‘You think?’ I spit, only for Benny to step between us.
‘Actually, maybe now isn’t the right time to do this,’ he says softly, his eyes on me.
‘Sorry?’ I snap back, eyes narrowing.
Benny rests his hand on my shoulder. ‘I’m saying this for you, Rose,’ he murmurs to me so softly, it’s as though we’re the only ones in the room. ‘You’ve had a rough couple of days, and you were out all day today. You need to rest. You also need to make sure you don’t do or say something you’ll regret.’
Would I regret killing Jonas? At this precise moment, I’m not sure, but I know why Benny’s counselling caution. My magic is dangerous – deadly to those around me and to me if Korvane finds out about it.
My magic has already gone haywire once this morning, and I can’t risk another flare-up. Benny’s right.
Besides, if I’m going to kill Jonas, it’s going to be a clear-headed, with-my-own-bare-hands type of murder.
‘I want him out of my house,’ I hiss, looking past Benny and straight to Jonas.
Kay opens her mouth to protest, but Benny gets there first.
‘I shall escort him out myself,’ he says. ‘You need rest, Rose. Go upstairs. I’ll bring you your food. Once he’s left.’
Kay glares at me, folding her arms across her chest. ‘If Jonas goes, I’m going too.’
‘No, you’re not.’ I’m surprised to hear the words grind out from Benny’s mouth rather than mine. ‘Your sister won the Retterheld yesterday – the greatest honour there is. She earned back your family’s home, wealth, and powers. And yet, after everything she’s been through, you let her spend her first night here – in rooms full of heartache – on her own. You will not be leaving here tonight, and believe me, you do not want to test me on this.’
When I first arrived at the barracks, I noted the way the other islanders defaulted to Benny. Noticed his quiet leadership. But there’s nothing quiet about this. It’s pure command. And strangely, it reminds me of Kyor. The only difference is that it’s my side Benny’s standing on.
Rather than responding herself, Kay looks to Jonas, as if she’s expecting him to fight the future Duke of the Eastern Isles. It just shows how woefully little she knows about her husband.
Jonas purses his lips. ‘Perhaps it would be better if I went tonight,’ he says quietly, his tone conciliatory. ‘I will return in the morning and we will talk then.’
Kay’s disappointment shows in the pout of her lips.
‘Fine,’ she sniffs. ‘But I’m going to bed too. And don’t worry about bringing me any food,’ she says with a withering glance at Benny. ‘I seem to have lost my appetite entirely.’
Her eyes linger on me for a moment longer before she turns on her heel and marches out of the room.
As her footsteps pad down the hallway and up the stairs, I turn to Jonas, who immediately shrinks away, his hand on his chest as if he’s worried I might suddenly freeze the air in his lungs again.
‘I’m going. Don’t worry, I’m going,’ he says before scuttling away. Only when we hear the front door close does Benny turn to look at me and blow out a long sigh.
‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m starting to think your sister might have got on scarily well with Zara.’
I snort, but then the quiet closes in again.
Chapter 7
Benny insists that I head upstairs and get some rest, and I don’t argue with him. The heaviness from the last two days is bone-deep and as leaden in my limbs as it is in my mind. As such, I’m already lightly dozing when Benny steps into the room with a tray of food.
‘I probably spilt some,’ he says as he places the tray down on the table in front of the fireplace. ‘Summer insisted she be the one to bring it to you. I basically had to sprint up the stairs.’
‘Thanks.’ I offer a weak smile. A large part of me is tempted to stay in bed and sleep, but that’s hardly fair, given all the effort Summer and Benny have gone to, so I heave myself up and into the chair.
‘Have you eaten yet?’ I ask.
‘Not yet. I’ve got a big bowl waiting downstairs for me though.’
‘And Kay?’ Her name causes a twist in my heart.
She married Jonas without even thinking to discuss it with me. It’s no different from her previous plan with Artur, but it’s just another confirmation of how fractured our relationship has grown.
