Page 25 of The Sins of Silas

Instead, she slid her hand along my arm, currently bare of vambraces. Her expression softened. “You have done all of this to save my people…whether you have your own purpose for doing so or not. I would argue that you are significantly better.”

My lips formed a tight line at the sight of her shy smile. Anger rose in me at this interaction, at this entire situation.

“Let us keep our interactions to a minimum,” I muttered, then turned to sit back by the fire. “But sit back down. Do not wander,” I added over my shoulder gently.

She stood frozen for a moment, then conceded, sitting back across from me.

It was silent in the mountain pass until Lena asked, “Why did you tell me? About the Weapon?”

My eyes slowly lifted from the flames. “Because I trust you, too.”

Chapter Eight

MERRICK

Istruggled to rest that night; visions of the many men being slaughtered eliminated any attempt at peaceful thoughts.

My first kills were in Ames the day our village was attacked. As I overheard Lena and Silas’s conversation, I realized in some small way that I related to the Prince.

“Think of those you love, those you wish to protect…and feel no remorse when you kill those who threaten them. I never felt bad when that was my reasoning for ending a life.”

They weren’t aware I was lying awake as I kept my eyes shut. That was exactly how I felt, taking the lives of the soldiers in Ames. I thought of Elowen, of Viola, of Lena. I thought of the many villagers who I’d grown up with, of Igon who had been so kindto all of us.

I felt no remorse…at least not in the moment. Those humans came to kill us, either right then in our village or later in Otacia. I ended them without a second thought.

Still, I found Lena’s response…intimate.

“I know that’s not true. I can see it in your eyes.”

Why were they so gentle with one another? Why did Lena jump in front of one of our kind’s biggest enemies to save him? How is it that the Slayer of Witches flipped like a switch, so eager to help?

I could see that perhaps he witnessed our power and realized utilizing it could help him overthrow King Ulric. I could.

But why, when Silas was staring at Lena’s injured body back in Fort Laith…why, when I read him, did I feellove?

Soul-Ties. It was the only damn explanation.

Still…feeling a love of that magnitude so quickly, regardless of the bond gifted by Celluna, seemed ridiculous. Even the feelings I felt between Edmund and my sister were not nearly as overpowering as what I felt from Silas as he gazed at Lena.

It was now the following morning, and I ran my hands through my hair in frustration as I mulled over everything.

Lena gave up the information on Nereida. My eyes almost fell out of my head when she started telling him everything. And then a gasp threatened to escape from me when he told her what he knew of the Weapon.

I still didn’t trust any of these humans…none of this made any sense.

Elowen sauntered over to me, breaking me away from my thoughts and handing me a piece of bread.

“Here you go!” she chirped.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, tearing off a piece with my teeth and chewing. I couldn’t wait to get some real food again.

I swallowed as she started walking off, but I reached forward and gripped her shoulder to stop her. “Wait.”

She turned to me, light pink brow raising.

“How are you holding up?” I asked my sister, tuning into her emotions.

She smiled softly. “I’m alright, Mare.” Her eyes flicked to the ground, her smile faltering. “I just can’t wait to be out of here…can’t wait for the killing to stop.”

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