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“And what was… is your vision?” I ask softly.
“My dad dead, and somebody better on the throne.”
“Holy wow.”
He laughs, but it’s a dry sound. “Yeah. So, I worked my ass off, working my way up the ranks, and I got to learn more about our plans. It’s more than just a simple ‘we’re taking back the kingdom,’ but an actual fucking plan of how we’re going to do it. I learnt about you, Zoe, and I knew that the future was bright again. The day we met? Everything cemented itself for me. I could have it all, thanks to you.”
I blush, I know I do. I did nothing except be born, and he’s looking at me like I’m his saviour.
“It’s not what you’ve done,” he says, giving me a watery grin. “It’s who you are. It’s what youwilldo.”
“So how does it all work?” I ask, changing the subject. I can’t handle this level of pure love, this level of devotion. Instead, I ignore it and divert his attention.
“How does what work?”
“Your work in the High Order. How do you manage to do that whilst actually double-crossing them?”
He sighs, running his hand through his hair as he considers his words. “Okay, can we go somewhere?”
“What? No,” I say, shaking my head and causing my curls to fly around. “I’ve finally got you here, opening up to me.”
“I think it would be easier to show you what I mean, though.”
“Show me?”
“Can you handle keeping a secret from the others?” he asks.
I bite my lip, hating how the secrets are all adding up. I’ve already got one secret I’m keeping, and it’s a doozy.
Ryes won’t be mad, not when he gave me permission, but it’s probably something the others deserved to know about.
“You don’t need to keep it for long,” he says, his face softening as he smiles at me. “I promise, once we’re settled into Necos’s tent, I’ll open up and share with the group.”
I roll my eyes at the mention of his tent. Necos has been taunting the others—Mael specifically—about how bad his home is, when I already know it’s going to be perfect.
“That’s something that makes me happy. I hate that you’ve been keeping this alone, and I’m looking forward to having everything out in the open,” I reply, and Etrix grins. “Besides, Ryes wants to enlist in your secret organisation, so you can’t keep it a secret for too long.”
His eyes widen, and I giggle but nod. “I’m not kidding. He hears more than anyone truly realises.”
And, unlike me, he keeps those secrets because they’re not truly his to hold onto.
I wish I was a better person.
“Well, that’s surprising,” Etrix says. “Let’s hope everyone else is as willing to jump ship.”
His thoughts turn to his brother, and I know Eirik is Etrix’s biggest worry right now.
“Eirik will understand,” I say softly. “And if not? We’ll deal with it. Together.”
I reach for his hand, and he lets me take it this time. I squeeze it, his larger hand encasing mine, and he looks at them in awe.
“I might be a tad biased since these rebels are supposedly fighting for me instead of fighting against me. Honestly, I quite like being alive, so I agree with their plan.”
“Well, that’s something that makes me happy to hear,” he says. “So, will you come with me to meet some rebels?”
“Absolutely.”
“Get changed,” he says, looking at my school uniform in disgust. “I can’t take you there looking like this, princess.”
