Page 99 of Knight's End
I had just wiped my bloody wrists onto my skirts when everything went to hell.
“Sarding figures,” Declan kicked a crab out of his way. “Two seconds with my powers and you’re already better at controlling them than me. Two things at once, Ry? Really?” he shook his head.
“That was a strange way to compliment him,” I peered at Declan, to see if he was feeling alright.
He avoided my gaze. He didn’t apologize to Ryan, just shuffled along.
Ryan just shook his head at me, mouthing, “Stress.”
I didn’t push it. We were all stressed. And if we were feeling it, that meant Declan was drinking in our emotions, feeling them twice as much.
I questioned dragging my knights into this for the millionth time. Had I made a mistake? Was this just a selfish choice? Was Queen Shenna right? Should I have closed up Evaness’ borders and simply retreated from the sea?
My heart grew cold at the thought. I couldn’t stand to abandon Avia. Blood or not … she was family.
We kept walking.
As I worked, Quinn tried to coach Blue on sending out illusions. Declan became their guinea pig.
Several times he stopped so quickly I ran into his back. “Damn snakes again! Cut that out.”
“Are you okay, Dec? Are they sending you too much?”
Declan just clenched his jaw and shook his head.
I turned to Blue and thought,You’d better go easy on him.
I have to practice,Blue’s inner voice snapped—sending his thoughts to all of us and making me cringe.Don’t coddle him. He’s a sarding man, for gods-sakes.
“I’m not coddling—”
“You’ve always coddled Declan!” The vitriol in Connor’s voice brought me to a dead halt.
“What the sard?” I turned to stare at Connor. He was the peacemaker among us. Sweat beaded on his brow. The magic rage was taxing him.
Connor spoke so everyone could hear. “You’ve always had a soft spot for him. Whenever a tutor railed on him, you always got so mad.”
“So what? Our tutors were curdled shites.”
“He’s jealous,” Declan cut in, drawing me to his side. “Jealousy tastes like cabbage. An edge of sweet, but mostly slimy and disgusting. Like everything else about Connor.”
You’re jealous? Quinn scoffed. You got Bloss your whole sarding life! And then, I barely get her, and this asshole joins in—he gestured at Blue.
“Guys!” Ryan bellowed.
The guys didn’t listen.
“Maybe you aren’t her favorite anymore,” Declan taunted Connor
He had his turn,Quinn bellowed in our heads.Now it’s mine!
Blue jumped into the fray, “At least she doesn’t think of you half the time as a sarding pet!” He spit out the words like they were sour.
“Shut the sarding hell up!” Ryan’s yell finally got everyone’s attention.
I sighed in relief. I had no idea what was wrong with the guys. Thank goodness Ryan still had his—
“She’s mine!” Ryan yanked me out of Quinn’s grip and lifted me. His concentration on our air column slipped and the wall of water closed in, forcing everyone to stand shoulder to shoulder.
