Page 64 of These Fractured Bonds

“And it would be foolish for you to attend the council,” Leo added. He tried to approach her, but Augrys placed himself in front of him, stopping Leo in his path.

“Really, Augrys,” Leo snapped.

Augrys snorted. “Are you sure you want to start?”

The ice sheet between them groaned, straining under the weight of their glares. Erick stepped between them and attempted to mediate between the two in hushed whispers.

Bri drew her attention away from the arguing men. “The council is being held at Izmari’s capital. It’s unsafe. Powerful Fae will be there, including Tuom. The safer option is to stay here while Augrys and Erick attend.”

Yareli hadn’t considered encountering Tuom again so soon; it gave her pause. It was true—it would be risky.Maybe Leo could teach her magic.As she was about to express her second thoughts, a whisper floated across her mind.Go to the capital. Her dream came back to her then—the mysterious Fae in her dream told her about this exact opportunity. Could she tell them about it?

“You’re both idiots!”

Erick’s yell interrupted her thoughts, drawing her attention once more to the three of them. No, Yareli couldn’t tell them about her dream; they wouldn’t believe her, blaming it on her weakened state and confining her to bed rest.

Bri took her hand. “Ignore the bickering blockheads. What do you want to do?”

To the capital, the voice in her head insisted.

“I want to go,” Yareli said.

She nodded, letting go of her hand and turning toward the men. “Yareli will go to the council.”

Her voice was strong, even, confident—and it silenced the men’s squabbling. Leo was the first to say something.

“What? You know she shouldn’t go. It’s too dangerous.”

“I agree. Besides, we’ll return within two days.” Erick turned to Augrys, nudging him. “Say something.”

Everyone waited for his answer; Yareli met his inquisitive stare with a resolute look of her own. She had to go, to find what she sought—the answer to which she wasn’t sure—even if it required her to find her way there without them.

“If Yareli wants to go, then she goes,” Augrys said.

“And how do you propose you will hide that she’s human?” Leo countered. His face was set in straight lines; his tone drawled. Yareli could tell he was unhappy with the direction things were taking, and his voice revealed what he thought of it all—ridiculous.

“There’s a transformation spell I’ve almost completed that will grant her a Fae appearance,” Augrys answered.

“And her wound?”

“Erick will be there to continue treatment.”

The said healer looked put out like he couldn’t believe what Augrys was saying, but he couldn’t find a counterargument to his logic.

Leo, however, was not one easily deterred. “I’m sure you’ll guarantee her safety, right? Just as you did a few months ago?”

If the room had been icy before, it was subzero now. Yareli thought she saw her breath fan out in white puffs. Augrys didn’tflinch at the accusation, but he clenched his jaw. He leveled a look colder than she had ever seen on him at Leo.

“Shall I remind you of your own failure last night? Where were you when the attack began? I entrusted her safety to you.”

Guilt flashed on Leo’s face, quickly replaced by anger. “Because you’re great at it too, huh.”

“I will be.”

Leo chuckled; the curl of his lips and shake of his head gave it a derisive effect.

“You’d better be.”

So, this was the cause of their argument—her. Yareli stiffened; her heart beat so fast against her frozen chest, she thought it might shatter her ribs at any moment. She didn't like it. Bri and Erick looked resigned to let the argument play out, but they were poised to take action if it escalated further. However, Yareli had had enough of their bickering.