Page 5 of Tears of Gold

“The place looked like someone stomped on it. Someone with a big boot,” Skye muses. “Whoever it was sent you back to the academy through a portal opened in midair.”

Vanrey chimes in. “Which means we can assume they aren’t a Davina. However, an individual like that might make all the difference in a war.” He strokes his chin for a moment. “Ava, were there any other prisoners with you?”

“No, I—” My head pounds and my finger burns. I lift my hand to examine it. A fine white scar runs down my index finger. Why can’t I remember how I got it? The medics said it was infected. From dirt. And cold, dark stone. “I . . . I think I put my hand through the hole,” I whisper.

All eyes fix on me. “You helped . . . someone?” Erritt asks, catching my gaze. His blue eyes blaze so vibrantly that I feel like I’m looking at living sapphires, and I can’t look away.

“I don’t know. I needed water.”

Erritt looks at the dragon, releasing my gaze and my held breath at the same time. “Skye . . . didn’t you say the being who d-destroyed the camp was . . . a salty?” His eyes flick to me, noting my confused expression. “An ocean c-creature.”

“Yeah,” Skye grumbles. “Salt damn near burned my nose to smithereens. It might make sense he needed water.”

“It’s hard to picture the Davinas holding someone like him captive,” Vanrey says.

“Like who?” I beg, wincing around the pounding in my head. “Who sent me back through a portal?” Is there someone else I need to remember? I set my teacup down on the table, afraid of spilling. Sometimes I wake up at night sweating, the icy cold, molasses sensation of teleporting clinging to me.

Ignoring me, Vanrey addresses Erritt. “The palace needs to be informed of this.”

Erritt nods. “Report it . . . but leave Ava’s name out . . . of it. It’s enough . . . to know . . . he wasn’t Davina. If push comes . . . to it, give the r-rogue’s name. He knows about the Davinas’ abduction . . . attempts.”

They all look at me again, and I feel smaller and more confused than ever, but I do know Harper is called a rogue, and he’s not supposed to be on Exerin-Mi any more than I am.

A wave of nausea rolls up my belly and into my throat. “What? No! Don’t bring Harper into this!” He’s just a human like me, stranded off-world. Or perhaps he’s mostly human; I’m not sure. But here on Exerin-Mi, no one likes humans much, and the emperor is famous for his brutality. What happens if they drag Harper before the Royal Guard to get information from him?

“Ava . . . we’re trying . . . to keep you safe,” Erritt chides.

Hot anger rushes through me, and I jump to my feet. “By sacrificing Harper? What kind of people are you?” I clench my hands into fists.

Skye’s brow furrows. “Ava, Harper can take care of himself pretty well. He’d offer himself in your place if he were here. As a half-breed, he has solid mind skills.”

My skin feels icy, but something molten hot works its way through my brain. “That’s exactly why you shouldn’t give up his name!” My voice rises, echoing through my aching head, but I don’t care. “Is it because he’s half human? Expendable?”

Harper is good and kind—and they want to give him up as an information source to the royal palace? I turn and point at Vanrey. “If you’re giving up any name, give mine. I’m already broken!”

My temper doesn’t seem to faze the royal aide, unlike the other two, who stare in shock. “Why do you say you’re broken, Ava?”

A shake runs through my body. “Because they broke me! Whatever secrets I had, I gave them up, and they left me with holes in my shitty mind! Holes that mean I don’t even know who the hell anyone in this room is or why I had something to protect in the first place!”

A chilled numbness takes over my mind, and I hear my voice rise in the distance as if it doesn’t belong to me. I can’t be sure if my mouth moves or if I’m shouting in my head. “I won’t stand here and offer up Harper to have some redhead hold him down and squish his brains until death seems like the better option!”

Suddenly, I feel her knees clamping my head and her sweaty hands pressing against my temples. With a moan, I cradle my head where she forced her will upon me, pinching in like a can opener on my thoughts.

I couldn’t bear it then, and I can’t bear it now. I whimper, my darkening vision filling with tears.

Someone touches my shoulder, and I slap the hand away. “Don’t fucking touch me!” I shout. “I’ve had enough of people touching me!” Touching means reading secrets, although I can’t remember why.

Tears stream down my face, fizzing against the fire raging in my temper. I just shouted at the prince of Exerin-Mi and his royal aide. And a dragon. I would have thought I’d like dragons if I met one, but that’s not the case.

Prince Erritt watches me, his brilliant blue eyes glistening and his face creased like he’s the one in pain.

I spin away, quivering with anger and embarrassment. I should have held my tongue or maybe not come here at all. Not until I have more answers to give, so they don’t need to offer Harper up as a sacrifice for the holes in my story. I wouldn’t have come except for Skye pushing me.

I don’t want to be here any longer. Without another word, I stride for the door, letting it slam shut behind me.

Chapter Three

Harper