Page 30 of Omen of ice
She sighs and shakes her head. “Are you really that desperate to be rid of me?”
The hurt in her eyes, in her tone, is like a sucker punch to my gut.
“You’re a human. Not to be blunt, but you’re far frailer than I am.”
“So?” Her lips curl into a snarl, and she narrows her eyes. I’ve obviously offended her, and for once, that’s not my intention.
She shakes her head again, some of the anger fading. “I don’t see us as unequal, Valen.”
If that were true, then she wouldn’t be here as my guard. But I can see getting her to understand is pointless. At least right now. “I’m not trying to hurt you. It’s just… No one canseeme. I’m not interested in forming any kind of bond.”
“Buri sees you.”
I sigh. “Buri doesn’t see me. It’s not like I can reveal myself. I must always wear a mask, hide the truth.”
“You don’t need to hide the truth from me.”
“No. I don’t. And in an attempt at transparency, I hate it.”
“Wow.” She lets out a whistle that echoes through the trees. “No wonder you’re so popular with the ladies.”
“I’m simply saying I don’t want to blur things between us. Do you understand?”
She laughs. “Trust me, Valen. Things between us won’t be blurring any time soon.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” Or at least it should be.
“So why not leave?” She tugs on a low-hanging branch as we start to walk again. The snow on the leaves scatters, drifting slowly to the ground in a fluffy white puff. “You’re obviously not happy at the estate. Orbik can’t technically stop you from going, can he?”
“I suppose he couldn’t.” I try to picture walking right out the front gate, and I snicker. It would never happen. But Icouldsneak away, if that’s what I wanted. “I stay for the same reason you remain by my side despite my best attempts to get you to leave.Duty.Responsibility to my people.”
“You mean because of the magic?”
“The power in my blood will save my people one day.”
She stops walking. “Is that a goal? A hopeful thought? Are you basing it on anything particular—or do you just have a savior complex?”
Her tone is combative, but I breathe in and keep my voice even. This was the information she wanted. “Mika told me.”
She hesitates, and I know she wants to ask more pressing questions. She takes a breath, closes her eyes for a moment, and sighs, then opens her eyes again. “How could she have possibly known something like that?”
“She did what you did with your tracking sigil. She traced a symbol onto her arm and used her ink. She saw that one day I’ll be able to bring back Fae magic.”
Her brows furrow. “Is she the druid who inked the Heartbreaker?”
I nod and rest my hand over my heart. I was twelve when she placed the sigil onto my chest, too young to understand the long-term ramifications of what had been done.
The Aphelian’s expression softens. “How did she die?”
“I told you. Her heart stopped—”
“Everyone’s heart stops when they die,” she says gently. “What caused it, though?”
I should have known better than to think she would let this go. And, really, can I blame her? This is information she should have, considering the same thing could happen to her…
“Valen…you can talk to me.”
“She was killed.” My fists clench tight, the smallest traces of frost creeping across my knuckles.
