Page 134 of The Starlight Savior

“Had,” Conor said slowly.

“Had?” Saige’s voice was merely a squeak, lodged in her throat. Misery threatened to burst through the surface, but she pushed it down once again.

“S-She burned out…but I didn’t know or understand the circumstances. Sebastien and I were too young.” Conor’s voice cracked at the words, confusion and emotion spreading across his face. His hands moved down her shoulders and arms, gripping her fingers tightly. “I didn’t know, Saige. Please. You have to believe me.”

Saige looked away. Deep down, she wanted to. But the deceit and secrets weaved into the Kingdom of Etrane had been building and building. It was difficult to decipher what people truly knew. Each person carried more truth in what they didn’t say.

She jerked away, Conor’s hands falling to his side. The urge to do something flooded her as she paced the room. What was she supposed to do with all of this? It was unfathomable to ignore the ache building in her chest as the room threatened to close in on her.

There was so much she didn’t understand, and the people who swore her loyalty weren’t telling her the truth. Conor claimed he didn’t lie, that he didn’t know the contents of the letter, but he knew Lyla’s name, and that was enough to push her away right now.

“I can’t do this,” she breathed. “I-I need space to think.”

Saige walked towards the door, but something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Armor and swords were organized in a neat pile off to the side. A wolf helmet glittered bright, freshly polished. She recognized it instantly.

“You!” she cried, spinning towards him. The edges of her vision illuminated as fury pressed through her skin. A shaky hand, fingertips glowing, pointed to the wolf helmet. The very one worn in Denholm when she was captured.

Conor looked from the helmet to Saige, brows furrowed in confusion. She let the words hang in the air, her chest threatening to cave in. He was there. He was the one.

Realization hit him like an earthquake as he stumbled forward.

“No, no, no!” Conor took another step. “It’s not what it looks like!”

“You captured me! You claimed you had no part of me being taken here outside of scouting the area, being in the tavern.” She pointed to the wolf helmet again. “The warlock who held me down wore that.”

“Please just listen to me,” he begged.

“Stop.” Her heart thundered loudly in her chest. White light blurred her vision as the room swelled with starlight. She didn’t think her body could bear anymore secrets. Everywhere her eyes roamed, she searched for reasons to not trust the people before her.

“Saige, please listen to me! It wasn’t me! You have to believe me. All I’ve ever wanted to do was protect you.”

“Protect me? All anyone has done in this kingdom is lie! Treat me like a dense child who can’t handle any bit of the truth! You knew I wouldn’t trust you if I had known you were the very warlock who held me down, sent electric shocks through my body! Gods, I can’t believe I kissed you, trusted you!”

“It wasn’t me!” Conor’s shout shook the room, sending waves of air pressing against her skin. “Yes, I have kept things from you. Not being more truthful from the start will be my biggest regret. But you’re placing blame on things that aren’t mine to hold. I knew nothing of this letter, nor about what power Lyla held. King Vospella, Tobin, my father, Eva, all know more than they are letting on. There is clearly something deeper going on, and we can figure it out together.”

He attempted to take another step, but Saige held up her hand.

“Take one more step and I’ll burn your room down,” she said quickly, stumbling back. She needed a moment alone, to sift through his words and think of what to do next.

“You can trust me—”

She shook her head, dark curls falling in her face. “I need to get away from here. I need to leave—”

“Saige, no! I lov—”

“Stop!” she screamed, not wanting to hear the words that lingered on his lips. “You want to protect me? Fine. Don’t you dare stop me from leaving this place.”

Before she could hear his answer, she spun on her heel, fleeing.

Chapter 50

Athalos’s castle walls were a prison pressing against Saige. Keeping her at King Vospella’s will. Stumbling into her quarters, Saige cringed as the mark upon her arm burned, sending sharp pain down her fingers. The crumpled letter fell from her hands as she tugged the sleeve of her dress up. Her nails raked against smooth skin, dark ink branded upon her body. She was Etrane’s property now. Yet according to her father’s letter, she didn’t even belong here.

The only thought she could muster was to leave. Even if she had no destination yet, she needed to move forward, away from all of the suffocating discoveries.

If she returned to Brevil, she could warn them of the approaching mist. She knew in her bones that King Brennus hadn’t warned the civilians yet. The idea of magic seeping into their kingdom would cause disarray.

Or she could carry out the council’s plan. Travel to the designated trigger point, infuse the river with her magic. Was she capable of such a thing though? Her power improved with each training, but it didn’t mean she was ready.