Page 39 of In The Dark

“Stop that.” He sits up, angling his body toward me. “You stayed.”

“Well, I can’t go back now.”

“No, you can’t,” he agrees.

“Well…” Ivy says, holding up her finger.

Rydian suddenly whips his head in her direction, rising to his full height, as if he didn’t just lose his life for the second time in three days. He’s in her face now, and I draw my knees up to stand, confused as to where this is going.

“No, she isnotgoing back with them.” His eyes grow hot with fury. “We’ve already discussed this. She stays with us, and that’s final.”

“She’s our only way in.” Ivy pushes, leaving him to growl.

My brows draw close together. “What do you mean—your only way in?”

“Ivy.” Rydian glares so intensely, as if warning her to remain quiet. Ivy only throws him an apologetic glance, knowing she is probably going to be punished later, and steps forward. Her hands rest on her hilts. She speaks in a way that any commander would relay information. As if I have sway.Do I have sway?

“We still don’t know where Elynor is. We don’t even know if she’s aliveordead. We’ve had no leads since you two were taken twenty years ago,” she manages to get out, lowering her eyes. “If you can go back with your brethren, maybe we can find something regarding her location.”

My mother.She could be alive?Knowing Elion, she’s probably already dead, but there’s really no way to know that.

“This is not up for discussion. She stays with us, and that’s final. She needs to be in Aurelia. We can keep searching for Elynor as soon as we get back,” he grinds out.

“We’re already here, Rydian,” she counters again.

“No, she’s right,” I say, their gazes swiveling to me. “I can help. It makes sense. They have no idea that I know anything and don’t suspect it because technically, we completed our mission. I could resume my life and gain information from the castle about her whereabouts… if she’s still alive.”

Rydian growls in frustration and starts to pace. Ivy and I watch him as he’s clearly at odds with the situation, watching him scratch the back of his head in agitation. He finally halts with hands on his hips and then looks up with a decision.

“No. I can’t risk you being near anyone who can Siphon your memories again. I can’t do it—Iwon’tdo it again. It’s too much of a risk. I lost you twice already. There’s no way around it, and your safety comes first. We will get you back to Aurelia as soon as possible,” he says as if it’s final. Like he’smyking.

“No,” I say, my words hanging between us. I’m deciding for myself this time.

Ivy stiffens when he whips his head in my direction, but I hold his gaze, lifting my chin as he steps forward. The silence hangs in the air when he stops a few inches from me to slowly, firmly grip my chin. He’s not aggressive with the movement but stern as he searches my face.

Our gazes lock while he holds me in place. A challenge.

My words come out a quiet whisper. “Let me do this, Rydian.Let me be your informant. I am no more important than my mother—the queen.”

“You are the queen, Isa. I won’t risk you again,” he whispers back.

“Not yet. Not until a ritual is done from what I gathered from your memories. For right now, I am still Isa Valedara, bound to the Veiled Brotherhood.”

He knows that I’m right. I’m not the queen of Aurelia yet, and I live here, in Elderheim, and I have a choice—my choice is to stay.

Rydian holds my stare, like he’s calling my bluff. His gaze is so intense it would bring anyone to their knees in submission, but I stand my ground in a silent challenge. There’s an anger in his eyes as he studies me, and a quiet minute passes before a look of resignation flicks across his face.

His scent of oakmoss fills my senses as I steadily breathe in, willing my heart rate to slow. I never thought I would like the earthy scent, but the more that I’m around him, the more I find myself searching for it.

He finally nods and releases me, folding his arms across his chest. “Fine, that’s what we’ll do, then. First, we’ll need to strategize a plan before they notice your absence.”

And I look at Ivy, who was already watching me, catching her staring, her eyes darting back and forth between me and Rydian. Her brow slowly arches as if she’s just realizing something.

Her face reflects awe of the scene that just unfolded, her gaze flicking to Rydian, who is now rubbing his forehead back and forth with his thumb and forefinger. She swings her gaze back to me and throws me an inquisitive glance, curiosity written across her face.

Like how I just convinced him to let me go.

Again.