But for himself?
“It’s Anadae,” she said. “And no, I won’t marry you. I refuse. Whatever troubleyou’rein”—she gave him a nasty smile of her own—“which you undoubtedly are, to come up with this farce, I hope it sinks you.”
He grabbed her by the shoulders. Shook her. “This is the real world,Ana.Outside of this godsforsaken miserable shithole of a valley.” A fleck of spit hit her cheek as he snarled, “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. What do you care about family? You happy Calya’s about to get fucked without you—”
Family.
Either the word means something to you, or it doesn’t.
Brint’s fingers dug into her skin as his voice grew to a yell.
Such loyalty can’t be taught.
Ice exploded around her, the ever-present moisture in the Valley’s air responding to her magic at a mere twitch of her fingers.
Brint stumbled back with a breathy squeak.
Dae’s hand lashed out, closed into a fist as her magic responded at lightning speed, reacting on instinct. Brint made a choked sound, backing up further as his hands went to his mouth. A garbled mess fell from his numb lips, his tongue half-frozen within his icy mouth.
Considering that Dae had never so much as glanced at the theory of combat magic, she thought her first attempt wasn’t half bad. Intuitive indeed.
She advanced on him. “If you dare to come after my sister, if you say one word against her, Everflow as my witness, I will ice the godscursed blood in your fucking veins, do you hear me?”
Brint pointed at her, eyes wide. “You mad bitch,” he said in a hoarse voice as her magic melted away. He looked around, arms gesturing in wild movements.
It brought Dae back to herself, made awareness and realization slam back in. They didn’t have a gathered crowd, but several people had stopped around the courtyard and watched them. Snatches of conversation in hushed tones reached her ears, though her mind had gone too numb to make out the words.
It didn’t matter. She’d attacked Brint on school grounds. In front of witnesses.
Dae spun on her heel and ran for the side gate that led down to the lake.
Chapter 26
Itwasexamdayfor the Adept levels. Ezzyn wanted to do something for her, acknowledge it in a small way. Anything to let Anadae know that someone else knew how important today was to her. Someone who wished her well.
That couldn’t be him. He’d destroyed any right to count himself amongst such company. Anadae had friends to cheer her. For Ezzyn to think that any gesture from him would be welcomed, no. Utter foolishness. She’d avoided him, hadn’t said more than a handful of words since her declaration that they needn’t speak. His sacrifices for Rhell might’ve secured her spellwork, but at so high a cost…
He told himself it was worth it. The kingdom had an actionable plan to deploy the imbued wards. The Rhell Accord was being finalized, Ezzyn having bowed to its wisdom at last. Grudgingly so, but taking a break from the onslaught of fighting the poison in the field had given him time to clear his head. Helped him realize that the interdisciplinary aim of the Rhell Accord was needed. He still had his doubts; it was difficult to erase years of ambivalence from the other countries and go forth with a hopeful heart. Ezzyn would never forget how some voices amongst the Alliance had forsaken Rhell and suggested plans for accommodating them as eventual refugees. Yet, for the time being, Rhell’s future had a breath of hope.
And Anadae would leave him behind.
Ezzyn started down the stairs to the Towers’ atrium floor, thinking he would wander off to find food—somewhere on Sylveren’s grounds, since most of the Adept levels would likely go into town for celebration or commiseration. Best not take the chance of stumbling across Anadae and ruining her night.
He glanced out of the large windows that spanned the front of the atrium. The rain from this morning had let up, a few patches of blue sky showing through the clouds. Movement in the courtyard caught his eye as a blond man jabbed the air with wild gestures, arguing with a woman in a familiar indigo cloak.
Ezzyn’s pace quickened. He was still a flight from the bottom when Avenor grabbed her. The bastardshookher. Ezzyn raced down, flames itching beneath his skin. He ran across the lobby, uncaring of the startled looks he drew from the few students still around. Burst through the door—
He stumbled to a halt. Anadae advanced on a cowering Avenor, a glimmer of light around her fingers visible despite the distance. Avenor pointed at her, and a jumble of noise reached Ezzyn’s ears. Avenor began gesturing again, his movements sharp, agitated. Anadae stopped, looked around.
She ran.
Ezzyn didn’t think. He went after her, following the path to the lake. He called after her, but she gave no sign of hearing, didn’t slow her step until she reached the water’s edge.
Warily, he approached, voice kept low as if she was a spooked horse. “Anadae?”
As if in a trance, her head turned to him, more out of habit in responding to her name than out of recognition. Her expression was dazed, eyes not truly seeing.
“Are you hurt?” Ezzyn asked, stopping a few feet away, willing himself to show restraint when everything in him screamed to hold her.