Page 26 of Fragile Oath

“Indeed,” Davin said, a lethal edge to his airy tone. “Perhaps if you’re fortunate, you’ll forget how to speak entirely and save you both the trouble.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Alexei’s hand tightened on my wrist, so subtly, his thumb exerting just enough pressure into the inflamed skin to make me bite back a gasp. Trying to make it look as casual as possible, I closed my mouth, looking toward the window, though the velvet curtains obscured any view I might have had of the outside world.

Perhaps Davin was right. Perhaps I would forget how to speak. Or would it just become so unnecessary that I would stop bothering? Alexei didn’t respond, either, and a weighty silence filled the carriage once more.

When we stopped for our first break, Alexei went to talk to his soldiers, probably to inform them of our new plans, or perhaps about the rebels we were no longer working with.

I watched him anxiously. There hadn’t been time to speak to him alone, to ask if our change in travel arrangements had affected his plans, or if he had been able to get word to whoever he needed to in order to keep my parents safe.

As it was, the only real comfort I had was in knowing that Davin had enough men with him and in the surrounding areas that he wasn’t under any direct threat from Alexei or the Viper. Though I hadn’t seen her, Gwyn had been at the inn, and she wouldn’t have left if she hadn’t thought Davin was safe.

I hovered near the carriage where Alexei had told me to stay, well within his line of sight. Gallagher and Davin went to talk to their own men briefly before the latter returned. He stopped short when he saw me standing between him and the door.

The air between us crackled with tension and anger and something worse, something I couldn’t put a name to. Shame, maybe, at least for me. Even the stars seemed to be judging me, reminding me of all the times we had stood underneath them with an altogether different sort of tension between us.

My pulse raced as I took a step to the side that put me closer to him, hating the way I could smell the subtle hint of clove and spiced bergamot of his cologne.

“It’s not too late for you to turn around.” My voice was low, but I still worried it would carry through the still night air.

“And why would I do that?” He looked toward Alexei as he responded, each word forming a frosty cloud in front of him.

I took a breath, bracing myself to speak again.

“Because your presence is only making this harder on both of us.” Did he hear the plea in my words?

He tilted his head to fix his cerulean gaze on me. “Is this hard for you, Galina?”

I should have thought about Alexei’s hands on my skin, his lips intruding on mine, the vows we made just this morning. Instead, all I could see was Davin sitting two feet and a world away from me for endless hours in a carriage filled with animosity and lies.

The wall between us fractured just a hair, and bitterness rushed in to fill the cracks. He had to know it hadn’t been easy to walk away, even if he couldn’t understand why.

“Don’t be alaskipaa,” I bit out in a harsh whisper, careful not to let my voice carry. “You know that it is.”

Davin scoffed. “I don’t know, actually. What I know is that you said you would stay and you were gone by the next morning. You said you were leaving for duty, and I found you fawning over your former fiancé, so no, I’m not really sure that I know anything about you at all.”

Part of me knew everything he said was fair, but it still stung, when he knew me better than anyone ever had. I told myself this was for the best. He would be angry, then he would move on.

“Then why won’t you go back?” I hissed.

He ran a hand through his already disheveled locks, sighing bitterly. “Because people are trying to kill you, Galina, and I can’t seem to smother the part of me that cares as easily as you do.”

I was so wrapped up in my conversation with him, I didn’t notice Alexei’s return until the smell of wintergreen was accosting me.

“Did you get things taken care of with your men?” I asked quickly, forcing a lightness to my tone that I didn’t feel.

It was as close as I could come to asking if my family was safe.

Alexei’s eyes narrowed on mine, wrapping an arm around my waist to pull me closer to him and further from Davin.

“For now.” His words were low, dangerous. A clear threat that if I didn’t do what he wanted, he could destroy everything I loved. “What were you discussing, Galina?” His free hand wrapped around my upper arm, the part that was closest to him and out of view of the others.

He spoke in Socairan, so I answered in the same.

“Just plans for where we’re stopping.” My lie must have fallen flat, because he tightened his hold around the contusions that were already in the shape of his hand.

“Radn—”

“Lady Galina.” Another voice interrupted the threat Alexei had undoubtedly been about to make.

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