Chapter 15
Ikar
“This turkey acted like it wanted to be caught,” Darvy says as Rhosse turns it over the fire.
“I’m sure it did,” Rhosse says with sarcasm.
“You’re just jealous I saw it first. Tell you what, I’ll let you have the next one,” Darvy responds in a placating manner.
Rhosse’s brows raise. “You’ll let me?”
I smirk. We all know if he really wanted to catch the meal, he would, and could, beat all of us to it.
Vera smiles across the fire as she listens, her hands pressed between her knees to avoid the chill bite to the air.
How is it that I feel guilty for getting caught about to kiss her…
and it’s still the only thing I want to do?
I run a hand through my hair and duck my head to keep my eyes from continually drifting her way.
She draws me like a moth to a flame, and I fear I’m going to end up scorched.
To make it worse, I’ve already been worried about Lucentia deeming me worthy, and here I am pining for a woman I can’t have when I may very well be married to another in a matter of days.
Part of me wants to enjoy this time with Vera while I can, knowing that the rest of my life will be spent with an unknown woman, a relationship not of love but built on duty.
It’s what I’ve been raised for… but now that I’ve tasted what I can’t have—
Rhosse hands me a large piece of meat, pulling me from my thoughts. Then he directs his gaze to Vera, who avoids looking my way entirely. “Do you hunt?”
Vera shakes her head and swallows the bite she was chewing. “No, I’m not great with weapons in general… or blood.”
“Have you had any weapons training?”
“Actually, we were just beginning her training before we were separated,” I glance at my friends. “You now have two more expert soldiers to train with.”
The smile she offers is tight. “Wonderful,” she whispers and hurries to take another bite of meat.
“I can work with you after we finish,” Rhosse states.
It’s more of a command than an offer. She nods hesitantly, looking at me for half a second like she’s hoping I’ll intervene—but I don’t.
I’m in search of a Tulip to bridge with and being near her is torture.
I can’t train her. But she might not be able to rely on lucent forever, and I want her to have the skills to protect herself when I’m not around—a painful thought.
I’m amazed she has the power she does, but all the originators, even Nadiette, are now struggling to pull enough…
here in the Lucent Mountains, it only makes sense that she’ll begin to struggle too.
I give an affirming nod, smothering a smirk—if she thought I was scary to train with, she’s in for a surprise.
Vera’s been so quiet for most of our meal that when she speaks up, she has all our attention. “At the dinner we had… Jethonan and Nadiette. I didn’t get a chance to know either of them, but you all seem… close.”
Her unspoken question has me immediately on edge. There’s a beat of silence, and I get the feeling that Darvy and Rhosse are waiting for me to speak.
When I don’t, Darvy clears his throat. “We are. Have been for a long time.” He takes a large bite of turkey.
“Jethonan… what’s his story?” she asks, looking between the three of us to see who’ll answer.
Rhosse laughs, relaxing a bit now that the conversation has turned toward Jethonan. “He’s a puzzle to everyone. He showed up at the castle as a teen and at first he was…”
“Avoided,” Darvy says bluntly.
“Many people don’t know how to handle his personality.” I attempt to phrase it nicely.
Vera nods with the smallest of grins, and I’m reminded of the night she met him and the way she practically ran from his office.
Rhosse continues. “But his knowledge and skill with magic made a place for him in Ikar’s circles, and Ikar didn’t seem to care so much about how different he was.
They quickly became friends, which led to Darvy and I becoming friends with him as well.
We got into all sorts of trouble in our younger years.
” Rhosse chuckles, and I find myself grinning as I remember too.
“Ikar may seem frustrated by him at times,” Darvy says, “but he trusts Jethonan to the point that he made him his top advisor and leaves the kingdom in his hands when he’s away.
People have suggested that Jethonan came from another continent, holds a different sort of magic…
no one knows, well, maybe Ikar does.” Their gazes swing to mine, but I keep my expression flat, and Darvy continues.
“But Jethonan doesn’t talk about his past, and I don’t think we’ll ever know for sure as he’s unwilling to share anything, but that’s when people began to name him a mage. ”
“And… Nadiette?” she asks, hesitant. Why does it seem like she’s nervous?
I keep my answer simple and to the point. “She’s the head originator. She’s been trained for the position since she was a child and is one of the most powerful originators in the kingdom. She joined us on many of our escapades.”
I take a bite of meat so large I’m hoping it ends the conversation because I can’t speak with my mouth this full. It doesn’t.
“So you’ve always been close to her as well?” She leaves the question open to all of us, but I feel her gaze linger on me even though I won’t meet it.
Darvy just took a bite as big as mine which leaves the uncomfortable topic to Rhosse. I watch his face closely as he considers her question. He’s being much more careful now, and I’m curious what he’ll say.
“Ikar more than us, but yes, friends since childhood.”
I’d punch him for his comment, but I figure I better get it out of the way. The turkey travels painfully down my throat as I swallow. “At one time we considered marriage, but no longer.”
I don’t want her to think there’s anything between Nadiette and me, though I shouldn’t care.
Vera swallows so tightly it seems as if she almost chokes. Then she smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“So sorry to hear that,” she nearly whispers.
I’ve never enjoyed a lie so much. Something in my chest warms at the thought that she might be jealous, and I have to work to hide the grin that tempts my lips.
Then Darvy jumps in. “Yeah, it’s unfortunate. Ikar isn’t in a position to court anyone.”
I clench my jaw so hard I’m sure my molars will crack as I stare at him.
My hand itches to rip my sword from its sheath and battle him until he takes the words back.
But even as he stares back at me, challenging me, reminding me of my duty…
I know his words are true, and I hate them.
That near-kiss that just happened? It’s forbidden.
“Vera, are you ready to practice?” Rhosse asks, breaking the tense silence.
She nods and stands, catching my gaze and looking away quickly as she rounds the fire and follows him to a small clearing nearby.
I watch as Rhosse instructs her, testing her skill to find out where to begin.
Jealousy that it’s not me adds to the frustration I already feel.
We didn’t have much time to train while I was cuffed, but I’m proud of her when he pulls a wicked-sharp knife, and her eyes simply widen before she steels herself.
At least it’s not the battle axe. That weapon even scares me.
Darvy and I are quiet for a moment, the only sounds the crackling of the fire and Vera and Rhosse’s training that holds my attention.
“So she’s an originator and a healer,” Darvy states thoughtfully, watching the two of them.
“Apparently. I’ve experienced both.”
“Never heard of such a thing.”
It seems odd to me too, but I don’t say that.
“What’s her story?”
I try to sum up what I know, which now seems like very little. “She most often works with bounty hunters and lives with her best friend, Renna. And, it seems that Drade is her ex-boyfriend.”
Darvy laughs out loud. “Low king Drade?”
“Yes, that Drade.”
“How—”
“I have no idea. All I know is she’s half-fae and spent her teen years living with her aunt there.”
“She’s pretty,” Darvy says.
I jerk my head toward him with a scowl before realizing I played right into his hands.
He nods slowly. “Thought so. You like her.”
I press my lips together. She’s been with us for less than three days, and Darvy already figured it out. My feelings must show more than I realize. I’ve got to do better.
“Doesn’t matter how I feel about her. I’m on a mission to save my kingdom,” I force the words from my lips.
“So do I have permiss—”
“No.”
He uses a stick to move the wood in the fire and sparks shoot up, illuminating the smug grin on his face. Imagining Vera in Darvy’s arms has a foreign sort of rage building in my chest.
“You know, I think I can use some sword practice tonight myself. Let’s go.” I stand angrily and stalk toward the open field, drawing my weapon.
“It was just a joke,” he mumbles from behind me while he sets the stick down and follows, pulling his sword in resignation.