Page 120 of Deadwood
I raised an eyebrow, taking another bite.
“Why are you so calm about this?” Siara asked, her voice taking on that high octave it always did when she was growing annoyed of me—which happened quite often.
I set the apple on the counter, dusting my hands off. “Let me guess. This is because of Amosite and Torbernite’s group.”
“Did you coordinate this or something?” Flynt asked, incredulous.
I crossed my arms. He wanted to point fingers, and I wasnotthe right guy to blame. “Now why would I do that?”
Raiden shrugged from his spot on the far side of the room. “Bored, maybe.”
My eyes narrowed on him. “If I was bored, Commander, I’d simply challenge you and beat you at your own game.” Raiden was skilled, but we were almost equal in the fighting department—both with swords and fists. It was always a fun time trying to rile him up.
“Then let’s go,” he challenged.
“You’re all boys! Children, even,” Siara shouted. Her blonde hair was tied back, though strands had fallen loose from the rain, still wet from being outside. They’d shown up here not long ago, then.
“They need to go,” Flynt interrupted, his voice soft, like he didn’t want to say the words as he steered the conversation back on course.
My teeth nearly ground to dust at the thought of sending Auria back to Amosite anytime soon.
I brushed past them, moving to the living room. “Not until the bridge is repaired.”
“There has to be another way in,” Siara said, following closely on my heels.
I spun on her, stopping her short. “I said no.”
Flynt pulled her back by the shoulders, stepping in between the two of us. I would never hurt Siara, she was practically my sister. But Flynt was protective. A downfall for us all, actually.
“This delay is only going to cause more problems,” Flynt warned.
Again, my eyes narrowed. “Are you insinuating something, Flynt?”
His gaze was hard as he held my own. “You can’t protect everyone. Not when we have our own agenda. A plan, might I add, we are this fucking close to finishing.” He held his fingers a breath apart for emphasis.
I stepped toward him. He was barely an inch shorter than me, and I never used the dominance tactic with my group, but he was suggesting I practically throw Auria to the wolves, and for what? My own benefit? It wouldn’t be to anyone’s benefit for her to go back,especiallynot hers. What happened to them liking her?
“I will not be sending them away until that bridge is complete. Is that clear?” But even then, would I be able to? I knew what awaited her—the fate Auria was set to have. Even her marriage to Lander would still be controlled by her father. If she never left Deadwood, it couldn’t happen. But that wasn’t my decision to make.
“What do you think will happen when people find out you’re protecting them?” Siara asked from behind Flynt.
“I’m not protecting them,” I stated, which was only half a lie. I somehow had come to the point of protectingher.
Siara’s brows shot up. “You seriously think we’re that naïve? Maybe the boys are, but not me. You don’t think I saw you step in for Auria at the market?”
“You weren’t going to,” I defended. “You walked away, losing sight of her so easily. Does she mean that little to you?” I paused, giving her a moment to let that set in. “You and Raiden stood up for her in the dining hall against Paxon, the son of Torbernite’s leaders. I threatened one of our own. There’s a difference.”
Her eyes flashed, hurt shining in them. My dig was too close to home, and I instantly regretted it. “Make your own decisions, Bowen, but remember where your loyalties lie. You can’t save everyone.”
I could.
“I thought you were her friend,” I said instead.
“I am, but I know it will end. She can’t stay forever,” Siara replied. “None of uswanther to go back, but there’s no other option. Her father will tear this place apart, and we’ll be right in his path.”
But shecouldstay forever.
I shook my head, dragging a hand down my face. There were no options here. Auria would have to leave at some point. Deadwood would never accept her because of the target her father put on her head. It would take a lot of convincing, otherwise. And they were right. We had a plan to keep moving forward with.
