Page 76 of A Touch of Stars and Stones (Kirrian #1)

He sways as he comes towards the bars, but I don’t stand to meet him, even if every fibre in me wants to lash out at him, scream and yell and tell him he needs to let both of us go; he can banish me right alongside Ten.

I wait. I channel every calming thought and technique that Kyra gifted me and sit.

But Orion just grabs the bars, his hands clenching around the metal as if he might pull them apart with his bare hands. His lips stay shut. He waits, and the mere presence of him is enough to ignite my wrath.

“Why are you doing this?” A wave of energy blasts out from me, but he just tightens his grip.

“You wouldn’t stop. You got your hooks into him, and now look at the consequences. He was meant for more, and you drove him to this, you witch.”

“What? You did this. You banished your son, not me. And we both know you’re the one keeping secrets.”

“Have you never thought there might be a reason for those?” His teeth grit together as he grimaces with the words. Ten knew, but he wanted to find the answers anyway, unable to accept that there were hidden secrets.

“Tell me about the battle here. Tell me something that makes fucking sense.” My anger tips, and I stand and slam my hands against the bars, the sudden rush of strength infusing me, drawing from Orion and our proximity.

“You. You are the answer. For over twenty years now. Elex was so stubborn. He wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t be reasoned with.”

“Who’s Elex?” My heart grips onto the name in desperation. “Is he my father?”

“I won’t let my son follow in his footsteps.

I’ve done everything to stop this—sacrificed for him.

My wife…” He turns around, and for a moment, I feel a brush of pain and suffering.

His. It’s a living, breathing thing, cloaked under years of work and strength, but it’s there.

And it’s terrifying. It’s enough for me to doubt, for a moment, that he’s the villain in all of this.

He fits. Stars, he’s played his part perfectly, but his grief and anguish rock me, steering me off course.

“You won’t win.” And he’s back, the Orion Ciro I first met.

“I’m not looking to win. I don’t understand. Who is Elex, and how do you know Kalan?”

His eyes swing back to mine, no sign of the sorrow that overtook me, but narrowing on me, like he wants to pick apart my memories.

“You know Kalan?”

“He’s a friend, or sort of. He’s visited me my whole life. How do you know him?”

His head tilts. “You saw. The aftermath of the battle. That was you. How?”

“I don’t know. I can see futures, memories…” I shake my head, feeling like every word from my lips is a betrayal. But if he has answers, actual truths, then I’ll tell him everything.

“Curse you. And Aslendrix, for allowing your mix of magics. It’s always been the same.”

“No. Go back. Tell me about Elex or Kalan.”

“I’m surprised you’ve not just taken the knowledge you want already,” he curses.

This isn’t getting us anywhere. “Where is Ten? Where have you sent him?”

“Somewhere safe. Away from you. I can no longer trust him to do the right thing.”

“If you keep me locked up, he will come for me. It would be safer to let me leave with him. We’ll go and never come back if you let me go with him. You can forget all about me,” I say the words with hope in my heart that they are true.

Would he? He came for me before, but how would he fight the whole of The Court if he’s banished?

“Arghhhh!” Orion pushes off the bars and slams his palms against them, rattling them in their iron hinges, making them quake to the point of breaking. Then he stalks away.

I guess that’s a no.

Movement, the shuffle of boots on the stone floor, the dull rumble of a voice that I don’t recognise or can hear enough to make out the words, is now the highlight of my time in here.

There’s been no visit from Kyra like last time.

No visit from anyone since Orion, and he’s not been back.

Except for the changing faces of those who have delivered a tray of basic food with a cup of water and replaced the candles, I’ve been alone.

They don’t speak, and they’re very careful not to get too close when they arrive with a breakfast and dinner offering only.

Three days have passed, given the number of meals delivered, and I am desperate for something to write on to help me pull the threads inside my jumbled mind into order.

“Ten?” I keep calling his name in my mind, hoping he’ll answer, but there’s been nothing so far, only quiet.

Each time, the hope in my chest dulls a little more, the light dying like the embers of an old fire.

But the dark isn’t going to break me. I’ll get out.

And if he can’t come to me, I’ll find him.

“Ever?”

His voice in my head unleashes a smile that sets my heart racing. “Ten? Oh, thank Aslendrix, I thought you’d gone, that you’d left.”

“They’re moving me. It’s why I can hear you again. We’re close to The Court now.”

“My power’s stronger. We can cover the distance. I will.” I vow to keep this tether between us for as long as possible.

“Outside of Kirrasia, it’s muted. Power doesn’t flow the same way outside of Aslendrix’s watch.”

“She’s the moon. The whole world can see her.”

“It’s her gift, Ever. Never forget that she grants it with measures in place.”

“I don’t need a lesson, Ten. I need to keep this connection between us, no matter how far we’re apart,” I snap, my frustration brimming over.

“We can try.” The words don’t feel enough, don’t feel deep enough for how much I want to maintain this thread between us. I want to grab hold of it and pull it back, as if I can physically pull him back to me, too. “Where are you?”

“The cells. The same one.”

“I’m so sorry, Little Siren, believe me.”

“You’ve done nothing. I’m the one who’s turned everything upside down. I’m the reason your father banished you.”

“I wouldn’t change any of my choices to keep you from harm. Goddess, I’d kill them both next time, all to keep you safe.”

“This isn’t because you killed him. It’s because you protected me. Helped me. Your dad wanted to keep us apart. Started rambling about keeping you from making the same mistake as Elex.”

“Who’s that?”

“I think it might be my father.” I take a steadying breath.

“Ever—” His voice goes foggy in my mind, and the strand of energy falters.

“Ten?” No hum of awareness, no vibration and no voice. “ Ten!” I scream and think I may have screamed out loud.

“He can’t hear you.”

I recognise that voice, and the sound has me stealing my emotions and swallowing any sign of weakness.

“I didn’t think he’d banish his own son. But Orion Ciro has been known to surprise us before.”

“I don’t want to speak with you, Kamari.”

“Oh, that’s okay. I’m only here to inform you that your training is over. You’re a risk to your fellow trainees and have proven what everyone knows about a Fifth. They can’t be trusted with the power they are granted.”

Her words dig in, but I hold them like pieces of paper, waiting for me to put them in order and reveal the riddle. Each time, I get a little more, and it’s starting to take shape, even if I can’t scribble my thoughts down.

Lyle kept me hidden. She was afraid and wanted me nowhere near this place until it was clear I needed help—the Transference.

Kalan. He left me something powerful. A protection.

The Maker. Everything she’s said.

Orion, Elex, my parents, books with missing pages, the lack of information…

“Aslendrix seems to disagree with that.”

“Well, sometimes, blessed as she is, she’s wrong and needs a little helping hand.” Her smile betrays her true nature, and I see now that she’s as calculating as everyone else.

Stars, I’ve trusted all the wrong people.

But I do trust Ten. I will get out and find him.

If that’s the last thing I do.