Page 172 of Gift from the Source
I have every intention of killing Malvolio Choice where he stands.
“We are prepared. We’ve been preparing. And like you just conquered that, we will conquer him because we have something more worth fighting for. We can’t do anything about him tonight, but…we can fix your dress if you’d like,” Tillman says.
The glint in his eye doesn’t fool me. I’m sure it doesn’t fool her either. His mind is running across every training scenario he’s ever taught. Every defense strategy, attack formation, command, mental shield, and mission.He’s thinking about the would’ve, could’ve, should’ves and from those, what can he do better.
Tomorrow morning, he’ll have a whole new regimen ready to be implemented.
“I’d love that,” Willow says, and I catch the slightest tinge of disappointment mixed in with that appreciation.
“If you’d like some sort of answer, Primary, we can check in on Pran, Dillon, and Maxima before we call it a night. Under one condition,” I tell her.
“What’s that?”
“You’ll need to spill that secret he told you.”
Her smirk instantly gives way to anger.
Then the anger fades to a blank mask.
“I don’t think that’s the best idea after what we just experienced.”
I don’t like how her eyes shut down and she tears her gaze from me. Like she’s hiding something.
From me specifically.
“You’re worried for our reactions? Like we’ll respond the same way you did?”
“Worse. I believe you’ll do worse. Not that something bad doesn’t need to happen to Vicki Gale, but the palace is also full of innocent people that I nearly hurt in my anger.”
You’ll do worse…
“The palace will start clearing out here soon, princess. It wouldn’t surprise me if the five have already started making their way out since we all disappeared. But if this is a conversation that needs to wait, it can,” Corentin says, placating her.
I will not be doing that.
“No, it can’t wait.”
“Cas—” Core warns, but I press on.
“I appreciate you’re trying to protect feelings right now, Primary, but you’re not protecting everyone’s. You’re attempting to protect mine and I want to know why. We don’t keep things from one another. We trust thatwhatever we need to say, the other can handle. The secret is about me, and I deserve that truth.”
Her eyes flinch for a millisecond, and I catch it. She can’t hide from me no matter how hard she may be trying. I don’t have to invade her mind, her bond, or her mark to know it.
I know her as well as I know myself.
She releases a deep breath as she turns to face me fully. I peer down at my wrist at the tickle of her shadows wrapping themselves around my mark.
I really need to know now if she believes I need to be leashed to her.
Well, whatever it is…I may be murdering someone tonight after all.
Those piercing eyes trap me in place. There’s desperation in their depths, begging me not to force the words out, but there’s also understanding.
She knows had this been about anyone else, I wouldn’t be pushing her. But my answers are important to me. She’ll honor that.
“Silvia is Vicki and Hunt Gale’s biological daughter.”
I flinch back as though she just struck me.
