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“She fucking told you that?’ Zor hissed, cold fury replacing the blankness, a smoldering anger that had the mare stepping back.
“What the fuck is she talking about Zorander?” Raz’s hand closed over mine while he helped bring my mount under control. “What did the Oracle tell you, Anaria?”
I looked between the three of them, Zor’s dark eyes pleading with me not to say it, Raz’s demanding the truth, Tavion, who clearly didn’t give a shite about me one way or the other.
“Say it, Anaria. You can’t take it back, so tell me the rest.” Raz demanded, his hand closing over my wrist.
“That Zor and Julian took me to Varitus after I was born and gave me to the Descendants as their slave. She said…” I swallowed, losing my breath at the pleading look on Zor’s face. “She said I had to learn what oppression was like.” I could barely push the rest out. “So…I’d know what it was to suffer.”
“That’snotwhat she told us would happen.” Zor shook his head, the words coming fast. “You were supposed to be a Descendant. A fucking aristocrat. Pampered, educated, taught to fucking dance and play the piano. I didn’t know…”
He looked stricken; was the only way I could describe his expression. Stricken and angry and betrayed, all at the same time.
“I didn’t fucking know, not until we faced Solok that night out in the field and he called you a slave.” He spread his hands helplessly, the first time I’d ever seen him look remotely vulnerable. “That’s not what I thought happened to you.I swear.”
“I believe you. The Oracle deceived us all, I suppose.”
I turned the mare toward the barn, but Tavion stepped into my path. “You didn’t lie?” His hands clenched into fists; mouth twisted. “You told the truth; you really were a slave?”
“I’ve never lied to you. Not about anything.” I opened my mouth to tell him about Julian, to clear the air between us, when Raz drew his fist back and swung. Zor’s head snapped back, blood spraying as he stumbled backwards. I lost my grip when the mare reared, spilling me onto the ground as they rolled over and over across the dirt covered track.
“You cold hearted bastard.” Raz ended up on top, fists flying so fast they were a blur as he beat Zor until he was bloody.
“You fucking told me she was safe, and you never even checked to make sure, did you?” Zor didn’t fight back—in itself a horrifying sight—and I was halfway to them when Tavion yanked Raz off, flailing and cursing while the royal guard came running.
Five guards dragged Raz away. Tavion, of all people, caught me before I went after them, Zor staring after Raz, his expression as hollow as I’d ever seen it.
Then Ember crashed into me, her arms wrapped around my neck as she sobbed into my shoulder. “Oh gods, Anaria, I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I escaped Solok, after that awful night on the battlefield.” She scrubbed her dirty, tearstained face. “After I got away, I made it to the ward and once I got through that, I followed the road all the way here.”
When she lifted her silvery eyes to mine, I searched them for any trace of the Reaper, but found nothing, not so much as a creeping shadow. Only tears, her hair matted with nettles and dirt, her filthy dress torn around the bottom.
It was the same gown she’d had on in Torin’s chamber, and when I pushed back her hair, one shoulder was stiff with dried blood. If I hadn’t seen the Reaper take her over, I would have embraced my friend and thanked the Old Gods for bringing her back to me alive.
I would have doted on her, then told her every last thing that had happened, including me claiming the magic. Everything about Raziel and Zor. Our conspiracy to overthrow the Fae King and all of Caladrius.
Gods, I would have killed us all.
The Oracle might be a devious monster, but she was protecting our secret, and by extension, protecting me.
“I can’t believe you made it all the way here on your own, Ember.” I hugged her tightly, meeting Zorander’s horrified gaze. “Let’s get you back to the Keep and cleaned up.” I turned her away from Zor and Tavion, unsure how much of our argument she’d heard.
“You’re staying with me, and this time, I won’t let you out of my sight, I swear.”
42
ZORANDER
My breath shuddered in my lungs as I kept myself from ripping the red-haired creature out of Anaria’s arms.
To allow a Reaper to get this close to her…I sorted through my feelings—why I was reacting like a panicked schoolboy—and the revelation froze me to my core.
I was afraid for Anaria.
Because I cared about her.
Me, who’d sworn to never get close to a female again,caredwhat happened to her. Blood dripped from my nose, splattered on my dust covered boots as rage clawed at my gut.
The Oracle—godsdamn her black soul—lied to me.
