Page 73 of Voices in the Stars
My back straightened in an attempt to get more distance from him. There was nowhere for me to go, though. The man held his hand out. I glanced down at it before looking back at him.
“That’s understandable,” he commented, dropping his hand down. “I’m Kier. Son of those gods you keep praying to.”
“That’s impossible.” That was all I could say, shaking my head.
“I promise you, it’s not. I wish I had a way to prove it, but I don’t have the impressive, fantastical powers my siblings possess.” His eyes looked embarrassed as he spoke, even as he wiggled his fingers in emphasis.
That still didn’t stop me from flinching, eyes closing as I waited for fire or something to happen. When that didn’t happen, I opened them again. Kier was still standing several steps away, looking at me as he waited.
“Who’s Sal, then?” My voice shook as I asked. I knew how Fera worked to a point. That didn’t mean he didn’t need to kill someone to take on their appearance.
“No one,” he said with a shrug. “They were the image of someone I thought would be easy to hide. Easy to trust.”
“Oh.” I deflated some with his words. “Why?”
He sucked in a breath between his teeth, a frown weighing down his lips.
“I was planning on killing you when we met.”
Those words were allmy body needed to finally move again. My fingers slipped around the handle. Kier’s mouth opened as he went to keep talking. Before he could, I cracked open the door, slipping out and slamming it shut.
My hand found the outside handle. I leaned back, ignoring the screaming pain in my hands as I used my weight to keep the door closed. Kier was easily twice my size. He didn’t have obvious muscles like Atlas or Leon, but there was no doubt that he could easily open this door. I was no match for anyone in this state. I stayed like that for several moments.
Silence stretched around me. Shuffling feet moved around me. One of the hanging lanterns near me had a faint squeak as it gently rocked. A throat cleared before the silence was broken.
“Can I explain now?” Kier asked, his voice muffled through the door.
“I’m staying out here,” I answered. One would think something trying to kill me would’ve just been a normal day by now. That didn’t stop my racing heartbeat or sweat covering the palms of my hands.
“That’s fine,” he answered. “One of my sisters knew you were going to be found soon. She didn’t know much else. Everyone was scared. Even though we knew we were safe, nobody else in Alryne would be. Our parents have shown no sign in caring what Eris does. You appearing again would mean the death for hundreds of thousands of people. Itmade sense to me at the time that killing you would be the easiest solution.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that left me. “Kill me. Just like that. I’m glad it’s such an easy thing for you to decide.”
“It was one life verses thousands. You’re telling me you can’t see the reason in that?” he argued.
There was no way for me to argue against him. That was the same reasoning Atlas and I used for coming here. Kill Eris and save everyone else.
“Why didn’t you, then?” I asked instead, unsure I actually wanted to know.
“The dragon.”
I waited a moment for him to continue. When he didn’t, I spoke up. “Did you think he had beaten you to it?”
“No,” he said with a chuckle. “You risked your life for my own, and everyone else’s on that boat. I knew then that you weren’t going to be a risk to Alryne.”
“Oh.” It was all I could think of to say as I let go of the door handle.
“To answer your questions from earlier, I got myself thrown into here. Figured this was the closest I could get to you without having someone with fangs try to kill me,” Kier continued, gently pushing the door open.
I stepped back, ignoring the voices that started up around us again. “Why would that matter?” I asked.
“Well, I didn’t want to die before talking to you again,” he answered, stepping away from the door until he was backed against the opposite wall.
With a roll of my eyes, I walked back into the room, closing the door behind me. My hands stayed on the handle as my gaze stayed locked on him. It was easy to see that his eyes were glowing as he was cast in shadows.
“Why did finding me matter so much if you don’t plan on killing me?” I asked.
Kier held up the dagger, a smile forming. “Because now, I want you to kill me.”
