Page 85 of Of Glass and of Gold

“Are we a joke to you?!” My lips clamped together to keep their trembling at bay.

“You are anything but a joke to me, Nora.” He stepped up to me, forcing my back against Maxon as I attempted to keep distance.

I stared into those eyes that once held me in a trance, but they lost their luster behind the wall of tears lining my own. “Why haven’t you done something?”

“I’ve tried. Believe me, I’ve tried.” He brought his forehead down to mine, and I didn’t have it in me to push him away again. Something inside me was cracking, a brutal force that whispered that I was a traitor to my people.

“How can I believe anything you say?” I whispered, and the trembling won out. My bottom lip quaked, and tears trailed down my cheeks.

“I’ll make you believe me. We’ll find your sister and bring her home.”

My knees nearly buckled at the reminder. I had to endure the rest of this trip with him, hope that Melody was even on a ship sailing down the Splits, and figure out how to rescue her.

Then I would make sure to never see him again.

42

Nicholas

We approached Rahana’s first sentinel outpost. I recognized the place where two ancient trees with wide bases twisted around each other from when I’d traveled here with Marco’s entourage.

I pulled Nyxia to a stop, and Nora did much better at controlling Maxon, though I knew her body pained her. I’d insisted she took more time to rest, but after our identities were revealed and she recuperated for only half an hour, she was determined to carry on. Whether to get to her sister, or simply ensure she didn’t have to speak to me anymore, I didn’t know, but I leaned toward the latter.

I sent out two sharp whistles screeching into the near silent woods. A moment later, a man appeared from rustling bushes. “State your business.”

“I’m here to speak with Radhak. He does not know we are coming, but it is urgent.”

The man’s gaze darted between me and Nora, our hoods and mask back in place. Then it jumped to the sword sheathed at my back. I couldn’t risk being turned away, so I pressed, “I’m from Highcrest, we’ve spoken before.”

He studied the trail behind us, scouting for additional members in our party. When he found none, he simply said, “Wait here.” before strolling back into the bush. A moment later he emerged again, giving one curt nod.

I returned the favor, and looked to Nora to relay the message, but she’d already set Maxon into a walk. I swallowed past her frigid demeanor, bringing Nyxia back into the lead.

Gods, she was stubborn. She hadn’t spoken to me since we’d resumed our journey, and for the first time, I had no idea what to say. Pure rage and hurt had flashed in her eyes when she’d yelled at me, sentiments she’d held for a stranger prince who lived in luxury and safety.

It’d pained me that she held onto those beliefs still, even after what we’d been through together, what we’d shared. Maybe I should’ve seen through her actions at that first luncheon, when her mask of formality slipped, showing me a glimpse of the disdain she held in her heart. I’d brushed it off as mere honesty, ingenuous. I now realized that the black fabric over her mouth wasn’t the only mask she’d worn in my presence.

Still, I found myself longing for her forgiveness. For her acceptance. When Ella and Chol had come together, that had been real. Maybe the most real I’d ever been in my entire life. Sure, things had become more complicated, but something like that was worth fighting for.

We continued along the trail, trees arching overhead filtering the afternoon sun. Six men flooded the path ahead, forcing us to halt. Nora whipped her head to look at me, sheer panic glistening in her gloriously brown eyes.

“It’s alright,” I said as the men approached.

“You’ll need to hand over your weapons,” one said in a deep baritone voice.

Nora shifted, moving her hand within easy reach of the hilt of her dagger, no doubt. A few of the men also spotted the act.

“That’s no problem,” I called, unsheathing my sword. “We mean no harm, and we’re happy to comply,” I stated, not for myself.

Nora hesitated, but removed her dagger. One of the men came to our sides to collect. He stopped at her. “And the other, Miss.”

Nora removed the second exposed dagger strapped to her thigh with defiance, tossing it down at the man. He fumbled with it, trying to avoid the slicing blade. I couldn’t see behind her mask, but I had a sneaking suspicion she grinned.

“Follow us,” the deep-voiced man said. I recognized him from the last time I’d come. He held a position of leadership, stationed along their borders to ensure no enemies crossed into their camp.

Nora stayed vigilant, keeping tabs on the six men when they spread out to surround us for escort.

After another twenty minutes or so, sounds of a bustling camp stretched out to greet us. Within a couple minutes, we dismounted, leaving our horses near the front entrance that was heavily guarded. Though her legs looked like they could give out at any moment, Nora remained alert, assessing the movement around the few dozen tents and cooking areas. In case that happened, I stayed within arms reach. I wouldn’t let her fall, even if it risked receiving an embarrassing slap to the face in front of this group.

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