Page 28

Evander

A fter spending the day packing, our bags are now stuffed with supplies we might need for the trip to the Forsaken Woods: breads wrapped in cloth, ripe apples, pungent cheeses, and salted meats, all prepared to withstand the travel ahead of us.

We’ve filled containers with water, gathered extra arrows, and stocked up on weapons.

Only once things were completed did Ash excuse herself to help with dinner preparation.

Tonight, we are eating with Helara and the other commanders, discussing strategy for the upcoming battle. The villagers are showing some progress and there are a few promising prospects among the group. There may be some hope for them after all , I think, listening to the reports.

Once the updates are complete, I take my leave of the group and retire to my room, a bottle of whiskey in hand. Sharpening my daggers, I recline on the bed, legs crossed over one another, letting the slow burn of the drink warm my body as I focus on the task.

Each time I pull the steel blades across the sharpening stone, the scraping noise fills the room and sends a ghostly shiver down my spine.

But I continue, contemplating what beasts, human or other, may await us on the trip to the Woods.

A sharp rap breaks through the grating and my eyes dart to the door as the knob turns.

I half expect to see Bria’s petite frame standing before me, outlined by lustrous golden hair. But Quinn steps into the room, staring back at me. Disappointment strikes and I sigh audibly, not bothering to conceal it.

Quinn lets loose a harsh laugh. “Expecting someone else?” he drawls, quirking a brow as he closes the door behind him. He turns to lean against the hard wood, crossing his arms over his chest, the corner of his lip turned up.

I smirk, not ready to let on to what occurred between Bria and me—not ready to let him in and face his wrath just yet. “No, but anyone would be a welcome sight compared to your ugly face.”

Quinn grabs his chest in feigned agony. “You wound me,” he says with dramatic flair.

“What do you want?” I ask, the words peppered with laughter.

Quinn shrugs, his hazel eyes turning darker. “You seem off. I wanted to check on you.”

Continuing to sharpen the blade, I ignore the deep stare from the dark figure at my door. “I’m fine. I told you that.” Guilt sours my stomach with the thought of lying to him about Bria.

He taps his foot on the ground, not one to beat around the bush and clearly, I’m trying his patience.

“We leave in two days, Ev. We need to bring Bria to the Forsaken Woods. To see if her power is strengthened by the magic of the of the forest and whatever lives there.” He’s running through a plan that I am already aware of.

A plan I helped to create. But I listen anyway, figuring there’s more, and sure enough he keeps going.

“Captain wants us to bring Silas along with us.” He eyes me warily.

The new information catches me off guard and I look up, searching Quinn’s face for answers. “Why? Is she concerned about the recent attacks?”

King Braddock is unaware of Cato’s interpretation of the prophecy, his consideration of the Woods as a crucial part of the girls’ powers.

The king hasn’t sent anyone near the Woods in years.

Not that the magic, nor the magical beings that reside there, would allow him or his people anywhere near it if he tried.

Kings long before him learned the hard way about the Guardians and were torn apart in the process.

Perhaps she wants to send the boy as additional protection for Bria, given his searing power.

“No,” Quinn begins but there is trepidation creeping into his gaze, and I brace for whatever knowledge he is about to impart.

“It appears as if the two—Bria and Silas—have some sort of connection. Captain doesn’t want them separated, for now,” he finishes, rushing out the last sentence and steeling himself for my reaction.

“What kind of connection?” My teeth grate together at the mere thought of any connection she could have with someone else. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Quinn blows out a hard breath and brings a hand to his face, dragging his fingers roughly over his eyes and down to his chin in exasperation. “Yeah, I didn’t think you would take this well. It’s why I let Captain know I would tell you about the change in plans.”

I grit my teeth harder, somehow not chipping a tooth in the process and begin again. “What do you mean they have a connection ?” I ask, my voice registering more like a growl.

“I’m not exactly sure,” Quinn admits. “I wasn’t there for the talk with Cato.

Apparently, Captain went to check on them since it was Bria’s last day of training and now she seems adamant that the two not be apart.

” I stare at him, taking in every word. “Something about her needing him to feed from. Feed her energy or whatever.” The last sentence is hushed, as if he doesn’t quite want me to hear what he says.

But I hear every word.

“ FEED FROM ?” The words rip from my mouth, lashing across the room at Quinn.

I slam my dagger into the mattress next to me, the thudding sound tearing through the room.

Quinn doesn’t flinch from my rage. No, he was expecting this reaction, but even seeing that doesn’t quell the fury rising inside me.

Who is this boy? And more importantly, why does she need him?

I hate the idea of her needing him, of her needing Silas to feed her energy, to pull from him.

Quinn tosses up his hands, a gesture of defeat. “Who the fuck knows, Ev. That’s all the information I have.”

“He’s a gods damned child! We don’t need to be protecting another person on this trip.” Fuming now, I can feel color flourishing along my neck and creeping up to my cheeks.

When Quinn drags a hand through his dark hair, it loosens a few strands from their binding, framing his face in ebony. He speaks slowly, choosing his words carefully so as not to further the ire coursing through me.

“Listen, I don’t disagree with you, Ev. But we’ve been given our orders.”

The words roll around in my head as I try to make sense of them.

But none of this makes sense, not a bit.

There are people out there with magic, with the ability to pull power like this, but I hadn’t known Bria was one of them.

Hadn’t expected this to happen. I know enough about what the high priestess could do and does do, but this sounds different, more intense and intimate, in a way.

It makes me question if this means Silas is some part of the prophecy as well, some link that Bria needs. The thought only stokes my anger.

I can sense Quinn’s eyes piercing through me without having to look back up at him. He’s likely watching and planning for what I might do next in my fit of fury.

“I understand.” It’s the only reply I can manage.

The muscles in my neck tense with the effort of forcing the words out and I cast my eyes down to look at the blade thrust into the mattress.

I draw my finger across the leather-bound hilt and yank it from its resting place before shifting my concentration to sharpening once again.

“You’re jealous of a child. You realize that, right?

” he quips, attempting to lessen the blow of the news.

But I set a scorching gaze on him, and he tosses his hands up in defense.

“Would a drink help? We can head over to the pub if you’d like?

” He’s trying, and I can’t fault him for that. But I want to talk to Bria, not him.

“I bet you could even find someone to keep you company tonight. I’ve heard some of the new girls have proven to be rather...friendly.”

“No,” I snarl, grasping the sharpening stone. I hold it so tight I think it might shatter beneath my fingers. Quinn may be trying to cheer me up, but that’s the last thing on my mind. I haven’t been with anyone here in the camp. I haven’t been with anyone since she came back into my life.

“Fine, suit yourself.”

Quinn pushes himself off the door and it groans under the pressure. He’s annoyed with me but also knows when to leave it be, knows when I need to be alone. He shoves his hands into his pockets and looks down to where I sit on the mattress.

“Ev, just plea—” he starts, but I’m in no mood to hear it.

“Don’t pull her focus,” I seethe. “I get it, I’ll leave her alone about it,” I say, hanging my head. I don’t look at him because I know it’s a lie and I have no intention of leaving her alone.

Quinn shakes off the statement, taking a few steps toward me.

“I wasn’t going to tell you to leave her alone.

I know you won’t even if it’s in your best interest that you do.

” He hesitates before speaking again and when he does, his voice is low, and I hear a touch of sadness seeping into his words.

“I just wanted to say”—he pauses before continuing—“whatever this is, this connection between them… It has to do with her magic, Ev. It’s not her fault,” he finishes, remaining there, his gaze trained on me.

But I stay silent until he finally stalks out of the room, leaving me in a pit of my own rage and jealousy.