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After a moment, Orion’s voice drawls from the other side of the door. “I suppose, the same sort of male you’ve always been.”
The words sting, piercing through my ribs, burying their way inside my chest. I want to run off, forget this interaction ever happened. But no. Orion is only speaking the truth.
So I sit in front of his door, propped with my back up against it, pull a manual on vinecasting out of my satchel, and begin to read.
Hours later, when Orion opens the door and finds my weight still against it, so that I almost fall back on him, he groans in irritation.
“How long do you plan on waiting out here?” he asks.
“As long as it takes to change your mind.”
“You’re spoiled rotten, you know that. So used to getting your way, having everything handed to you, you don’t know how to be denied.”
I shrug, standing to face him and wiping the dust from the dungeon floor off my pants. “So I’ve been told. And you know, I might have taken that as an insult. But you’re correct. I am used to getting what I want. And I do expect what I want to come to me, eventually. But this time, things are a little different.”
“And how is that?”
“This time, what I want is for the good of others.”
“It benefits you too, you know. For your wife and child to remain safe.”
“Yes, but I’m not doing this for me. I’m doing this for them. Because never again am I going to leave them unprotected simply because I’ve been too lazy to prepare for danger.”
Orion sighs, his age showing, if not in his unfairly sculpted features, then in the weariness he carries on his shoulders. I can’t help but think being cooped up in this dungeon hasn’t treated him well over the years.
Why is he down here again?
Oh. Right.
He told my father off after he practically banished Olwen. Makes sense, as Orion would have seen himself in a prodigy like my sister.
“Fine. If you won’t help me to save your princess and an innocent child—”
Orion opens his mouth to protest, but I won’t let him finish.
“Then perhaps you’d help me for your own selfish reasons.”
“I already told you I don’t want money.”
“I’m aware. Thankfully, I’m also aware of what you do want.”
Orion scowls. “And what is that?”
“Peace and quiet.” I offer him the kind of grin only a spoiled prince can perfect. “And until you train me, you won’t be getting any.”
The next day, I beat Orion to the sparring ring.
In fact, I’m so prompt, I’m already warmed up by the time he arrives.
Orion glowers at me, dressed in his training leathers.
He then proceeds to slam me in the chest with a vine.
CHAPTER 58
KIRAN
I reach inward, grasping desperately for my magic, for anything. Anything to help me burn this place, burn our home, to get to her.
