Page 59 of A Fate of Blood and Magic
“It’s not enough that I trust them?” she asked.
Taking a step back, I hung my head. “I’m sorry.”
She ran her knuckles across my jaw. “Trust takes time to build.”
And I’d shattered the alliance Alastor had created.
Regardless of what happened, I wasn’t sure how I’d rally through it. Because this . . . there was no moving past this mess I’d inherited because of my parents’ despicable actions. Their sins seemed to follow my every misstep and lead me to this murky future where I wasn’t sure I was a male worthy of redemption.
Maybe I was my father’s son.
And that terrified me more than anything else.
Chapter
Eleven
ELIAS
I stoodat Niev’s border, staring past the invisible line that separated my kingdom from Tera Insaldame. As its name suggested, the land was wild with exotic plants that didn’t grow in Niev and animals I’d only read about, grazing on its fruits.
There was a sort of peace that thrummed the blades of grass that I no longer felt in my kingdom. The grief and anger that echoed from Niev’s citizens was far too great for me to sense anything else.
I stilled at the sound of Alastor’s familiar heartbeat drawing closer. Truth be told, I hadn’t expected him to meet with me. But then again, Alastor was as much a leader as I was and wouldn’t shy away from confrontation.
“Alastor.” I nodded at his approaching figure, dipping my head low as I once had done for my father and uncle.
If he understood the respect I’d just shown him, he didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, he glared at me, his onyx eyes steady while my attention wavered. My chest tightened.
“Thank you formeeting with me,” I said.
His nostrils flared, and that tightness in my chest only hardened. I tipped my chin up, forcing myself to look into his cold eyes.
“Is Ilgirth alright?” I asked.
A muscle on his jaw ticked as he dipped his head for a single nod. Relief left me with a loud whoosh of air.
“He survived,” he said.
“Good, good.” I drew in a deep breath that I held in my aching chest. “I’m sorry, Alastor. I?—”
“What is it you want, Elias?” His hard tone was unforgiving.
“I simply wanted to apologize,” I said. “To both you and Ilgirth.”
“You’ve done so.” He crossed his thick arms over his chest. “You may take your leave.”
With a jerky nod, I turned, defeated and even angrier with myself.
“Koa will go with you to the next compound,”Alastor said in my mind.
Before I could reply, the connection between us slammed shut in a way that vibrated in my mind. I looked back, unsure what I’d say, only to find Alastor gone from where he’d stood.
My head lowered, and I ran my hand over my face roughly.
Wanting to leave the day behind, I let my senses guide me to my mate. When I found her in our public library, I reached into my magic to bend space to her.
Immediately, my cheeks lifted with a reluctant smile at the sound of her giggle, and although that tightness in my chest loosened, my smile dropped.
