Page 162 of Seasons of War
“Stay here in Ciondo and fight the Phaedra if you must, but don't marry that girl.”
Where was this coming from? What was going on with his mom? “You love Mellie.”
“You don't.”
He shook his head, bewildered. “You encouraged us from the start.”
“I was wrong. I thought you were just scared to open up. You never loved her.”
Reaching behind himself, he grasped the door handle. “I'm not talking about this right now. There's too much going on.”
The entire conversation shook his world, the aftershocks rocking him on his way through the house to find Kira. He wanted to leave. What if she tried convincing him of something crazy too? Zayne couldn't handle fending off the optimism of both Kira and his mom. They made for a forceful duo.
Kira sat in the grass outside, staring up at the sky, the breeze tossing her fiery hair. Soon, she'd do this in the territories, truly free.
Zayne sat beside her, and she looked at him with the warmest smile.
“Hey,” she said.
“We're talking again.”
“Yeah.” A chuckle. “Sorry about the other night.”
“I'm sorry.”
“For what?”
“Everything, all the time.” Selecting his words carefully, he looked at the sky as well. “I found what I was looking for.”
He heard her breathing stall.
“There's a piece missing, but I'm working on it.” Ashantae helped him select the perfect United officer to target for a deal. He just needed to meet with him.
“When?”
“Soon.” He placed his hand on the ground and tapped a finger eight times, waited several seconds, then repeated the pattern. “I'm trying to speed that up.”
“Until then?”
“Taken care of.” Well, it would be. Zayne didn't want her to worry. He'd find a way to hold off the Phaedra's wrath while they searched for a route through the mountains.
“Thank you.” Green eyes met his, imploring. “It's safe?” she whispered too quietly to hear. He had to read her lips.
Zayne nodded and pushed to his feet. Kira followed, strolling with him through the yard, until they wound up under the cover of the woods. Green unfurled from the branches in freshly budding leaves.
“I won't forgive you if anything happens to you or Brock,” she said.
“You're a bit scary when you're mad. I wouldn't want that.”
“You're teasing me.”
“I don't tease.”
Her eyes lingered. “Or you don't think you do.”
“I mock,” he said, regretting the lightheartedness. “Whatever happens in the next eight days, keep the Phaedra happy. He's in a state.”
“Because of what I did.”
