Page 74 of When the Wicked Sing
Closing the door softly behind him, he glanced around for any signs of Mari, but found none.
He reached a hand up toward the switch that would turn the lumen chandelier on, just as Mari said from the darkness, “You shouldn’t have come here.”
Dax dropped his hand and exhaled slowly, turning to face her. She stood by the fire. The flickering light danced along her features, casting shadows that sharpened her frown.
“I know,” he murmured and stepped toward her.
“Stay where you are.” Her voice was as cold as an ice storm ready to tear him apart.
“I just wanted you to have this.” Slowly, he placed her bone dagger on the table beside him next to a vase of dead, shriveled-up flowers. He was surprised they hadn’t dissolved into dust.
“My dagger,” she breathed. As she stepped forward, her scent filled his lungs as though he was finally breathing fresh air.Lifting it into her hands, she inspected the weapon with fond eyes.
“And I wanted to say I’m sorry,” he said, his voice catching unexpectedly.
Face the dawn.
Mariana didn’t look at him as she sheathed the dagger in its place against her hip.
“I couldn’t tell you your sister was gone and risk everything.”
Finally, she lifted her glare to him. He saw the violent storm surging within her deep turquoise eyes and held himself still, preparing for her wrath to be unleashed.
“Why are you so devoted to her?” she asked, her gaze unwavering.
Dax reached up and squeezed his tightening neck. “I have no choice.”
She sighed and closed her eyes. He took that moment to look her over. Her mouth was tight, and the skin around her eyes was puffy with exhaustion. She blinked but kept her gaze averted. With drooped shoulders, she wrapped her arms around herself as though searching for comfort. Something he found himself wishing he could provide her.
“After I saved your life from that toxin, I kept asking myself why I’d done it.” She spoke softly, as though she was talking more to herself than to him. “Why did I save the same fae’s life that took me away from my home? It would’ve been so easy to leave you there to die. Then something happened.”
She stepped toward the fire and stared into the flames with glassy eyes. “Something inside me said that I couldn’t let you die. For some reason, I wanted to trust you. And yet, when we werein that river together, I knew …” She peered over at him, and his heart constricted at the pain evident in her gaze. “I knew you couldn’t be trusted. So, I tried to go home, but my mother—” she sniffed and looked away. “She shoved me back through that portal after sealing my fate as a fae, and I landed in your arms. And for some reason, I felt safe.”
“Because I will always keep you safe, Mari. I never lied to you about that.”
She scoffed and looked away. “It was foolish of me to think I could trust you. Especially when I have no reason to trust anyone.”
He opened his mouth to object but stopped himself when he realized she was right. She couldn’t trust him. He’d lie to her in a heartbeat if it meant protecting his family. Yet he’d risked everything to save her life, taking her to the only place he knew she would survive.
“When I carried you to my home and showed you everything and everyone I care about.Thatwas my deepest truth. And now, you hold the power to burn it all to the ground, just as Halia does.”
“And you think that’s enough for me just to forgive you?” Mariana scoffed. “I shouldn’t have to worry about what else you’re keeping from me, Dax! I shouldn’t have to fear that everything I’ve ever felt for you was built on lies!”
“Fine! Yes, I lied, okay. I get it. But I never meant to hurt you!” he yelled back, then winced. This was not going the way he thought it would.
“You didn’t just hurt me—you betrayed me,” she said with a threatening darkness in her eyes. She turned, but he couldn’t let her just walk away. He reached out to grab her hand.
“No!” she shouted, and a blast of air slammed him backward. Dax hit the wall with a grunt, barely catching himself from falling over.
Her hands shot up to her mouth, eyes going wide.
Dax stared at her. Hadshejust done that?
“That was sky magic,” he muttered.
“It wasn’t anything,” she said with a tremble in her voice.
Dax studied her. “When did that start, Mari?” he asked softly.
