His eyes met hers – and she saw warmth in them. Then shock. Recognition. Confusion warring with something that might have been hope. His magic wavered in his hands.
“Kara? What are you doing here?”
Kara thought of the plan. Of Henry waiting below.
Show him you’re not a threat.
Get close to him.
Put him under.
“They’ve sent people after you. To bring you back. I rode ahead.”
He looked around suspiciously, his magic still faintly alive in his palms. “Alone?”
She nodded. “They don’t know I came,” she lied.
His eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“I–” she hesitated. It was harder now he was here. In front of her.
I can’t do this.
A muscle pulsed in his jaw.
“Shouldn’t you be planning your wedding?” he asked. “Or did perfect little Hale heir finally get bored?”
Her breath stuttered. “No. That’s not why. I needed to see you, Sebastian.”
“I’m a traitor, Kara. You shouldn’t be here.” He closed his magic down with a tight fist. “You shouldn’t be anywhere near me.”
She looked at the satchel he wore. The Arcanth, taken from its rightful place. Thought of the Navyrian deaths at Saltmoor.
Our lands, our people have died because of him.
I have to do this.
“I don’t believe that. I won’t believe that,” she said truthfully.
His gaze didn’t leave hers, but his face was unreadable. She held out her hand. No magic. Just herself. He didn’t take it, but she didn’t drop it either.
“I just want to understand, Sebastian. Why you’re doing this. That’s the only reason I’m here,” she said. “They’re saying awful things about you... that you want to hurt us. I couldn’t believe it. Not about the man that saved my life. The man whose magic answers mine.”
He studied her face, and for a second, she thought he might answer.
If you have a good reason... maybe I don’t have to do this. Maybe I can walk away. Let you go.
Please, please have a good reason.
But he shook his head. “You don’t need to understand.”
“Please,” she said softly. He hesitated, eyeing her outstretched hand.
He took a step towards her.
“No, Kara. It would put you on the same pyre as me.”
Her heart twisted. The pyre she was leading him to. Was he protecting her, or was he really a traitor?
