Page 118 of Embers of Ruin

“Infuriating.”

“Yes.”

The simplicity of his agreement nearly throws me off balance, which I suspect is exactly why he does it. He has become better at this. At me. A deeply troubling development.

Mazelle steps forward, handing the papers to Onyx as he approaches. Their fingers do not touch, but something passes between them anyway. A look. A warning. An unspoken argument already half-fought before I arrived. Onyx glances once at the papers, and his jaw tightens.

He doesn’t see that I notice, but I do. Thorin notices me noticing, unfortunately.

“The western road?” I ask.

No one answers quickly enough.

I laugh softly. “Oh good. Silence. My favorite meal.”

Mazelle’s gaze cuts to Thorin, but he keeps his attention on me.

“There has been another report,” he says carefully.

My irritation quiets, not disappearing but shifting into something colder. “Another village?”

His silence is answer enough.

I look toward the living tree because suddenly looking at him is difficult. The leaves blur for half a second before I force myself to see them clearly.

“Is it gone?”

“We don’t know.”

“That means yes.”

“It means we don’t know.”

“That’s what people say when the truth can be cruel,” I snap, tired of the back-and-forth.

Thorin’s face doesn’t change, but something in his eyes darkens. “You wanted to know what is at stake.”

I look back at him. “I wanted to know before you started shaping me into whatever weapon you think I’m meant to become.”

Onyx’s attention sharpens as Mazelle goes very still.

Thorin steps closer. Just one step. “You think I want a weapon.”

“I think you want whatever will save your kingdom. And I think you’re arrogant enough to believe the difference matters.”

His shadows stir, but stop themselves from creeping near me like they usually do.

“That difference is all that matters.” His voice is barely above a whisper, but the edge beneath it is impossible to miss.

“Is that what you tell yourself?” I ask. “Is that why you keep me here as a pretend guest? Do you tell yourself I’m the cure to your curse? Is that what makes this easier?”

I take another step toward him.

“You didn’t have to seduce me to do that.” My voice cracks despite my best efforts. “I am no one’s cure. I will break no man’s curse. And I. Don't. Belong. To. Anyone.”

Onyx says my name under his breath, but it’s not enough to stop me. Not enough to save me from myself.

Thorin’s eyes stay locked on mine. “Do you want to train or argue?” He looks exhausted, but I don’t particularly care at the moment.