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Conreth pinched the bridge of his nose. “The children were out of their minds with terror, Lorian. Something is going on with the wildkin, and we need to fix it. Since you’re almost as savage as they are and they seem to respect you, I’m delegating the task to you.”

I had no doubt there was a problem with the wildkin. Conreth wouldn’t lie about that. But his timing was interesting. “And when do you want me to leave?”

“Two days from now. You may take your little friends with you.”

I couldn’t help the grin that stretched my mouth. Truthfully, it was more of a baring of teeth. “Mylittle friendsare the reason you’re still wearing that crown,” I said mildly. Together, we had fought off any challengers to Conreth’s throne.

He waved a hand, but I knew him well enough to know when he was uncomfortable. Conreth had never understood the relationship between Galon, Marth, Rythos, Cavis, and me. For the first time, I felt truly sorry for him. How could he understand such brotherhood when those around him were little more than sycophants?

“Cavis will stay,” I said. “I won’t pull him from his family so soon.”

“Take whomever you like. Just find out what is making the wildkin act so oddly.”

He was waiting to see if I would announce I was taking Prisca. But I wouldn’t drag my wildcat on a perilous journey simply because I wanted her with me. She could continue training with her brothers and the other hybrids. Could continue working on whatever plans she discussed when she met with them while I was busy. She’d be safe here. Cavis would watch over her. As would her brothers. And Asinia was also becoming deadly with a bow and arrow.

“Fine,” I said, getting to my feet. “Will that be all?”

Conreth swept his gaze over me. “You’re different. I don’t like it.”

I’d spent a lifetime itching for his approval. And his words had the effect he was hoping for. Ignoring the sting of them, I turned, stalking out of his tent.

I found Prisca walking toward her own tent, an apple in her hand. Colors were suddenly brighter. The air smelled sweeter. I was beginning to loathe it when she was out of my sight. Especially with Conreth here.

Her brow creased. “What did Conreth say?”

“He needs me to go take care of something for a few days.”

She didn’t look surprised. But that might have been a flicker of disappointment in her eyes. Still, my instincts were roaring at me.

“What are you hiding from me, wildcat?”

She rolled her eyes. “This is going to shock you, Lorian, but not everything is about you.”

And she went on the offensive. Definitely hiding something. Unfortunately, since we were in public, I couldn’t exactly turn to my usual methods of finding the truth—as much as I enjoyed the thought of stripping off those tight leggings, bending her over the closest surface, and—

“Lorian?”

My gaze met hers, and she flushed, even as her amber eyes heated. I herded her toward her tent. I needed to take a new approach. “Keep your secrets,” I said. “I’m choosing to trust you, wildcat.”

She instantly looked like I’d stabbed her in the gut. Oh yes, whatever she was keeping from me was something I wasn’t going to like at all. So I twisted that knife.

“If there’s one thing I know, it’s that you would never betray me.”

Her face turned ashen, and something dark wound through my gut. Whatever she was up to, she was practically radiating guilt. But her mouth firmed, and she rolled her shoulders, leveling me with a hard stare. “That’s right,” she said. “Don’t try to manipulate me, Lorian. You won’t like the outcome.”

Just like that, I turned as hard as stone.

* * *

Lorian followed me into my tent. I dropped my apple on the empty plate on my small bedside table, no longer hungry.

He crowded me with his body, and I instantly responded to the furious energy radiating from him. My nipples hardened, and he caught me around my waist, lowering his head to whisper in my ear.

“Have you been keeping things from me, wildcat?”

I sucked in a shaky breath. “You’ve been keeping things from me too. It will always be like that between us.” I hadn’t meant for my voice to sound so mournful, and behind me, Lorian tensed.

“That’s where you’re wrong.” He nipped at my earlobe, and I attempted to turn to face him. He merely slipped one arm around my waist, easily holding me in place. And my traitorous body responded to that too, enjoying the fact that I couldn’t move. That he had all the power, and for just a little while, I had none.