Chapter 10 #3
“Antas is a wise man, even if you don’t want to see it. He just wants you to become the person he’s convinced you can be. Don’t forget, he knew you when your parents were still alive.”
“Don’t bring my parents into this, Fig. I’m warning you.” I bared my teeth at him—and his attempt to play dirty—before regaining my composure. “It’s my decision alone what I am and what not.”
“Yes, Dion. That’s true. And now, you have the chance and the time—maybe for the first time in your life—to do so without the constant, less-than-ideal influence. I don’t know why you can’t see that.”
“Don’t.”
“You can’t ignore your situation forever.”
This conversation headed for a direction I loathed.
For weeks, I’d done my best not to think about the absolute clusterfuck that awaited me back at home, and I refused to change my approach regarding how I dealt with this shit only because Fig—and Antas as well—never avoided a chance to put pressure on me.
“Am I dismissed? I have a task to fulfill after all—sir.”
“Well, go. But Dion, one last thing. We’re not your enemies, not even Thain. You have to remember that.”
Instead of dignifying that with an answer, I scoffed, saluted mockingly, and left him standing. He was right, of course. Those four were the closest thing I had to people I could trust, but it didn’t mean I wanted to talk about my fucked-up situation. Not to them, not to anyone. Not even to myself.
More importantly, I had to get a handle on this godsdamned impulsivity and all the restless energy inside of me. I needed my defenses strong and impenetrable, and it was about time to get it done, no matter what Fig or Antas said.
I stalked through the camp until I found Jama. She was standing in one of the larger caves, holding a bag in her hand and chatting to Ireas. He must have arrived while I was busy talking to Fig. She flashed a friendly smile at him, and he grinned sheepishly back.
I didn’t like it, not one bit. “Jama, come with me.”
“Can’t you see I’m in the middle of a conversation?”
“I don’t like repeating myself.”
“And I don’t enjoy being ordered around.”
“Fine, do what you want. I’m not in the mood to deal with you and your questions anyway.” That got her attention, and she pursed her lips, for sure pondering if she wanted her answers badly enough if it meant dealing with me. I barely suppressed a scoff.
Ireas watched me with a raised eyebrow, but lucky for him, he kept any comment to himself. At least someone knew what was good for them.
“I’m sure Ireas can give me an overview as well.”
“Since I’ve been told that you’ll be my responsibility from now on, that’s not an option. So, come.” I jerked my head to the junction leading to another cave.
“Says who?”
“Fig. And since he’s in charge, we’re stuck with each other for the time being.
” Instead of finally following me, the infuriating female had to push back one more time.
Of course. How I wished to put her in shadow ropes again and haul her where I wanted her to be.
Sadly, I’d promised to use this rather effective method only in situations in which Jama would endanger herself.
And no matter from which angle I considered the one at hand, there was no danger.
“Perhaps this Fig has authority over you, but I never accepted him as my superior.”
I smirked and stepped into her personal space. “As long as you travel with us, you’ll follow the rules. And he makes them.”
Her face contorted in anger, but before she could retort with what I knew she wanted to say, I continued.
“No, Jama, you leaving is not an option. You’ll only get yourself killed alone out there, be it by nature or by bounty hunters, because I’m pretty sure you’re a wanted criminal.
Face it, you can’t leave the safety of my protection. ”
“Watch me.”
My sigh was slightly exaggerated, but my smirk transformed into a grin as I observed her turn around and stomp toward the exit of the cave system. Oh, I was going to enjoy this. “Poor decision, Jama.”
Ignoring Ireas glowering at me in disapproval, I beckoned my power from where it rested deep within me to the surface and wove a thick net of shadow over the exit of this cave before Jama could escape.
Nonchalantly and with my hands in my pockets, I conjured smoky tendrils—and like a few hours earlier, they curled around her wrists, binding them behind her back and tugging her in my direction.
Nayana hissed furiously, and I purred, “You were about to do something stupid, Jama. Don’t tell me you forgot about our deal?”
“I—better find the others.”
Ireas hated any kind of confrontation, so I just ignored his reproachful expression and nodded at him as he fled out of the cave. Since I wasn’t unhappy about his escape at all, my magic and I let him pass easily.
“Hey, get this psycho off me,” Jama shouted after Ireas, but he pretended not to have heard her.
When she’d finally accepted she’d get no help from him, her head snapped back to me. “What’s your problem? Have you been born an asshole, or have you decided to become one at one point in your life?”
“What can I say? You bring out the best in me. Now, will you sit down like a good girl and listen, or do I have to shackle you to the ground to make you stay?” To emphasize my words, I tugged her closer with the help of my shadows adorning her wrists.
Her eyes spoke of murder, and she seethed with a mighty scowl on her face, but after some moments, she admitted defeat and lowered herself on a large rock.
“Good,” I simply said and reluctantly released her hands from their magical prison. “Don’t try to run away. It’s really unsafe.” I picked a medium-sized rock opposite her to sit down.
Jama must have heard the change in my tone, the gravity I’d added to my words, and her throat bobbed as she gave me the slightest nod.
“So, now that we got that out of the way, do you want to know what happened?”