Page 87 of The Souls Harvest
“She was temporarily blind, you reckless idiot.” I almost hope someone’s heard me because I will knock him out if nobody comes to stop me.
His voice may sound more profound than the last time we spoke, and his hair longer. However, not even the short beard could trick the eyes, especially after Eve told me Roden had decided to show his video report to July. I bet she’s memorised every line of his face, the colour of his eyes, the curve of his lips.
I slap my bed to avoid aiming my frustration directly at him.
“Kris, you’d better close that door and lock it,” I say in the flattest voice possible, leaving my bed and beckoning him in. “There’s something you need to know, and you won’t like it.”
He looks at me, doubtful; there’s still a shadow of a smile on his face, but he does as asked.
“Are you talking about your last-minute trip to Horigos without Roden’s blessing?” he leans with his back against the door, hands buried in the pockets of his cargo trousers.
I shake my head. “Not exactly. It’s more to do with a deal July accepted. This time, there is a strong chance she’ll take you to Roden. He didn’t leave her much of a choice.”
I let the words sink.
“And you call that news?”
“She has a reason this time,” I lower my voice.
Kris tilts his head, such an innocent gesture that it makes myblood boil.
How can he not flinch? Not fucking once.
“She’s always had one, and look at me,” - he flexes one arm - “I’m standing in front of you, living and breathing, and talking.”
I huff a laugh, “That’s hard to prevent, I’m afraid.” I rub my face, studying him through my fingers. “How long have you been here? You’ve started to sound like Mack. This is serious. Her memories haven’t come back yet—”
Kris arches a brow in disbelief, “But?”
“But she knows I am part of the Chapter.”
“Interesting.” Kris pinches his chin, staring at me. “So, you’re not her favourite anymore. How areyoustill alive, then?”
Exasperation bubbles in my belly. “Tabitha explained the situation better than I could on our way here. But that’s not the point…Too many variables have changed, and I can’t really say how July will react. This time.”
He shrugs; not a trace of fear crosses his face.
I stand up from my bed and start pacing in silence.
“Oh, oh. You’re chewing the collar of your t-shirt. That must be bad.”
I stop and turn on my heel. “What’s wrong with you?” I say with frustration more than anger.
I regret it as soon as he hums with a sad smile, lowering his eyes to the floor. “Have you ever thought that perhaps I’m tired of this? All I want is to end thisthing,that is. Once and for all, so I can finally stop hiding and settle somewhere. Anywhere. Or just stopbeing?”
The months we’ve been apart creep up on him, revealing the man he’s become—the person I wanted him to be since we discovered his power and curse.
“So you’re just giving up?” I open my arms to keep them busy, as otherwise, I will slap him—or worse. “And what about the sacrifices I had to make? What about Tabitha, Jyn and the others?”
He pushes away from the door, stepping into the narrow path of light pouring in from the curtains. Lit by the sunlight, the emerald in his eyes transforms into molten gold, an ability that used to frighten me when I began spending a bunch of forbidden, dangerous hours with him, supervised by Evelyn.
“Don’t play the victim with me. Tabitha and her people were deeply involved in their war before they knew I even existed. I’m just a useful addition to their arsenal. As to you—you don’t really have a choice,” he smirks, mirroring my stance and crossing his arms over his chest.
And he is so right; I wish I could lock him in this room and throw away the key. But he’s not a little boy anymore.
I throw my hands in the air, defeated and more worried than I was a few moments ago. “July is first in line to be the death of me; but you are a worthy contender. At least promise you won’t go looking for her, talk to her, or even spy on her from afar.”
Kristyon opens his mouth, but I stop him. “I was being rhetorical. You willnotseek any contacts unless I say it’s safe.” I mark every word with a step towards him. I only stop when we’reso close I can see the gold recoiling inside his pupils and his eyes returning to emerald.
