Page 68 of An Honored Vow

“He would destroy it the moment you walked through the door out of spite.” Riven punched the stony wall hard enough that his knuckles bled.

Gerarda scowled. “We do anything that displeases Damien and we risk killing our friend?”

Riven wiped the blood on his cloak. “Or wait for Damien to destroy the tether—and Nik with it—just before the battle starts. He has used chaos and grief as weapons already.” Riven looked down at his friend. I didn’t know what was eating at him more, the guilt or the grief.

I held back my own tears. That had always been Damien’s tactic. Careful chess moves that ensured he had a way of bringing our rebellion to its knees at his whim. We could transform every Halfling in our ranks to fight him, but Damien knew we would be distracted with such a threat hanging over our heads.

Nikolai’s life was in Damien’s hands, and it was only a matter of time before Damien would claim it.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

RIVEN HOVERED OVERNikolai’s sick bed. Deep bags were set under his eyes and his half braid was loose and tangled.

“When’s the last time you ate?” I asked, standing beside him.

Riven ignored the question. “Why hasn’t he woken up yet?”

I rubbed his shoulder. “Rheih said it would take time. He’s been through a lot—”

“We don’t know what he’s been through, he hasn’t said anything—” Riven took a deep breath. “I just don’t know what to do to help.” He turned to me with tears in his eyes. “How do I help him?”

I leaned my head on his shoulder. “You’re already doing it. You got him out, Riven. You’re here at his bedside.”

“You’re making an insufferable amount of noise,” Nikolai murmured.

Riven reared back in shock. He sat down in the chair next to Nik’s bed and grabbed his hand. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

Nikolai slid his hand out of Riven’s grasp. “Is that what you call this?” His lip curled in disgust; it looked unnatural on his gentle face. “I may be alive, Riventh, but I am most certainlynotokay.”

Riven leaned forward. “Nik—”

“I don’t want to hear it.” Nikolai crossed his arms. “Did you think getting captured would change the fact that my mother isdead? That it would change how it was your inability to trust yourself, your need to keep the parts of yourselfyoudidn’t like hidden away, that got herkilled?” Nikolai swallowed. “You want to know what your brother did to me? He threw me into the same pit my mother was kept in for my entire life. The daily beatings were a relief because at least for that hour I wouldn’t have to face the reality of what my mother lived with. What she barely got to forget beforeyour brotherandyour lieskilled her.”

Riven’s chin trembled. “Nik, I am so sorry. If I could go back—”

“But you can’t.” Nikolai raised his chin and eyed the black cloak hanging over the chair. His gaze turned venomous. “My mother is dead and you still haven’t told anyone who you are.”

Riven winced.

Nikolai shook his head in disgust. “Get out of my sight.”

“Nik—”

“Go!” Nikolai shouted, pointing at the door.

I stepped from the bed but Nik settled back. “You don’t need to go, Keera dear. If anything, you should be angry at me.” Tears welled in his eyes.

I glanced back at the door, heart torn from all the pain in the room. I grabbed Nik’s hand. “Anger doesn’t help me defeat Damien. And that’s what I need to do.” My throat tightened. I didn’t add the rest. That it was what I needed to do to make this all worthit. The lives I’d taken, Brenna, Hildegard, Maerhal. If I lost focus on my mission, their deaths and all the pain they caused, would be for naught.

Nikolai sat up. “I need to get dressed.”

“You are dressed.”

He looked down at the simple trousers and tunic I had picked out for Rheih to change him into. “This is a misery.” He lifted his hand. “Now heal me so I feel a little less miserable and can leave this room for good.”

I rolled my eyes and pushed his shoulders back down onto the bed. “You need your rest, Nik. You need to heal.”

“Exactly.” He lifted his other hand, the one with the tether along his wrist.

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