Page 34 of Oracle of Ruin

Derrín runs his tongue over his teeth, mulling over and tasting his response. His face pinches like it does when he is working on one of his projects. “So it is the same then. You forget I’ve loved two sisters and watched one die.”

We don’t really talk about Natara. Anytime we do, Derrín freezes and Kya gets this faraway look like she is still in that moment. Amír generally ushers her away somewhere and fixes us with a glare. She shot at me the first time Kya started crying. I haven’t seen either of the twins cry about her since, and yet Derrín’s eyes begin to water.

“The pain of love is the same, but the burning is a bit different. I don’t know how else to explain it.” I cringe at my broken words. How am I supposed to nicely say you’d never want to fuck your sister?

Derrín raises his hands in defense. “No need. I get a clear picture every time my sister and Amír are in the same room.”

I wince, the image of my second and my assassin fresh in my mind. I made the mistake when we first went on the run to not announce my presence before entering their tent. I do suppose that one is my fault, however the mental scarring remains. Kya isn’t even my sister and that image makes me feel a bit ill.

“I still don’t know how that doesn’t bother you.”

Derrín shrugs. “She’s my sister. I want her to be happy. If her idea of happiness is having Amír’s tongue down her throat twenty-four-seven, then who am I to complain?” He fiddles with his newly wrapped fingertips. “She’s lost a lot to love too. It’s nice to see someone willing to remind her of the good parts. Even if that person is Amír.”

I wonder if that is how Blaine feels about Vera now. If it is enough for him to see her be loved by someone, even if she will never accept him again? The unwanted twang of sympathy pulls at my heart and I push the thought to the back of my mind.

My fingers splay across the broken table. The splinters bite my calloused palm, itching more than creating any small hurt. I pluck the wooden chips out from under my skin in a sorry attempt to ignore Derrín’s piercing stare. He hasn’t been secretive with his intentions of that speech.

“Don’t you think you could protect Vera a lot better if you befriended the people who want her dead? They can’t kill her if they want something from you.”

“You want me to sell my future to the enemy?”

Derrín shrugs. “You act like you wouldn’t and haven’t already done things much worse.”

He’s not wrong. I’ve already broken all my rules and walked among my enemies for months for her. I’d turn my back on heaven and walk straight into hell if she asked. I would kill the gods and raise her to the stars. If I need to barter my soul as the price of her safety, I will.

“You know I hate when you’re right,” I huff.

Derrín only grins. “You hate a lot of things a lot of the time. I’m not concerned.”

Torin has joined the others by the time I make my way outside. I can feel the heat of his oil lamp brush across my face as he swings it my way in alarm. The offending light perforates my vision despite raising my hand as a shield. Black spots dance across Torin, who shrugs sheepishly amidst them.

“Apologies, friend.” His crooked grin gleams yellow in the light and for a moment, I’m transported back to the palace. I am watching Vera run through the kitchen as Tanja chases her with a handful of flour. Torin laughs and eggs her on, standing in the corner with Blaine, who is trying and failing to hide his smile behind his stoic demeanor.

My face softens and my hand reaches out to ruffle his hair on its own accord. He flinches at first before slowly, his shoulders droop and his face relaxes.

“Good man,” I say, though I do take the lantern from him. “Let’s go see what this rebellion is about.”

Chapter17

Verosa

Neris all but drags me from my bed as the first rays of dawn seep through my window. The warmth leaves my bones the instant she rips the fur blankets from my sleeping body. Gooseflesh prickles my limbs and she dodges the pillow I throw with predator-like efficiency.

“Up and at ‘em, princess!” She beams. “We are going out.”

Days have passed and the snow has finally cleared enough that we can leave for whatever this expedition is that Mavis has planned. Sure, there will still be snow on the ground, I think with a queasy feeling, but not enough to hinder us from our travels.

“No, I am going back to bed.” I pout like a petulant child. My heart raced with anticipation when Mavis told me we were leaving her fortress, however dread has seeped through my veins and shocked me back to my senses. I will be able toseefreedom and yet it always stays just beyond my fingertips. I escaped the prison the palace presented just to be thrust into another.

My gaze drops to the thin white scar across my wrist.

Neris covers it with her scarred hand and without any warning, tosses me over her shoulder.

“Put me down, you brute!” I laugh, despite hanging upside down. “My head is dangerously close to your ass.”

“Lucky you,” she says with a wink before plopping me in the chair before my vanity. The soldier lays a sack at my feet and a pile of clothes in my lap.

I eye the thick woolen socks greedily before rolling them over my feet and quickly changing into the warm clothes. “Is Mavis okay? It’s been kind of cold here.”

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