“Come on,” I grumbled. “We need to give them time to pack.”
“Whatever you say,” he mused.
As we passed through the front gate surrounding my mother’s garden and the sound of Noam’s and Nohr’s laughter filtered through an open window, I knew I’d be in for a fight.
AS EXPECTED, MY BROTHERS WEREless than thrilled with my demands. Noam flat-out refused to leave Lysa. He insisted that if he was in danger, then she must be, too, given how much time they spent together. Despite my many reassurances that her name was not mentioned, he refused to budge. Nohr was worse. Throughout the entirety of our conversation, he repeated only one word whenever I expected him to talk:No.
I talked with them for hours to no avail, and Rorik was absolutely useless throughout it all. He seemed to thrive on their defiance, and his smirk grew deeper and more sinful as time passed. By the afternoon, I was about ready to throw him out the window just so I wouldn’t have to see his taunting grin.
“Are you going to say anything at all?” I finally exploded as I tore toward him. We were all in the living room, Noam and Nohr seated on that awful indigo couch, with Rorik leaning against the wall. He’d propped one elbow on the mantel of our quiet hearth, and his hand was pressed against his temple.
“Far be it from me to interfere in family matters,” he drawled.
I hate you so fucking much,I practically growled at him through our mental connection.
Good.His answer was a silken purr in my mind, and I threw up my hands before turning back to my brothers. “Fine. If Lysa’s family is fine with her staying at the estate for a few days, then she can come, too. Does that work for everybody?”
Noam glanced at Rorik, who simply shrugged. “Plenty of rooms.”
“No,” Nohr said, voice even.
“How old are we again, Nohr?” I glared. “I swear to the gods, if you say that word to me one more time...”
He folded his arms across his chest. “No.”
I let out a wordless shriek and yanked on my hair. By the end of this conversation, I was bound to be bald. “I am not doing this to try and make your life difficult. I am trying to keep you out of harm’s way!”
“How bad are these Embergraves?” Noam rubbed his chin as he glanced at his brother.
Please, just help me. Say something remotely useful and convincing,I thought to Rorik without meeting his stare.
“They are one of the oldest lines in our world, and they have resources to do whatever the hell they want. Those able to claim the Embergrave name also have dominion over fire and can burn just about anything to ash. They’re pretty fucking bad,” Rorik said.
Happy?he asked me privately.
Noam paled slightly, but Nohr managed to keep his face impassive, save a raised brow. “Is that supposed to frighten me?”
Rorik’s eyes narrowed. “It should. If it doesn’t, then you’re a fool.”
“Great, and these are the people that you want to visit in a few days? Either they’re so terrifying we should avoid them at all costs, or they’re only mildly annoying but apparently throw a great party that can’t be missed.” The muscles lining Nohr’s arms tightened. “You can’t have it both ways, Edira.”
“Nohr, I understand your concern, but—”
“No. You’re hiding something.” Nohr leaned toward me. “I know you, Edira. You aremysister, nottheirthreadmender. What could they possibly offer you? Why are you so focused on going to this fete?”
I bit my tongue to keep from screaming. Because of course he knew me, but I knew him better.
“I think you’re forgetting who raised you,” I seethed, not caring that he flinched. “I’ve made choices my entire fucking life to protect this family—all without your knowledge orpermission.”
His face twisted in anger. “You still didn’t answer my question.”
And I couldn’t. Wouldn’t. It didn’t matter why I was going to the fete, just that I had to. That I wanted to. This was my choice. I wanted the power to take back my life and then some. But he would never accept that. Because the version of me that he knew was the caring older sister who gave everything to keep him safe. Not this hardened woman before him grasping for what little control she had left.
“I am going to that fete,” I seethed, “to keep them from coming after me and apparently you, too.”
“Why don’t we all leave, then? Find a new place to call home?” Nohr asked with a shrug. Beside him, Noam’s eyes widened, but he kept his mouth shut. If this conversation was any indication, he’d never leave Lysa. But maybe he was already formulating a way to ask her to run away with us.
A saccharine smile claimed Rorik’s lips. “Oh, I knew I liked you.”
