Page 75 of Enchantment of Silver and Sea
The marsh wolves. I was researching the marsh wolves, and then—it wasn’t a coincidence. But he was right, they did still track the marsh wolves afterward. I saw the pelts myself. And yet…this was too much. This was all so, so much for one person to bear.
“Maila,” Kieran said, and it was physically painful to hear him say my name. “You know I don’t want to destroy this city or its people. You know the truth about Cyllene, about The Council”—he shot a look at the four people across the table—“and how they’re hurting people both inside and outside Cyllene. Don’t let them get in your head and make you forget the things you know.”
The Council had been observing quietly, but Quinn spoke up now. “That’s big talk coming from someone who’s attacked Cyllene many times before.” She tilted her head, in a way thatwas almost predatory. “If we hadn’t prevented those attacks from making it past the walls, how exactly would the people of Cyllene have fared, do you think?”
Kieran grinned. “No better than they do on any other day. Having their every move monitored, controlled. Decided for them. Provided with the basic necessities for survival so long as they fall in line. And if not, well…we all know how that goes, right?”
“Ah, Kieran.” Addis clucked his tongue. “It’s a shame you’re so misguided. I get it, though. We’ve built something wonderful here in Cyllene. A safe haven for our people. And I understand why you and the Strangers envy it.”
He cast a sidelong glance at Quinn and Westley, who both nodded. It was as if they had practiced that routine—a knowing look from Addis is met with a nod. Addis tried to repeat the routine with Cato, but Cato refused to make eye contact.
Addis continued on, “Unfortunately, regardless of the empathy we have for the men and women outside the walls, we must protect what we’ve built here. And that means protecting our citizens—protecting people like Maila—from people like you.”
“And who’s going to protect her from people likeyou?”
Addis’s brow twitched, but his pleasant smile remained. He turned to Westley.
It must have been yet another of their rehearsed signals because Westley leaned forward again, clasping his hands. “Maila, I know you must have a bunch more questions about what it means to be a Conductor. This probably isn’t the time or the place, but later, I’d be happy to sit down and have a conversation about what weknow. And discuss how we can partner on learning even more. We’ve been waiting for the right time to sit down with you and talk about this, and”—here he mirrored Addis, looking around at the rest of The Council members and urging them to join in on his beaming smile—“now that the time has come, we can’t wait to find out all there is to know about your special gifts.”
Kieran leaned forward, too, making Westley flinch. “Will you also explain how she’s going to be your magic-wielding slave? That’s how it works, right? Agree to do The Council’s bidding or meet an untimely demise?”
Addis shot a meaningful look over his head. The gloved hand of anEnforcerappeared in my periphery, jerking Kieran back against his chair.
Addis sat back in his own chair and exhaled in a way that signaled that the conversation was coming to a close. “As Cato said, you have a lot to process, Maila. I think a pause in this discussion would do everyone some good. Before we break—Maila, do you have anything else you’d like to say to Kieran? Or to ask him?”
Something in his words set off warning bells. But I didn’t know what else to do, except to ask the question that had been sitting on the tip of my tongue as everyone else was speaking.
“What about the other things?” I asked softly, searching Kieran’s face.
His eyes were roaming my face in turn, trying to understand my meaning.
“Everything else,” I prompted. “Was everything else real?”
His eyes narrowed then. In hurt or in anger, I couldn’t tell. When he spoke, his voice was cold. “Yes, Maila. You shouldn’t have to ask me that.”
I wanted to believe him. I really did.
But suddenly all the adrenaline, all the rage that had been building earlier, the desire to make sense of all of this…it all melted away. I felt an exhaustion the likes of which I have never felt before, even the day that I lost Irene and my father.
There was nothing for me. There was no one for me. I couldn’t trust Cato. I couldn’t trust Zander. Most painfully of all, I couldn’t trust Kieran.
I was completely, utterly defeated.
Kieran’s eyes widened in alarm. His gaze trailed downward, and I realized tears were dripping down my cheeks. I didn’t try to stop them. Didn’t care to stop them.
“Maila.” His voice cracked on my name. “I need you to trust me. They’re trying to turn you against me, but I’ve never given you a reason not to trust me.”
He had to be joking. Wasn’t this about as big a reason not to trust someone as you could have?
My hands were still tightly bound, as were his, but he reached for them. TheEnforceryanked him back into his chair again.
A different hand rested on my shoulder, and a voice sounded from behind me.
“I think you’ve done enough damage here,” Zander said. He was speaking in that commanding tone again, the one that left no room for questions. “Stop trying to justify what you’ve done and just let it be. Let her process and heal from this.”
Kieran smirked. I knew him well enough to brace for whatever was about to come out of his mouth. “Why, so you can move in?” he asked with a wink. “Youarein love with her, aren’t you?”
“I do care about Maila,” Zander said carefully but also confidently. “I’m not ashamed to say it. Unlike you, I see the wonderful woman that she is and how much she has to offer. I would never dream of hurting her. Using her the way you have.” As he said the last part, he rubbed his thumb against my shoulder. Affectionately. Possessively.
