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Although, I can’t assume that will keep Oliver from killing him if he decides it’s too much of a risk to keep Alaric alive.
“Does your offer to help break the curse still stand?”
“Of course.” Oliver speaks with his typical airy manner yet offers nothing more than that.
I grab his sleeve, hating this game we are playing. “Did you find something?” My voice is strained.
He sighs, then grimly shakes his head. “I searched every lead I could find. There isn’t much, and the curse has always ended in death. I am sorry.”
My heart sinks. I plant my feet and tug on his arm again, stopping him. “What do you plan on doing with him?” There is no disguising the accusation in my question this time.
He meets my gaze, but there’s nothing in it to give me an answer one way or the other.
“I told you about him because I trusted you,” I say. “Was I wrong to do so?”
Oliver pries my fingers loose, then tucks my arm in the crook of his elbow, leading me on. “His fate has yet to be decided. That depends on the queen’s next move, as well as his.”
It was not a definite answer. However, it does tell me that whatever protection he offers extends only to me. Oliver and his pack might think they will decide what to do with Alaric, but they are in for a shock if they think I will sit back and do nothing to stop them.
It is not for them to decide Alaric’s fate.
An ache twists in my heart because every time I was treated like an object—as if I was something to be owned, traded, and bartered with, I resented it. Watching it happen to another, especially to someone I love, makes me furious.
He doesn’t belong to anyone.
Not even me.
“I won’t let you kill him,” I say, pitched to him alone.
“We will not make a decision in haste.” Then Oliver cuts a glance toward those ahead of us, the message clear. This is not the time or place for this discussion. I can respect that, but this is not the end of it.
Turning my thoughts inward, I focus on a problem that can be solved.
Varin?I try. The demon has been silent since we aired our frustrations.I don’t know how difficult it will be to work together… however, I think it’s worth trying to find a compromise.
I feel Varin’s hesitation.
Explain.Their response is careful. Suspicious. Though unable to hide their curiosity.
I don’t want either of us to feel powerless. Perhaps if we understood each other better.
I am listening…
When you took over to ride Nyx, it was… unsettling to have someone else command my every movement. I felt trapped…I trail off before continuing.Would I be correct in thinking that is similar to what you are experiencing—only in an unfamiliar body?
Varin’s presence is restless as they consider.That is a close enough approximation.
I bite down on my bottom lip. It would be a lie to say their answer didn’t make me uncomfortable. I have been so preoccupied with remaining in complete control, I never stopped to think about how Varin might feel. Before I end up dwelling on my guilt, I push on, wanting to make things right between us.
Do you think it is possible to share control? Not taking turns, but a constant sharing?
Explain.
If I can give over control, then why not partial? Sincemost movements are the result of what is happening around us and basic needs, they are somewhat automatic and wouldn’t require cooperation. For instance, now. We are doing little more than walking. All we have to do is sync our movements. I think it could work with a bit of practice.
What of the other times when things are not so simple?
Those will require more communication. What I want hasn’t changed—I want to save Alaric in any way I can. We’ll be fine as long as you don’t attempt to stop me. If one of us needs control, we can say so—like you did to ride Nyx.
