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“They always want something in return,” he presses, taking a step toward me, and my hand tightens around my blade. I peer at Fitch over his shoulder for a second, still confused about how this man so openly stands at his side now.
“We didn’t have negotiations.” I sigh, shrugging, and Burton’s sword whirls toward Eldon, the tip of his blade stopping mere inches from his face.
My spine stiffens, panic thrumming through my veins as I use all of my strength to remain still and not react too quickly.
“Did you bring back what belongs to me? What’s rightfully mine?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Eldon states, cocking a brow at him, which increases the fury radiating from him.
“Don’t play dumb with me. The ruby. Give me the ruby!” he snaps, jabbing the blade an inch closer to Eldon’s face, and I lift my own, aiming it in his direction.
“We. Don’t. Have. It.” The words burn my throat as my pulse pounds in my ears.
“Read her. I want the truth,” he snaps, nodding in my direction, and the golden warrior inches toward me. He’s remained silent this entire time, his gaze locked on his son, and I can’t tell if it’s relief he feels at having to read me instead of him, but I would take it this way every time.
I can block him. Ari taught me.
Exhaling, I build my walls up, letting the golden glove press against my temple as he tries to penetrate my thoughts. It’s a gamble whether he’s going to reveal my ability to shield him or not, but my instinct tells me he’s desperate to separate his son from this mess. Most of that time has been getting him away from me, but reality clearly shows that’s never going to happen.
At this moment, we’re either his enemy or he’s slowly becoming our ally. There’s no in-between.
My gaze doesn’t falter as I stare deep into his eyes, and a moment later he steps back, drawing his hand away as he turns to his leader.
“She’s telling the truth.”
Fuck.
I sag with relief inside. I had refused to consider what the alternative may have brought, unwilling to deal with any more possibilities, and now I don’t have to.
“You’re playing games you can’t win,” Burton promises, withdrawing his sword despite the murderous desire flickering in his eyes. “Getting on the wrong side of me puts you on the wrong side of the war.”
“What war? The one you expect us to blindly follow you into when we want nothing to do with it?” I snap, eager to get the fuck out of here without injury, but the part of me that wants to continue to rile him up is prominent. “You may have coaxed some members of the academy to your side,” I push, glancing back at Fitch again. “But I believed in Burton, in what he stood for. What did you do to him, huh? He would never leave the academy in such disarray. He gave us strength, fortified our alliances, and encouraged us with hope. None of what you have to offer puts the war in a good light for us. There’s no gain for us, just for you.”
Nausea swirls in my stomach as the words slip from my lips. I fucking know it’s him underneath this façade, but he doesn’t know that. I want him to think he’s winning despite my desire to argue. Let him think he’s got the upper hand, but it’s only a matter of time before it’s all going to come crumbling down.
The flash in his eyes confirms who he truly is, the sense of pride still cascading over him, and I have to bite back the smirk threatening to spread across my face.
Burton flicks the fur coat at his sides, turning away from us as he heads back toward Fitch. It’s not until he’s by the doorway that he turns back to us, determination shimmering in his eyes. “Burton was weak. The time has come for stronger and wiser leadership. You would do well to learn that, and learn it fast because the realms are changing around us.” His lips purse for a second as he assesses me before the corner of his mouth tips up and my stomach sinks, bracing for whatever is about to come next. “You will fall in line, or all of your current leniences will be taken away.”
It’s not a threat; it’s a promise.
“What the fuck does that mean?” I snap, nostrils flaring as I glare at him.
“I have a pretty little cage with your name on it ready and waiting. Give me one excuse to use it, just one. I dare you.”
TWENTY-TWO
CREED
The day passes in a blur, leaving me to feel as though we’ve never been away. It’s crazy how that works. I was certain we may spend the rest of our lives lost to the Realm of Shadows, yet it feels more like Hell being back here.
We once sought solace from these guarded wards. I believed we would come to Silvercrest Academy to hone our magic and defeat the challenges all other students would face before finding our place in the Elevin Realm. As a soldier, maybe, I don’t know, I hadn’t really thought that far ahead. I wanted to walk in my father’s footsteps with honor, but that’s all tainted now.
We’ve had the pleasure of the Shadowgrim students following our every move all day, irritating the fuck out of me, and I’m ready to brawl. Maybe it would expel some of this energy I’m struggling to disperse.
My head is all over the place. I haven’t been able to focus on a single thing all day. Nothing except the presence of my woman. I squeeze her hand instinctively, reconfirming she’s right there, and she peers up at me with a smile reserved only for the four of us.
Nobody bothers us as we head down the pathway to our house while I bask in being at her side. Zane can take one for the team this time and trail behind. Not that I really gave him a choice, but I’ve missed Raven just as much as he has. To be fair, it’s not a bad view, watching her sweet ass sway from side to side, but shit, feeling her palm against mine is something else entirely.
