Page 133 of Interion

“You heard me right—I want you to come have dinner with me.”

Serguei and me having dinner together—Zion wouldn’t think that was a good idea.

“Are you sure that’s what you want? Isn’t there a second option?” Kiara continued to glare at me furiously.

“The second option is being my training partner for a month. I haven’t had anyone to practice with—they’re all afraid of me.”

No way would I train with him—Zion flaying my hide was more than enough. I shuddered just thinking about it.

“That’s what I thought,” he replied smugly. “Next weekend is my birthday, and I’d like you to come.”

“I need to talk to Zion. He doesn’t even know we’ve met,” I explained, heading toward the closet.

“Zion should come too—it’ll be a family celebration.”

“Zion?” I asked, surprised.

“Do you have some kind of reading comprehension problem, child? Zion should come. Him, me, and you. The three of us,” he mocked.

“No way. That’ll be a total disaster if what you said about you two not getting along is true.”

“A deal’s a deal, Kyller. Besides, what better time for you two to talk than with me there? I probably know more than both of you combined. And you can bring the book—I’ll unlock it before you leave.”

The offer about the book was tempting.

“Zion hasn’t arrived yet—I don’t know where he is.” It was the only excuse I had left to stall.

“Zion’s been in his room for twenty minutes—you just don’t pay attention,” he mocked.

Once again, I was surprised. If he’d been here for twenty minutes, then he must have heard everything I’d been saying to Kiara...

“He probably heard—I can’t say for sure. It’s been almost two hundred years since I’ve dared to enter his mental barriers, but I was listening. Your thoughts about him are so adorable.”

Embarrassment flooded me instantly. I wanted to scream at him for being so invasive, but that would only make things worse.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t monitor my thoughts like that. It makes me uncomfortable,” I said, containing my annoyance.

“It’s impossible not to hear when you’re shouting all of them. My mental barrier protects you from other telepaths, but it doesn’t protect you from me. I’m looking forward to seeing what your barriers will be like,” he explained excitedly. I had the feeling Serguei was perpetually ecstatic about everything—was he on some kind of drug?

“Life is the only drug I insist on using, Kyller. So heavy there’s no room for other intoxicants.”

I avoided thinking anything else that might insult him. Having Serguei listening to my every thought was a problem, and these mental conversations only made me realize my mind wasn’t as kind as I’d imagined.

“Could you at least not embarrass me with my own thoughts? It’s fine that you read them, but could you just pretend you don’t?”

Serguei was quiet for a moment.

“Is that another deal?”

I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath.

“No! Enough with the deals. This is a simple request.”

“Then nothing doing. I’ll be expecting you next Saturday at 8 p.m. at the royal palace. Don’t be late, Kyller!”

The presence disappeared.

I begged all the gods—any who could hear me—that Zion wouldn’t be angry about this. I didn’t know what kind of relationship he had with his father, but Serguei had mentioned it was a bit complicated—I just hoped it wasn’t too bad.