Roiven sighs, but he doesn’t move out of my space. I can feel the frustration bubbling in him through the bond.
“It was both.”
I take a step forward, bringing our bodies so close there isn’t an inch of space between us. When I place my palm on Roiven’s hard chest and push, he takes a step back.
“Tell me what deal you’ll agree to.”
“With the War-Father? None.” He folds his arms.
“Yousaidyou’d think about it.”
Roiven’s chin juts forward.
“I did think about it. I thought about how I would never do that.”
I exhale hard, my eyes cold as I stare at him. My spine is stiff and for a moment, I’m too angry to get a single word out.
Tricked. By him.Again.
“...Fuck,” I finally mutter, and bury my face into my hands. “I can’t believe I was starting to trust you.”
“Cai, this war…”
I shake my head hard. I’ve listened to him for long enough. I’m an idiot for being so gullible. For thinking that I could believe a word he said, when Iknewthe enchantment didn’t stop him from finding loopholes and speaking in half-truths.
I’ve always known this man was my enemy. Since when did I let myself forget it?
“Keep talking all night if you want, but I’m done listening.”
“When the coven agreed I should get close to you,” he starts.
“I’m still going to help your people. But you? You’re dead to me.”
I step around him and stride towards the door.
“Cai,” Roiven says. I wrench the door open and turn back to him, gesturing at the hall.
“Get out.”
The Witch King lifts his chin, eyes narrowed.
“You can’t avoid this forever, Cai.”
“Get. Out.”
“Make me,” Roiven says, his voice lower than normal.
I snort, too furious to form words, and walk through the door myself.
“You’re really going to run?” Roiven asks.
I slam it shut in his face and walk down the empty hall, my body buzzing with so much anger I can’t even think straight. And the feeling he shoves into my head then? Love. For this place, and the people here. Overwhelming. A torrent of it. I slam the door in my head so hard my temples throb, but it shuts up the feeling he's trying to manipulate me with.
What am I supposed to do now, just give up? Roiven won’t agree to anything. Without something to offer, the War-Father would never consider retreating from victory. And if I’m being realistic, the odds were always low the War-Father would agree, even if Roiven bowed to the God-Emperor and lay his head on an executioner’s block while the Empire took over the entirety of the Wild Seas.
I’ve watched people—witches—try to surrender before, and been killed anyway. This was always hopeless. And I was always an idiot for believing it could end any way but in bloodshed.
Just like I was an idiot for believing I could trust Roiven.
