Chapter 17
The coals of the dying fire cracked and popped.
I lay on my side facing the heat with Ace’s naked body pressed to my back.
He’d draped an arm around my waist and had used his clothes as blankets—minus my blood-soaked shirt.
We’d need to get dressed soon before the chill made it to our bones.
The cave remained dark, but there must be an entrance somewhere close by because the sounds of early morning streamed in.
We’d have to get up and move soon, and I didn’t want to leave.
My gaze drifted to the giant carcass of the cave worm.
Okay. I wanted to leave this location, but I didn’t want to leave the safety of Ace’s arms.
I made myself safe all the time, but I still wanted to feel protected. Ace filled that need. If I slipped and fell, he’d help me back up. If I faltered, he’d cover for me. If I was too proud, or too arrogant, he’d call me out.
I used to count on my brother…
I squeezed my eyes shut.
How could he do this?
And how could he have completely misread my character that he thought I’d be okay with it?
He was the queen’s favourite. He lived a privileged life. He partied. He phaaned. He drank. And then he repeated. He had a better life than ninety-nine percent of Wast and Perga’s populations combined and yet somehow it wasn’t enough? Somehow, he felt he deserved more?
“Are you okay?” Ace’s chest rumbled along my back as his voice fanned my hair.
“Yes.”
“You just stiffened. You’re not about to bolt on me, are you?”
“I was thinking about Paul.”
His arm tightened around me. “I’m as shocked as you are.”
“I just don’t get it.”
“He stated his reasons pretty clearly to me.”
“Those were weak at best, and it meant betraying me. And you.”
He nodded behind me, his chin scraping the back of my head. “I’ve thought about that as well.”
“And?”
“And I don’t think he sees it as betraying you. I think he sees himself doing this for you. For you and for him. He certainly didn’t order his men to harm you.”
“Someone did.”
Ace’s chest rumbled. A low growl vibrating the area around us. “I don’t think your brother is acting alone. In fact, I doubt he’s leading this operation.”
I pressed my lips together. If Paul planned to keep me safe, but someone else’s orders superseded his, that meant Paul’s accomplice was the boss, or at least higher up in the organization. Exactly how big was this group?
“He still betrayed you,” I whispered.
“Did he?”
“He scheduled your execution. That’s not exactly screaming best friend energy.”
“He doesn’t see me as a friend,” Ace said. “Not anymore, at least.”
I snorted. Those two were thick as thieves growing up.
“I always thought he forgave me too easily when I returned. Even if he could get over me abandoning him, he knew I hurt you and he loves you so very much,” Ace said. “But he didn’t forgive me at all and apparently, not only does he hold a grudge better than you, he’s also better at hiding it.”
That made sense and once again anger rolled over my skin. Was my twin a sociopath? A psychopath? A mastermind behind murders and theft?
How had he kept all this from me?
“I’m beginning to suspect my brother is a better actor than either of us realized,” I said.
“That is the understatement of the year.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to excel at something,” I said.
“You used magic to free us,” he said. “You have impeccable aim, and I would go as far as to say fantastic taste in men.”
I snorted. “Men?”
“Okay, man. I don’t want to lump myself in the same category as Onion.”
I laughed quietly. Slowly, I raised both my arms over my head and stretched. Ace drifted his hand down, tracing the outline of my ribs with his fingertips.
My skin pebbled and my heartbeat picked up, anticipating his next move.
“Our clothes should be dry now. We need to head out and get back to Perga,” I said.
“Probably not the safest destination,” Ace grumbled.
“Nala is there. Besides, once we get word out about…” I swallowed. Part of me still couldn’t believe it. Part of me wanted to cover for Paul. “Once we tell everyone Paul can’t be trusted, he won’t show his face in Perga. He can’t hide in plain sight anymore.”
Ace frowned and looked ready to argue. Instead, he gave me a terse nod. He tapped my lips with his finger. “I don’t like it, but we should move. I don’t like the idea of there being more of those worms down here.”
We got ready in record time.