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Once again, my vulnerabilities are revealed with my men, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Not a single fucking thing. That’s another situation for later, though. Now, Creed needs me.
He shakes his head, his hands balling into fists against the ground as Eldon drops down beside me to check on his friend.
“I can’t…” Creed croaks, making my heartache. “I can’t believe it.”
“What can’t you believe, man?” Eldon asks, squeezing his shoulder in a silent attempt at support.
Black onyx eyes look up, filled with disdain. “He left me with all of my memories this time and an understanding of what he’s done,” he breathes, his eyebrows furrowing. If he’s confused, we’re all fucked.
“What did he do, Creed?” Brax bites, clearly feeling as annoyed as I am.
“His hand… every time he’s touched me, he managed to see into my mind and erase his presence all at once.” Holy fuck. “Last night, before we went into the guild, he placed his hand on my arm.”
That motherfucking asshole.
I’ll kill him.
Rushing to my feet, I spin, searching for him, but Brax stops me in my tracks, turning my attention back to the group.
“Wait, so he knows that we know about…” Zane’s words trail off and Creed drops his head in defeat.
“Fuck. But if Erikel knew that, I’m sure he would have made us aware,” I mutter, confused by all of the information.
Creed shakes his head. “He showed me.”
“Showed you what?” I ask, dropping back down beside him. Reaching out to tilt his chin up, I look into his eyes, desperate to understand.
“How Erikel found out, but he also showed me what he did before that.” I gulp, waiting for him to explain better. “Erikel reads my father’s mind. He doesn’t offer the information, the bastard just takes it.” Just like the golden warrior does, it seems. “He demanded my father learn of any information I may have, and my father knew he had to give him something. So, he placed the memory of us knowing about Burton in a stone by the entrance and offered him The Monarchy instead.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“Are you sure? He could just be bullshitting you,” Brax grunts, and despite his harsh tone, I agree. This is all so far beyond my understanding, anything is possible now.
“He didn’t tell me. He showed me. It doesn’t make sense, I know. None of this does, and I don’t understand how Erikel isn’t able to see that he did that, but I believe him. Despite how much all of this hurts, I do.”
“Sometimes our parents are just shitty, though, Creed.” I startle at the sound of Leila’s voice and my heart drops to my feet.
Shit.
Clambering to my feet, I turn to face her. “Leila, I—”
“Don’t apologize, Raven. I understand. I do. But I would never. Not unless someone was able to do to me what they did to Creed. But from a young age, my father taught me how to block people from my mind,” she explains, reaching out to stroke her hand down my arm.
Fuck, she shouldn’t be comforting me right now. Not when I’ve been a total bitch. I also need to add it to my immediate to-do list to know how to block people from my mind too. We all do.
“I’m sorry.”
She gives me a pointed look for uttering the words she told me not to say, but fuck, she deserves more than that. Especially since the real reason they know is because of Creed, and I’m not getting mad at him like I was at her.
Creed rises, Eldon along with him, and we all turn to face the path to the arena. I don’t want to go, I don’t think any of us do. Not when we know The Monarchy is so close to coming for us. And especially not when we know what’s hidden in Ashdale. Eldon’s vision offered us that.
Despite my reluctance, there’s no alternative for us in this moment. No greener grass or glimmer of sunshine on the horizon. Nothing.
Silently, I grasp Creed’s hand and the six of us fall into line, joining the students heading toward the same doom as us. It doesn’t make sense why we all have to go, but nothing Erikel does makes sense to me. We’re definitely wired differently; there’s no doubt about that.
As we step into the arena, a chill runs through my body. It shouldn’t be colder in here than out there. I glance through the crowd, noting a lot of worry and confusion written on the faces of the students from Silvercrest, while those from Shadowgrim seem calm and collected, but I guess this isn’t the first time they’ve been uprooted.
They’re a lot more acclimated to Erikel and his ways, a feeling I hope to never know myself.
