Page 13 of The Sins of Silas

“This is my fate, and I believe the Gods are watching over me. I think I will be safe…as safe as I can be, anyway,” I said with a half-grin. My efforts to make light of the situation fell flat.

“I’m supposed to protect you—” she started.

“And you will be,” I promised. “Worrying about your safety would put me in more danger. I need to be focused on the task at hand.”

She slowly shook her head, her shoulders drooping in defeat before she pulled me into another hug. “I love you so much, Lena.”

My voice shook as I whispered, “I love you, too.”

When she released me, I watched her eyes trail behind me, the warmth vanishing from her countenance. When I glanced over my shoulder, I noticed Silas stepping in our direction.

I could tell he didn’t wish to make eye contact with either of us, but he finally chose to look at me, my mother’s burning gaze too much for him.

“We should go,” he proposed as he reached my side. “We're heading to Forsmont, yes? There is a pass that we can take, but we need to get on the road now if there is any hope of making it to its entrance by nightfall.”

I blinked. “Do you have excellent hearing, or have you been before?”

A crease formed between his brows. “I’ve been through it before, three years ago. It’s our best bet. I think we should stay as far away from Halsted as we can.”

I nodded slowly, and Mother ambled toward him. “Take care of her,” she blurted out.

My horrified face darted to her, but her unrelenting regard was for the Prince alone. His honey irises skated to hers in surprise.

Tears slid down her cheeks, but she kept her chin high. “You always protected her before,” she said quietly. “I am trusting you with the most important person in my life. Don’t let anything happen to her.”

Silas blinked a few times before his eyebrows lowered. “You have my word,” he promised.

Her lip wobbled, and she gave him a curt nod before stepping away.

“I’ve never been away from her,” I said softly, watching as she made her way over to say goodbye to Merrick, Elowen, and Viola.

I felt Silas’s eyes on me. “I know,” he replied quietly. “At least you can find solace knowing she is safe up here.”

My heart skipped a beat, hearing his gentle tone. I met his eyes, only for a moment, before his jaw clicked, and he strode away.

Chapter Four

LENA

When we took the portal to the bottom of the mountain, El, Merrick, Viola, and I lifted our hands, turning them ever so slightly to hide the pointed cartilage of our ears.

“It’s so weird seeing you with rounded ears, Merrick!” Elowen giggled. It was, but honestly, it was bizarre seeing El and Vi with theirs, too. We never had to hide in Ames.

“I prefer your pointed ones,” Edmund murmured to El from his spot behind her on their horse. “But you are beautiful all the same.”

I smiled softly when she leaned her head on his shoulder, looking upward into his eyes with a giant smile.

I swear a vein was bulging in Merrick’s forehead from how hard he was frowning. Viola drew him out of his anger trance, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Ready to ride?” she joked.

He finally tore his eyes away from his sister. “You sure you’re up for it?”

She laughed through her nose, then backed away enough to shift into a stunning, ebony mare. Her violet eyes sparkled, and Merrick patted her back before hopping on.

I flipped my braid off my shoulder, holding the reins to Roland’s and my horse, and found Silas staring at me.

I realized this is what I looked like to him before…the ordinary Lena Daelyra of the Outer Ring. I used to hate the magic that ran in my veins and the ears that put a target on my back. But now? Now, I abhorred being forced to hide who I was.

What was going on in his head as his honey eyes studied me? I reminisced about the words he had told me when I discovered his true identity.

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