Page 110 of The Never List
That creates more questions than answers and in no way relaxes me.
“Why are you here?” I ask when he doesn’t continue. My eyes dart to where the Occuli still sit and stare in our direction, but there are no green flames in their hands anymore.
Did they alert Brooks Bertrand to my presence here? Did they let him know the minute I was alone?
“I wanted to see how you are enjoying your time with my son,” Brooks explains.
I don’t believe it for a second. Not because I can sense any ill intent from him, like I usually can Baydel, but on the sheer fact that he’s a king of Lumathyst and has way more important things to do.
Still, if this is some form of test, I need to do my best to pass it.
“I’m enjoying my time with Pierce immensely,” I answer.
“Even after that horrendous display in the Sapphire Cove?” he asks, keen eyes on me. “You came here the next day.”
“Yes,” I answer, unsure of what he’s looking for from me.
“You didn’t go below deck with us and our elite enforcers,” he says, and I simply nod. “You chose to go with the Legends. It’s plagued my mind ever since. Part of my motivation in coming to find you when my son isn’t around.”
I shift in my seat, all comfort from spending time with my friends disappearing.
“Why?” he asks a bit forcefully, taking his tea strainer out of the water and discarding it to the side before he takes a sip.
“Why what?” I ask, unable to keep the bite from my tone to match his energy. I chide myself silently, doing my best to remember who sits across from me.
“Why did youchooseto go with them? I doubt a Cedar and Silk citizen has much battle training.”
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as the reality of that question hits me over the head. Why would any seemingly untrained Cedar and Silk citizen follow the Legends into battle? I did so because my instincts demanded it. Because the thought of them fighting for those innocent people without me was abhorrent, but also because I knew if things got seriously dangerous, I had power of my own to wield. Not to mention that Erin and I had been sparring together since before our parents were taken for a Never List mission. Those skills helped during situations when enforcers abused their power.
“It wasn’t really a choice,” I say.
Brooks tilts his head, eyes narrowing. “Did they force you to accompany them?” His features are deadly serious, as if there will be repercussions if they did.
“Of course not,” I say quickly, my brow furrowed. I force out a laugh. “Kal begged me to stay back on the ship,” I admit. “But I couldn’t.”
“What do you mean, you couldn’t?” he asks a little softer this time as he sips his tea.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, searchingfor the right words. “Axl’s people, Kal’s people, and now Pierce’s,” I say as I glance around the teashop before returning my focus to him. “After spending as much time with the Legends as I have, growing to know them and love their cities and their people, they feel likemypeople, too. I couldn’t let the innocent suffer without doing something, even if that meant only guiding people to safety. The idea of being left behind and not knowing if the Legends were okay or not…” My voice trails off as the genuine terror takes up residence inside my chest.
I remember that first night in the Ruby Aire, when they’d left me behind and I had no way of knowing if they were all right. I never wanted to feel that way again.
“I’d rather be in dangerwiththem than be safe somewhere without them.”
Brooks studies me, his eyes older and more calculative than Pierce’s.
I’ve never been more relieved that his power isn’t like his son’s, because I fear with his age and experience, he’d break through my thoughts immediately and find all the secrets I’m hiding.
Luckily for me, he only has the power to manipulate energy—something he passed on to his son, right alongside his mother’s mind-reading abilities and alternate-reality creations.
“Do you say this because you’re a mate potential?” he asks with all seriousness. “Do you say it because I’m the king, father of one of your possible mates, and because you think it’s what I want to hear?”
I laugh genuinely this time as I shake my head. “I thought you would’ve noticed by now from my absolute blunders atevery dinner that I rarely say what I’m supposed to say.”
Brooks chuckles, nodding as he takes another sip of tea. “You certainly don’t get along with Baydel,” he says, shrugging. “But then again, only a few of us do. Old age affects others differently, and I do say that it’s made Baydel more rigid as opposed to wise.”
I don’t feel like I have the right to comment on that, so I keep my mouth shut.
“I have a question for you, Rylee Gray,” he says, setting down his teacup. “And since you are so honest all the time, I’m hoping you’ll be honest with me now.”
