Page 92 of Omen of ice
Walk away.
Destroy them.
They are whispers fighting for attention, and with each passing moment, they get louder and louder, threatening to split my head in two. My knees buckle, and the world around me swims violently. Something wells in my chest, a bubble that will surely suffocate me if not released. I lift my head, meeting the frozen gaze of the Winter Guard leader the moment a scream tears from my throat.
Monster. He serves a monster and deserves to die!
A second later, they all shatter.
…
As we make our way farther into Kanadia, the former home of the Summer Court, Delkin repeatedly apologizes. He explains that not only do I have to deal with Valen’s moods and bad habits, but there’s always a chance I can pick up the strong emotions of others in proximity. The stronger the personality, the better the chance. It makes me wonder if we, as druids, were given a gift in disguise when we lost our magic.
I tuck my legs in tight, curling into a ball a few feet from tonight’s campfire. I still see their faces the instant before it happened. The broken pieces, the chunks of icy limbs, all scattered across the land I turned into a battlefield with a single flick of my wrist. Is this what Valen has to deal with daily? The constant fear that he might hurt someone if pushed too far?
And if I have to worry about the emotions of others, should I fear Delkin? What if his temper is just as volatile as his son’s? On some level, I understand his reaction. His son and his mate were taken from him. I can’t even fathom that kind of loss.
“I know you’re awake,” I hear. On the other side of the fire, Valen shifts.
I’m not comfortable with this new turn of events. How far will this link push me? “Would you like a medal?”
“I would.” He snickers softly. “Of course, it would have to be awarded for most charming personality. Or perhaps most perfect ass.”
“You forgot Fae most likely to be tossed off a cliff.”
“You’ll have to present the award to me personally, of course. Preferably wearing—”
“I’m sure that troll from the bridge would rather do the honor. And you’d be roasting over a spit, no doubt.”
“I’ll miss that, I think.”
I uncurl and sit up. My mind is racing, and I’m not going to get any sleep. “Miss what?”
“That bitter sarcasm.”
“Is there some reason I would stop being sarcastic?” I nudge a small spider from the edge of my bedroll. It pauses, almost as if apologizing, before scampering on its way.
He watches me for a moment before shrugging. “You’re not always going to be around, Tania.”
I lift a finger to my throat and make a slashing motion. “Planning something, Valen?”
He laughs. “I doubt you plan on sticking around after we get this link broken. I know I can be…a bit much. I’m sure this whole ordeal has been eye-opening.” There’s something in his eyes that tells me he wants to say more, but when he doesn’t, I don’t push. After all, I’m keeping a secret from him, too. I have no place to demand that he bare his soul to me if I won’t do the same.
“I know who you are, Valen. I’ve learned to live with it. Trust me, I’m not going anywhere.” Where would I go, anyway? Back to Lunal? Not a chance. They’re my people, yes, but that place holds nothing for me. Valen is all I have, now; my duty is all I need.
“Too bad I’ve no interest in the crown.” He sinks back to the ground, shuffling to find a comfortable spot. “I might have asked you to be my head of security.”
I snort and lie down as well. “Like I would ever agree to something like that. You’d have a better chance convincing Daroose to letyouride him.”
“Over my dead body,” Daroose interjects sleepily from across the fire.
“Seriously, though… We don’t know what will happen. You could discover something...” He pauses. “About my personality you can’t stand.”
“Or one of us could die,” I say quietly. I need to tell him. In case something happens. “Valen, I—”
“Good night, Keltania,” he says softly.
I sigh. “Night, Valen.”
