Page 3 of The Blade in the Ashes
There was a gentle touch on my elbow that only firmed when I attempted to jerk away from where he now pulled me closer to him.
“I do care for you, Thea,” he breathed, dark eyes burning into mine. “Somewhere, maybe somewhere deep down underneath your pain, I think you know that. I even think you care for me too. You considered me a friend once, after all.”
I ripped my arm back.
Whatever friendship may have existed between us died when I’d found out that he’d guided Hyrax in creating me to look like Isidore and then hid that fact from me. He had broken all the trust I’d foolishly given him.
“I’m not asking for instant forgiveness,” Caldrius continued, still imploring me with the sincerity in his gaze. “But I would like to be considered your friend again at some point.”
“You’ve done nothing to earn my friendship.”
The windowsill pressed against my back, preventing me from taking any additional steps away from where he now loomed over me.
Days.
It had only been a matter of days since I’d had magic in me that could have sent him flying away with just a thought.
“Haven’t I?” He ran his free hand irritably through his hair. “Did I not earn it by saving your merry band of rebels? And if not by that, then perhaps I earned it by tending to Hyrax in his grief so that you don’t have to. It might even be worth mentioning that I’m the one ensuring the many guards and nobles stay away from you despite how desperate they all are to greet their new Crown Princess.”
I froze, unable to move while those words echoed in my head. Foreign. Wrong. Clay was the Crown Prince. Clay was the heir.
But Clay’s kingdom didn’t exist anymore.
Hyrax ruled now.
And I was his heir.
Caldrius’ expression softened as he took in the pain on my face. After a long moment, he backed away a few steps, giving me the freedom to brace myself against the wall for support. Days ago, I had battled a Goddess without fear. Now I couldn’t even support my own weight.
“All I’m trying to say is that I’m not your enemy, Thea. At least, I don’t want to be.”
I met his gaze, marveling at the genuineness in his eyes.
Truthfully, Caldrius hadn’t stepped out of line since Hyrax took over the castle. He had ensured that Clay and the others got safely out of the castle. So far, he had respected any boundaries I’d set. He made sure I received three meals daily, even if I didn’t always eat them.
Still, I couldn’t look at him without seeing all the betrayal and pain that had consumed me in the past few days.
“I don’t know who my enemies are anymore,” I confessed, almost more to myself than to him.
A sudden knock on the door sent my heart lurching. Instinctively, I reached for my power, attempting to pull it to my fingertips as I had done so many countless times before.
Nothing came to me.
“Perhaps this will help clarify things for you,” Caldrius murmured, nodding his head towards the continued knocking.
He walked to the door with heavy, purposeful steps, and I followed him, padding through the bedroom into the parlor towards the door.
And I gasped.
Because on the other side of that frame, hunched in front of one of Hyrax’s guards, was someone I knew could never be my enemy.
“Nessira!”
She broke away from the grasp of the guard just as I ran to her, and we collapsed into each other’s arms. Caldrius and the guards faded from existence as I squeezed her familiar fingertips into my own and pulled her to me.
“Oh, my Lady!” She clutched onto me in return, holding me so tightly she risked leaving bruises, but I didn’t care.
“Are you okay?” I cried, pulling back to scan over her.
