Page 135 of An Empress of Air & Chaos

“For Torin,” Gideon finished his mother’s sentence.

He, too, feared what awaited Torin for his betrayal. Viktir Blacksteel would punish his eldest son in one of two ways: Quick and fast which normally meant physical pain—a whipping, lashing, or some sort of brutal physical exercise for a day or two.

Or he would punish him mentally.

A shudder ran through Gideon’s core at the latter.

The cottage door swung open and Torin stood in the doorway. It had been the best part of two days and they still hadn’t spoken. They hadn’t uttered a word about the mission, they hadn’t discussed the fact that Torin knew about the resurrection stone, and about the fact that Emara was promised to him in a marriage alliance from a stupid tradition to protect the Witches and strengthen the Clan. Even looking at Torin made anger stir up from within him.

He felt his fists tighten.

Emara was promised to him.

“Torin, my dear, come in quick and shut the door behind you. It’s freezing out and I already warmed the wood around the cottage to keep in the heat.” Naya stood and made her way behind Gideon. Torin did as he was told, knowing how much magic it took to warm up a full cottage in the dead of winter, given his mother wasn’t a Fire Witch. His shirt lay wet against his skin, soaking from his run in the rain.

“I have placed a towel by the chair for you to get dried and changed. I will go into the kitchen and make sure we all eat well. It’s stew.” She paused. “And when I set out the plates on the table to eat, I want this energy between you two to have dispersed. Peacefully.” Naya Blacksteel looked at both of her boys. “You are brothers by blood, not just by duty or oath.” She threw a glance between them before leaving for the kitchen. Her sanctuary of home-grown plants, fruits, and vegetables, where herbs hung overhead, jars of everything imaginable cluttered wooden shelves, and something was always cooking—whether it be edible or enchanted.

Torin removed his shirt and rubbed the white, fluffy towel over his body before putting on the dry one laid out by his mother. He flung a look over at Gideon and took a seat. He leaned forward in his chair, towards the flames of the fire, and clasped his hands together, blowing hot air through them with his mouth. The light of the flames flickered across his face, making his features unreadable. He opened his mouth to speak, but Gideon had already started,

“Did you know she had the royal bloodline of Air running through her veins before you agreed to the marriage?” He still didn’t look over at him.

“Would it matter if I did?” Torin said coolly.

He snapped his head towards his brother. “Answer the damn question, Torin.” Gideon tried to remain calm in respect of his mother, but his legs started to tremble.

“No, I didn’t! I would never have said a word had the Empress of Air not been murdered. It was the only way I knew how to save her without starting another war,” his brother said lowly.

“But, like I said, would it matter if I did?” Torin looked him dead in the eye. “I don’t really get a say in the topic of my own marriage to whatever house is providing the best alliance for us at the time.” He paused. “In case you forgot, only a few nights ago I was promised to a woman who now has a spear through her heart.”

Gideon dragged his eyes from Torin’s face and focused on the crackling sound of the fire.

He shook his head. How did this happen? How could this be his path?

“I am in love with her, Torin.” The silence that followed his statement almost swallowed the cottage whole. Gideon felt a stinging in his nose as he fought back the emotion of what he just admitted.

“I know,” was all Torin said back.

“I have never told her that. I don’t know how she feels about me, but I love her.” He sat forward on the edge of the sofa. “I have fallen in love with someone who I have betrayed and lost to my brother, all in one night.”

Torin thought over his words carefully. “I can’t help you with how she feels, Gid. Only she can tell you that.”

Gideon, for a second, thought that Torin had a softness form over his face.

“My only fear is that she tells me that she feels something for you too,” he finished.

Torin’s eyes flew open.

“Oh, come on, brother,” Gideon sighed, exasperated. I have seen you with her in training; the exchange of looks when you were dancing together. At first I thought you were doing it to mess with me, but now I can see that there is something between you.” Gideon swallowed the weight of his own words. “She might not know it yet, but I think she feels for me just as much as she feels for you.”

Torin stood abruptly and strode to his mother’s cabinet. He opened the glass door and searched around for something amongst the enchanted elixirs. Torin pulled out a bottle of liquor that looked home-brewed and divided the remaining liquid into two chalices. One for him and one for Gideon. He placed one into Gideon’s hand and then took his seat in front of the fire.

“She might hate us both now,” he said, taking a full gulp of alcohol. His eyes hid something behind them, something Gideon wasn’t sure of.

“But the question remains, how do you feel about her?” Gideon dared to ask.

“It doesn’t matter,” Torin replied, placing the glass to his lips. He opened his mouth wide enough to inhale the full content of the glass.

“It matters and you know it,” Gideon pushed.

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