Page 38 of Lost

Radulf shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “Amara,” he groaned.

“No, wait, hear me out.”

“What is it?”

“The guy I’m probably going to have to end up marrying is a total loser, who actually tried to kiss me last night out of nowhere.”

His lips pressed into a thin line. I could see the conflict inside of him, the fight happening behind his eyes. On the one hand, he knew my being here would be bad for him and his own peace of mind, but on the other hand, I had tickled his protective,big brotherside.

“Did he, really?” he asked.

“He did. He was drunk, and I ran into him on my way out of the city.”

“Do mother and father know?”

“They don’t… I was already in the process of running away.”

“If it helps,” Tallin interjected, “I suggested informing the King and Queen right away.”

“But, as usual,” Radulf took over, “She did not listen.”

I shook my head. “You know me… once my mind is made up—”

“—you’re as stubborn as father.”

“I learned it from him. He only has himself to blame,really.”

“Do you realize what kind of position this puts me in?”

“I do, and I’m sorry. All I wanted was to come here and hide out with you for a little while. And maybe see if there’s anything I can do to stop the Selection from happening.”

“You can’t stop it… no one can.”

“There has to be someone who can. Somewhere. Mother says the Moon Children have the most renowned mystics in all of the land among their tribe.”

“No one powerful enough to break Fate’s bonds, not anymore... and even if we did, going up against the castle like that… you couldn’t ask that of me.”

I paused. “What do you mean,going up against the castle?The King and Queen of Windhelm are our parents. There is no going up against them—we’re family.”

“Says the girl who fled her home in the dead of night, against her family’s wishes.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, okay, but I’m right about this. I know I am. They can’t make me marry him. I won’t.”

Radulf sighed, then looked over at the tent village below us. “Let’s… get inside. You must be hungry. I can feed you, at least, and you can spend the night here. But tomorrow—”

I jabbed a finger at him. “—you gave me your word.”

“I told you I wouldn’t send you back, and I won’t. I’m going to ask you to go back on your own.”

“I won’t, Radulf. I can’t. Please, don’t make me.”

Radulf stared at me for a long moment. He then smiled, draped an arm across my shoulder, and started walking me down the mountain pass that led toward the village. Tallin followed, though I could tell he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to stay close to us, or lag behind. Both were clearly perilous choices because there were Moon Children ahead of him and behind him.

Despite my brother’s assurance that he wouldn’t get eaten, Tallin didn’t seem convinced.

“Aren’t you going to ask whose blood is on my lips?” I asked as we made our way down the mountain path.

“I know whose blood that is,” he said.

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