Page 40 of The Stolen Throne
“I know.” The resignation that slips over Reven’s features carves a hole inside me.
I cross my arms, glaring at them both.
Cain’s too bent on making his point to either notice or care that Reven isn’t going to fight back. “I’m better for her than you will ever be.”
“I know that, too.”
The finality, the totally emotionless way he said that gouges a hole through me. He doesn’t mean it. He can’t.
Except he goes to leave.
Cain grabs his arm to stop him. He must have a bigger death wish than even his father. “Then what was with those displays of darkness?”
“Exactly what you think,” Reven mutters, shrugging off Cain’s hand.
He lost control? Because of me, or because he was jealous? I want to wrap my arms around my middle. That answer is a gut punch.
My emotions are like that sand demon I loosed earlier. A twisted jumble of denial and arguments for us being together and seeing how he’s struggling and burning disappointment that I’m apparently not worth fighting for. Not to Reven, at least.
Cain leans back, the anger fading to be replaced with something closer to understanding.
“I know Meren.” Cain has the stubborn look of a dog with a bone. “Better than anyone. I care about her. I’ll treat her the way she should be. I’ll protect her. I’ll—”
Hold on. Are they seriously debating who gets me without asking me? “Excuse me. I’m literally right here.”
Reven abruptly shoves a hand in Cain’s chest, pushing him out of his space. “What do you want from me?”
For the briefest moment, I catch the flash of fear in my friend’s eyes, gone almost immediately as he stares the Shadowraith down. I’m not the only one with no self-preservation instincts. “Let her go. That’s what I want.”
Reven says nothing.
Are they kidding me with this? “Listen—”
“She’s safe with me now,” Cain says, not softly but like he’s trying to lessen the blow. “I want you to let her go. Disappear from her life.”
That’s it. “Stop it!”
They both jerk their heads around to stare at me. Reven is emotionless. Cain, after a beat, quirks an eyebrow. I don’t think I’ve ever shouted at him that way.
That quirk ticks me off, but Reven’s blankness ticks me off more. “I highly recommend you both take all your unilateral decision-making and get out of my sight.” I glare at them. “The only person who is going to decide anything for me is me. If you two can’t see that, then damn you both!”
Cain’s instant scowl could melt iron. Without another word, he pivots and walks away.
I glower after him.
As soon as he’s gone, Vos stands in the doorway, appearing from the darkness in the area right outside my room. “Am I interrupting?”
“You heard.” Not a question.
“Those two weren’t exactly being secretive.” He casts a speculative glance over Reven. “And you better rein the darkness in tighter, my friend. You’re losing it.”
That is very true.
“What are you doing here?” Reven grumbles.
“The zariph didn’t seem to have a chance to tell you that Eidolon’s men found us twice while you were gone.”
Twice? I glance between them. Is that a lot?
