Page 86 of Where Darkness Falls

If they saw that in the few days we traveled together, how obvious was it to Domhnall?

I cannot allow this to happen.

“You’re mistaken,” I retort.

Laisren quirks an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

“Indeed,” I reply. “She’s my assignment. You know as well as I do that we’re to watch over her. In order to do that, she needs to trust me. You’ve seen me use similar tactics in the past. Why would Maeva be any different?”

Laisren sighs, moving in closer to me. “What did Domhnall say to you, Emyr?” Laisren murmurs.

“It doesn’t matter,” I snap, turning my attention to the others. “I’ve dealt with it, so perhaps we should move on from this ridiculous conversation. I can assure each of you I feel nothing but repulsion for her.”

“So, you’re going to ignore the warmth that pours from her, soothing every ache in your heart?” Laisren quips. “I haven’t even seen her ability, and I feel the power and light that radiates from within her.”

“She’s bewitching you,” I chide. “Even if she is full of light, Tiernan will wrench every drop of it from her.”

Laisren throws up his hands, walking away from me. I’m not sure why he’s angry with me when I’ve only spoken the truth. Maeva will soon turn, just as the rest of us have, in order to survive. Besides, once she unearths the sins that are buried deep within this palace, she’ll remember why she detests me.

Laisren gestures to the others. “Can one of you imbeciles make him see reason?” he asks.

“It isn’t a weakness to care about someone, Emyr,” Riordan interjects. “You’re too hard on yourself, mate.”

She already is my greatest weakness…

It’s best to leave things as they are, because I refuse to be the source of further pain for her.

She’s already endured more than enough to last three lifetimes.

“As I’ve already said,” I sigh, “I don’t have any sort of attachment to her. By all means, if you’re interested, perhaps one of you should pursue her. You each seem smitten with her—especially you, Virgil.”

Laisren and Riordan curse under their breaths, and I swear that Virgil’s one eye flares as he stands. One of our oldest rules in the Cadre is that we don’t provoke anger in one another, but I needed a reason for their pestering to cease. So, of course, I take advantage of the fact that Virgil is the most taken with her.

Is it my smartest maneuver?

No, especially since Virgil is quite lethal. Yet, here we are.

“What are you implying, High General?” Virgil growls.

“She’s quite attached to you,” I reply. “Why is that?”

“It’s none of your business, High General,” he replies.

Interesting.

“Are you secretly lovers?” I deadpan. “Did you woo your way into her heart in the middle of the night at the inn? Because for the life of me, I can’t figure outwhyshe’s so taken with you.”

His nostrils flare as he takes a deep breath. “Perhaps if you showed her any semblance of kindness, she’d extend you the same courtesy,” he snarls.

“So, you are lovers then?” I chide.

Virgil offers a devilish smirk. “Are you jealous, Emyr?” he sneers. “Does it scare you that someone, besides yourself, might actually care for her?”

I swallow thickly, my unchecked anger burning a hole in my gut. “Answer the question, Fourth Commander,” I snarl.

Virgil scoffs, running a hand through his hair. “No,” he whispers.

We stare at each other for several long moments, neither of us cowering from the other.