Page 133 of Keldori By Daybreak

“You’re not going to win her back.”

“No, I think I’m right to assume she had nothing to do with that plot.” He smirked. “She saved my life in the mountain, after all. She still loves her uncle. I know it. You know it. And she knows it.”

“She loves the man she thought you were,” I conceded. “But he never existed.”

“Neither did you.” Ferrin laughed. “She built a friendship on a version of you that wasn’t real.”

“I was a Nightmare, not a liar.”

“Has she figured out you lured us to the canyon on purpose yet?”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m not the one who killed her parents.”

Ferrin gave an amicable chuckle and retreated to a chest. He threw it open and rummaged around, clinking glasses together as he went.

“No, that was me I’m afraid, and I don’t regret it. But haven’t we talked enough about Bryony and Oren? I’m starting to get bored rehashing that night. Drink?” He straightened up and turned back towards me with a glass of red liquid. I recoiled in my seat. “I promise it’s not poison.”

He took a swig to prove its safety, but I turned my chin away.

“I’m only trying to be a good host,” he said, sipping on the drink. “Though I suppose it would be difficult for you to drink with your hands tied like that.”

“I’m good.”

“We’ll head back to the Rift in the morning. I’m sure dear old Gams will be a bit more receptive to negotiations with you around. And I’m dying to hear more about this secret door into Keldori that Cade mentioned.”

“Cade doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” I snapped.

“No? So you aren’t on a quest to enter Keldori through some secret means so you can reseal precious Gams from the other side?” He paused to give me a chance to reply, but I remained silent. He laughed. “And if you succeed, what do you think happens then? Everything goes back to normal? What makes you think I won’t pry the Rift back open?”

“Because you’ll be dead.”

“By whose hand?” he sneered. “Yours? You had an entire lake at your disposal, and you still couldn’t kill me.”

“Then next time,” I hissed through gritted teeth, “I won’t use a lake.”

“Yes! I like this new Wren! She’s fun! Skalterra is changing you. Making you full of fire and vengeance.”

“Skalterra’s not doing that. You are.”

“Then you’re very welcome, and I’m so sorry. Because, unfortunately I do need the information you have about this secret door into Keldori, and I feel like that is not information you’re going to willingly give. So, this new, fun Wren, I’m going to have to break her.”

“Wren.” Ciarán’s voice in my head had a tight edge to it.

“I’ve got this,” I promised. “Have you found the Skal yet?”

“Maybe. Just keep him busy, but if he starts to hurt you—”

“I said I’m fine.”

Ferrin stepped closer, finishing off the drink. I settled back into my seat, comfortable in the fact that I knew I wasn’t really trapped there. Ferrin only thought he was in control.

“Try me,” I goaded.

He grinned and glowing dirt swirled at his feet. The Nightmare rose, straightening his tall frame and staring blankly ahead. His lack of awareness to my presence was all too ironic. My father, after all, had spent my entire life pretending I didn’t exist.

“You will tell me what I want to know,” Ferrin warned, a hand on my father’s Nightmare’s shoulder, “or good old Dad here will turn into a rotsbane.”

I forced a smirk. “And did you do your homework on good old Dad?”