Page 120 of The Sins of Silas

Azrae, the God of Vengeance, was apparently the only one who was still able to visit here…Sol, our realm was called.

HE WILL RIGHT THE WRONG AT GREAT COST. CELLUNA WILL MAKE SURE OF IT.

I was so sick of these vague answers. There had to be a reason Igon didn't outright tell me everything. He wouldn't make me or my people suffer for no reason.

Or would he?

If Nereida really was a safe haven for our kind, why would he have kept us in Ames? Why would he have us surrender?

It was our final evening before reaching Faltrun. Once more, our tents were set up, and we were ready for, hopefully, our last night of unsavory sleep. This time, Merrick performed the soundproofing spell around our camp. I had attempted to performoccultare nos ab aspectu,a cloaking spell to hide us, but the incantation proved difficult. I was unable to successfully perform it.

“Don't beat yourself up. It takes far more energy to complete. You'll get it eventually,” Dani had encouraged.

We were eating dinner: a deer Hendry had managed to shoot down and that Roland had cooked and seasoned. Elowen winced but forced herself to eat it. She never would eat meat in our village; she had always felt too bad for the animals.

I strode up to Silas, who was in the middle of a conversation with Erabella.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” I asked him, his glare finding mine, threatening me to cower.

Era surprisingly beamed at me. I gave her a tight-lipped smile in return.

He nodded, kissing Era's hand before following me.

Did he do that just to hurt me?

We strolled off further into the forest, and when we had some privacy, I faced him.

“You feel it too, don't you?” I finally asked, looking up at him. “That dark feeling.”

Silas shrugged, staring off into the distance. “I don't know,” he answered blandly.

“You felt it in the forest that first day I met you,” I pressed. “I know you did.”

“So what?” His eyes snapped to mine. “I felt it many times after that.”

My eyes flickered. “You did?”

He nodded grimly. “I don't remember every moment. I just have felt it from time to time.” He exhaled through his nose, looking back into the trees. “I felt it…I felt it the night you supposedly died. So strongly it woke me from my sleep.”

I swallowed, eyes looking up at him. “What could that mean? We've only felt it in close proximity to his creations.” My eyes flared. “You don't think he was in Otacia, do you? Near the castle?”

He faced me then, glowering at me in contempt. “I. Don't. Know.”

He went to storm off as if I'd actually allow that.

“Look at me,” I ordered, gripping his arm tightly. He bared his teeth as his eyes flitted down to me. I kept my chin up high. “Don't retreat on me,” I demanded. “Don't return to being cold.”

He went to tug away, but I held him tighter.

“I would've spewed any bullshit if it meant saving you, saving my friends. I know you're pissed about that—”

“You don't know shit,” he retorted.

I balled my fists, then angled my head upward, looking at him through my nose. “He believes I am of use to him. That offers us some protection, at least for now.”

“Regardless of if he does or does not call your bluff, he will be following us. Tracking us. I'd hardly call that protection.”

“He was already following us,” I countered. “Only this time, he should hopefully be keeping to himself.” Silas didn't respond, so I continued, “I hate your father, Silas. But I wouldn't side with a literal monster just because I fear Ulric…fear whatever his use of the Weapon would be.”

---