Page 18 of A Fate so Cruel

The male interlaced his fingers. “Then I need you to let the world believe a lie.”

“No.” Saoirse’s voice was harsh and her grip tightened on Rion again.

“We have to tell the people—”

“No,” she repeated.

“You’d rather take him to another continent? Risk crossing the sea and praying the sirens don’t tip your boat? Do you know how many vessels successfully make that crossing?” He shifted in his seat. “Listen to me and listen well. Your little brother is cursed.” She tried to interrupt, but the male held up ahand. “Whether you want to accept it or not, it’s true and there’s nothing we can do about it. If you want him to live, then you need to recognize there will be a target on his back for the rest of his life. People will blame him for atrocities he’s never even committed. There’s no reason for you to be branded an exile alongside him.”

“Why?” Rion’s voice shook. “What did I do wrong?”

The male’s gaze softened. “Nothing. Had your magic held off until the end of this year, you’d understand what it means. We don’t teach the course until most younglings have already acquired their magic. Fear can hinder its arrival, therefore we try to mitigate that fear.” He looked to Saoirse again. “Your sister can fill you in on the details later. What you need to understand right now is that the magic you possess is a curse and the gods demand us,” he hesitated, “to eliminate that curse.”

“Why would they let me have it then?”

The male’s gaze softened again. “Why indeed?”

“Rion isn’t a monster. He’s never hurt a soul.” Not until tonight, Rion wanted to correct.

“I know. But others aren’t going to care. They’ll only be concerned about the demands from their gods.” Rion wondered if the male believed in the same gods. Gods his mother had talked fondly about.

“But—”

“The High Lord is dead. His personal guard is dead. This is not something that will be forgiven easily, if ever.” Saoirse didn’t respond. “The people will blame Rion regardless of your claim. They’ll merely see you as a sister trying to protect her little brother. They’ll sympathize with you for a while, but that sympathy won’t be enough to clear his name.”

She shook her head. “I can get us into Pádraigín’s lands and take a boat from there. The sirens don’t claim that part of the ocean. I just need supplies. Food. Clothes.”

“Saoirse.” She looked up at him, her eyes lined in silver. “You can’t leave. Alec is probably frantic with worry. If you disappear, he’ll send search parties to find you. And theywillsucceed. Rion’s fate . . . might not turn out so well if you’re caught on the run.”

“Alec won’t understand. If we tell him Rion did it—”

“Young Alec mimics your father in many beliefs. I’m confident this will be one of them.”

“What am I supposed to do?” Her body was trembling again.

“Let me look after him.”

Her head shot up. “How can I trust—”

“Do not insult me in my own home.”

She snapped her mouth shut before continuing. “Why would you do that?”

The male sighed. “I trained with your father. Then I trained you and your brother. And Lady Eimear.” Rion flinched at his mother’s name. “We were close. I’d like to think I’m honoring her memory by caring for her final youngling.”

Saoirse looked Rion over and his heart sped when he realized she was considering the idea. He didn’t know this male. He didn’t want anything to do with him.

“I want to stay with you,” Rion argued.

Saoirse rubbed his arm. “I know.”

Rion looked at the male again, glared at him really. The male offered a hint of a smile in return.

“Promise me,” Saoirse said.

“You know promises from Fae only reach so far.”

“I don’t care.” She looked him in the eye and sat straighter. “I want your word as a Fae that you won’t hurt him.”

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