never showed me that my brother would fall in love with you, but I see it now.” Her gaze settled on the scab on my palm. “I think the Goddesses gave me the visions of you because it had to happen, all of it. I saw you and Sie together before I even came up with the idea to use you—”
I called to my abilities. I wasn’t sure what I planned to do,but as soon as I felt the familiar sensation of water inside of her, I let myself be consumed by it.
I felt nothing but rage. Her mouth flew open—and I knew she was screaming—but I couldn’t hear it. All that existed was a high ringing in my ears and the need to avenge my parents, avenge what my life could have been, what itshouldhave been…
Every horrible thing I ever went through came crashing through me. I was reliving it all. All the death, all the torture, all the fear…
I felt the draw of water in her bloodstream as I pulled it out. Her shield came up a second later, blocking me from ripping everything out of her until she was nothing more than skin and bones. I wanted to leave her a husk. I wanted her to feel the same hollowed out sensation that was tearing through me.
I watched as sweat poured from her—slow at first and then faster and faster—before her scream finally registered in my ears. I was killing her. I was killing Tezya’s sister—someone he cared about…
It brought me back to reality, and I stopped pushing, letting my powers slowly fade back into me. I blinked as her silver eyes came into focus before she collapsed on the ground.
I stayed there for three seconds, long enough to make sure she was still breathing, before I started running.
I hated everything about Dovelyn, and I probably always would, but I didn’t want her to die. There was a small nagging part in the back of my mind that was grateful. Tezya was alive because of it.
And as angry as I was, I knew I would do it all again.
For him I would.
THIRTEEN
TEZYA
I foundDovelyn face down on the fields toward the outskirts of the camp. Her eyes fluttered open as I scooped her into my arms, but other than that she barely stirred. My senses rippled toward her. Her breathing was shallow and her skin was ice cold despite being drenched in sweat.
Shit.
I sprinted toward the healer’s tent, unsure what had happened to push her to the brink of passing out. I called to my fire, surrounding us in flames as I ran, trying to force some warmth back into her.
It took an hour of the healers pumping her with hydration before Dovelyn stirred again. Her body was still shaking, but her face was finally starting to regain some color.
A healer informed me she was severely dehydrated, and I hated myself for forcing her to train Scotlind. I assumed it’d serve as a distraction. She was hurting because of Brock. I just didn’t realize she hadn’t been eating or drinking because of it.
It was a stupid idea. I knew they didn’t get along. Maybe some part of me was hoping it could change, that if they spenttime together, they’d realize they were more alike than they thought.
I was delusional.
“Tezya.” Dovelyn stirred.
I leaned over her cot, picking up the glass of water on the stand, before forcing her to drink it. She took a long sip, her fingers shaking slightly around mine as she gripped the cup and nearly finished it.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, scanning the healer’s tent, but didn’t elaborate.
“I’m sorry,” I said as I set the glass back down.
“For what?”
“For having you train Scotlind. I didn’t realize you weren’t taking care of yourself, Dove. I should have known. I’m sorry if it was too much with Brock…”
She shook her head a little too forcefully, then rubbed her temples. “I’m fine, Tez. We’ve all been through worse, and Iamtaking care of myself.”
I scrunched my eyebrows. “The healers said you were severely dehydrated. I know you’re upset, but you still have to eat.”
She scoffed, but it came out more of a huffed laugh. She threw her head back against the wooden backboard. “I am.”
