Page 7 of Keldori By Daybreak

A chill passed over me, and I hoped Ciarán didn’t notice my neck bob as I swallowed hard.

“And Tamora?” I tried to sound nonchalant.

“No, the Baron has been quiet.”

Jonquil’s purrs filled the silence that followed.

“You could’ve at least told me you’ve been in my head,” I finally said.

“You’re nicer when you don’t know.”

“Are you in my head right now then?”

“Yes.” I heard the word as clearly as if he’d said it out loud, but his lips didn’t move.

“So you’ve been spying on my thoughts?”

“I can’t read your thoughts unless you direct them at me,” he said. “But I know you well enough to know you are lying about whatever it is the Saergrim told you.”

“What Gams told me doesn’t matter.” I closed my eyes so I wouldn’t have to look at him anymore. “I’m a Saergrim, too, so you have to do what I say. And I say we’re going to do what we can to make everything go back to normal.”

To make you go back to normal, I wanted to say.

I squashed the thought. This was Ciarán’s normal. Liam, the boy I’d known in Keel Watch Harbor, was dead. Worse than that, he’d never existed. He was nothing more than dust and Magick personified into everything Ciarán wished he was.

He’d been a Nightmare, just like everyone else living in Keel Watch Harbor before Ferrin had ruined everything.

“Whether I’m in your head or not, I suppose I can’t force you to give up your secrets, my Lady,” Ciarán sighed.

“I told you not to call me that.”

“And I’m telling you now that I’d like you to be honest with at least me.”

“You?” I snorted so hard that I sent another ripple of pain through my ribs. Ciarán had spent the better part of the last two months chasing me across Skalterra. He’d tried to hurt my friends. He’d held me captive.

“Yes. Me.”

I opened my eyes to find him staring at me.

“You killed me,” I reminded him.

“I also saved you. Several times. Here in Skalterra, and in Keldori too.”

I held my breath, trying to read his passive orange gaze, but the stoic set of his brow gave away nothing. This was the first time he’d alluded to his life as Liam since that first day when I’d woken up here.

“I went into the woods for you,” he continued in a low murmur. “I saved you from Ferrin. I gave my life for yours.”

“Not much of a trade off if you aren’t really dead.”

“You aren’t dead either, Blue. If my sacrifice doesn’t count for anything, then neither does me killing you.”

I stared at him, as if doing so might unravel his secrets and make him make more sense.

“Is your name really not Ciarán Grimguard, then?” I asked. “You have a secret last name?”

“Everyone in Skalterra does.”

“Not me.”