Page 45 of A Cruel Kindness

This couldn’t be normal. I didn’t care that Peter had warned us of exactly this outcome, this couldn’t be right.

My chest felt like it was splitting open, like my sternum was separating from my ribs from the force of my heart beating. For a second, I felt like I couldn’t breathe at all, like Soren had left and taken my oxygen supply with him.

I stumbled toward my pack, needing some tangible reminder of why I was doing this before I threw caution to the wind and sprinted after Soren.

My hands were shaking as I wrestled with the zipper, then tucked inside the hidden compartment and pulled out the stack of letters I’d brought with me.

They were copies of the originals, transcribed in my own handwriting under candlelight in the dead of night, before they were safely tucked away back into the false bottom of my father’s desk.

My hands were stained with ink for weeks as I replicated them, tucking a set away in my bedroom vanity, in my floorboards, and in the belongings I would eventually take with me to the Bridge.

The very same copies I was unfolding now, trying to read through blurry vision obscured with building tears.

Certain words broke through, weaseling their way past my bleary eyes.

Peace.

Negotiations.

Final warning.

Peace.

I didn’t even really need to read them to know what they contained. To be reminded of the treason and betrayal contained in those letters.

I still didn’t know whether Muli was the one to start this war, if the stories of their greed were to be believed. If my father was right. If he was, that meant I’d be walking down an even more terrifying path than the one I was on now, and that was one of high treason.

All I knew was that ten letters sat in my hands, each containing a plea for peace from Muli’s Royal family, begging for any resolution to this conflict. I’d find a way to get these to them, to prove that it was my father’s actions, not Vir’s, that kept this war going.

Even if it killed me.

Chapter 12

Soren

I damn near threw myself into the gushing river cutting through camp to stop myself from walking back into that cabin and locking Bellamy inside until we agreed that ignoring the Bond was stupid.

I was shamelessly taunting her now, just to get some relief from the war the Bond was raging in my head. It was a losing battle, because the little glimpses of Bellamy surrendering to the Bond were enough to drive me insane.

My hands shook with restraint as I walked away from the cabin and back to the main house, seeking out Peter.

I didn’t even realize that I’d arrived at his office until I had, moving entirely on muscle memory as I spent my time remembering the look on Bellmay’s face when she’d walked into our room and saw me shirtless.

There was shock sure, but there was something headier there.

I would have dark, dark thoughts about that look.

“I was wondering when you’d show up,” Peter said with a wry smile as I opened his door without knocking.

Ella, his Match of fifteen years, smiled and rose from her chair across from him, walking over to place her hand on my shoulder in quiet comfort. She turned to Peter, saying, “I’ll see you later,” before walking out the door.

Peter was more of a big brother figure to her, their relationship entirely platonic. Peter had a partner for several years, but the strains of war weighed heavy on their relationship and he’d parted ways with him a while ago. I didn’t think Peter had an interest in another relationship until he was free of his duties.

I collapsed into his chair as Ella closed the door behind us, my body exhausted from resisting my instincts at every turn.

“How is the Bond coming along?” Peter asked, even though he knew. If the Bond was going well, everyone would know.

“Taking a page out of Esme and Ford’s book,” I muttered unhappily, crossing my arms over my chest.