Page 38 of A Shard of Ice

“Get enough nobodies together and change the world.”

Gooseflesh rises on my arms at the rightness of his statement.

Cyrano snort-laughs. “That is the daftest thing I ever heard.” When he realizes that he is the only one laughing, he stops, looking at me. “If this fae is going to keep spouting such nonsense directed against the queen, he’s going to get himself killed and us along with him. We’re clear of the desert; we should split the rations three ways and leave,” he says to me before looking at Damon. “Kyrie and I will make our own way from here.”

“That would be a big mistake,” Damon says; his intense stare is directed at me.

“She’s leaving with me,” Cyrano insists.

“I have my own voice,” I say in a clipped tone. “I can speak for myself and make my own decisions.”

Cyrano’s face turns red. I’m not sure if it’s anger or embarrassment. I don’t much care. I’ve had my life dictated to me for the last two years. I’ve been told when to eat, how much I can eat, when to sleep, when to wake. All of it. I refuse to allow it for a second longer.

I know it’s wrong, but my heart sinks at the thought of leaving Damon. Dread fills me. Sweat beads on my brow at the thought of traveling further with Cyrano…just the two of us. I hate the idea. My gut tells me that it would be a mistake. Logic does, too.

I doubt Cyrano and I would last two seconds if attacked, whether by predators or by fae. We’d be doomed. At least we’dstand a chance with Damon. Until we find other humans, a settlement, maybe, we are easy targets.

Something eases in me. We have to stick together for a little while longer, at least.

“I don’t think we should be too hasty,” I tell Cyrano. “Traveling together has worked well up until now. We made it through the desert, didn’t we?”

“Exactly. We made it through. We’re out. We don’t need him. This fae is a liar and a…a…traitor. He…he…he’s a fae,” Cyrano finally settles on.

It isn’t enough for me. Not anymore. There is something bothering me.

“Can I speak privately with you, Damon?” I ask.

His icy blue stare bores into me. Damon nods once, and we move away from Cyrano, who looks at me with a baleful glare before staring at his feet.

Once we are far enough away, I turn and face Damon. “Do you swear that you never knew about being a fae? That you were completely in the dark all of this time?”

“I was just as much in the dark as you. I never lied to you; I swear it.”

“And you have no idea why this spell was cast on you.” For all of Cyrano’s shortcomings, he raised a good question – why Damon? Why go to all of that trouble? There must be a reason behind it. It’s a reason Damon must know himself, surely?

He hesitates, his jaw going tight for a moment. “I’m powerful, Kyrie. Or, at least, I was once powerful. That’s why the spell was cast over me. I’m sure there are others just like me. Perhaps many more who are still in the dark.” He shrugs. “There is no sinister reason. No real—”

Powerful.

That’s a good reason.

“Powerful, how? In what way? You said that you were a nobody, and I’m finding that hard to believe.” He doesn’t say anything, which is infuriating. “Who are you really?”

“Iama nobody.”

I don’t believe him. For the first time since I first met him, Damon is lying. I can see it. I can feel it. I wish I knew why.

My choice is to go on alone or to take my chances with Damon, even though he is keeping something from me.

“You can trust me, you know?” There is a slight hitch to my voice, which is too small…too soft. It’s my final attempt to get him to open up to me. I know we’re not friends anymore, but there was a time, not so long ago, when we could tell each other everything. It shouldn’t, but it still hurts that he won’t confide in me when it counts the most.

Damon nods once. “I know I can trust you, but you’re going to have to find it in you to trustmefor a little longer.”

Even though he is lying, I do trust him. I’m sure that makes me an idiot, but it’s how I feel, anyway. I’ve always been able to rely on him. He might look different, but that basic fact hasn’t changed. We have each other’s backs. He cares for me and my well-being. I am safer with Damon than on my own.

I sigh. “It’s not like I have too much choice,” I finally settle on.

Damon grabs my hand before I can walk away. It’s warm and calloused, dwarfing my hand. “Kyrie…wait.” He runs his thumb over the top of my hand, and I feel a flutter inside my chest.

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