Page 144 of Bound By Darkness

“Bullshit,” I said. “You know that’s not what I want.”

Ivan’s hand ran through his hair. “Are you sure?”

“What do you mean if I’m sure?” I asked him, my voice raising slightly. “Tell me who he is so I can get this nagging feeling off my chest.”

“Nagging feeling?”

A hand rose to my neck. “Moria said something that got me thinking… about you,” I added. “I can’t shake this feeling you’re hiding something from me.”

The faelight faded as a cluster of clouds covered it, blanketing the Hideaway in a layer of gray.

“I didn’t think much of it until she mentioned your father. Why would Moria even care about your father? And then there’s Fin. Always Fin who constantly told me not to trust you, but I didn’t mind it until he told me about your training.” I continued. “He said the both of you trained frequently in Laias. Why would a couple of kids be training in a city?”

“Thalia.”

I held up a hand. “Then there’s Chiron, your Uncle. Why is your Uncle a critical figurehead in Laias? If your mother was a commoner, how did her brother wind up in a position as such as his?” My feet began to pace as I let the thoughts spew from my head. “It’s not plausible and I think… I think this whole time I’ve been clouded by feelings of rage, anger, and… andtrustI didn’t see it. I didn’t see who you are.”

My eyes swiveled to his. “Who is your father?”

Ivan stared at me, his eyes searching mine before he spoke, his voice low. “I wanted to tell you. I wanted to tell you so many times, but I found myself holding back because I knew—I knew if I told you you’d never look at me the same. I’d lose you and some desperate part of myself couldn’t handle it.”

I took a step forward, my voice trembling slightly. “Who is your father?”

“Before I tell you, I really didn’t mean?—”

“Who, " my voice cracked as I continued saying, “is your father, Ivan?”

Ivan glanced at me, his eyes dull.

“Hywell Armas,” he whispered. “My father is Hywell Armas, King of Cethales and I’m his son, Kaydn Armas.”

Chapter 42

Ripped Masks

THALIA

Dry chuckles bubbledfrom me as a sickening feeling coated my stomach. “Not funny.”

But Ivan didn’t chuckle, didn’t glance my way as he kept his gaze toward the sky.

“You’re… joking. Say you’re joking,” I half-screamed, my stomach curling within itself.

He stayed silent.

I took a step back. “No. No—I refuse. You wouldn’t do that to me. You’re not… you’renothim. Say you’re not him.”

He couldn’t be him. He couldn’t be one of them, because if he was, I’d slept with my enemy. I’d… I’dfallenfor my enemy.

“Thalia,” he said, his voice wavering. “I wanted to tell you. I should have told you, but I was scared.”

A sob left my throat. “You can’t?—”

But he could.

The pieces all fit.

Why he was a skilled swordsman. Why he’d run away from home. Why Chiron was his Uncle. Why he seemed to hide inthe shadows when we’d traveled. Why he knew so much information about me, because he’d had access to the records in the castle. The castle I’d been held prisoner to for years because his father had slaughtered my family for my casting.

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