Page 25 of Of Blood and Banes (The Arterian #2)

RECKLESS HONESTY

A fter I’ve spent some time in my room lying in bed and tearing up thinking about how broken Cole and I are, I force myself up. No time to let it keep me down. There’s too much at stake.

Daeja escorts me through the cobblestone streets to Sethan’s office. She’s quiet. Sensing my heartache. Every townsperson gawks and shifts out of the way, giving us a healthy amount of space as we make our way through the town side-by-side.

“Don’t let that go to your head,” I tease.

Her head is lifted, eyes locked on the path, and her lips twitch into something like a grin. Too late.

Once we get to Sethan’s office, I pound on the door a second before it swings open and I enter.

Daeja’s breath heats my back as she edges her muzzle through the door and opens her mouth in a hissing growl.

The two guards who were standing at the door shift away, their hands sliding to their weapons.

“Thank you, but I think they get the point.”

“Just in case they need a reminder…” Daeja snaps at the air with a sound that rings in my ears before she retreats.

I walk past the guards and straight for Sethan sitting at his desk.

His eyes flick up from his letter, then he waves the guards out to leave us.

They hesitate but exit anyway, their eyes trained on Daeja in one of the side windows before the door closes.

The same side window Cole and I snuck in the other night to retrieve the black book, which is now tucked into my satchel.

“Yes? To what do I owe the pleasure?” Sethan prompts.

I flex my sweating hands in my black leather gloves to try and redirect the tension in my chest. But the longer I think of it, the more I know with certainty it’s the best path forward. “I went against our agreement about the curfew.”

“You did. And you’ve lied about your relations with Cole.”

“Yes. We lied because back in Arterias I had to pretend to be his sister in order to stay at the military outpost. And…” I pause, not wanting to disclose the fact Cole was—or is —engaged.

And to the King’s granddaughter, of all people.

“...and we’ve kept that front, because the rest of the squad doesn’t know.

Considering we’re already walking on eggshells within our own group by a temporary agreement to stay, I don’t want to disrupt it by revealing such a long-winded lie. ”

“I see…and you’re trusting me to keep it a secret?”

“For now. I think sharing that secret with the squad would be disastrous, especially if we want to make it to Vitalis as a group. You told me you could lead through fear or respect. But…I think there’s another way.

I think you can lead through honesty. And while I can’t disclose that secret right now… there is one thing I can do.”

He leans back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest and waiting.

Praying I’m not making a colossal mistake, I pluck the little black book from my satchel and rest it on his desk in an utter leap of faith. “The reason we were out last night is because we stole this.”

Daeja’s dark figure glides past the set of windows behind Sethan’s back and pauses, her eyes fixed on him and waiting for any of my commands.

“My…” His gaze flicks down to the book. “I must admit—I’m impressed by the reckless honesty.”

Despite my fear, I don’t drop my chin, nor take my eyes off him. Waiting for him to also come clean. “I noticed after you caught us out after curfew, nothing happened. If I violated the blood pact we made, doesn’t that void our agreement? Would I have felt something?”

Catching on to my train of thought, he glances up. “I haven’t broken our blood pact, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“What is this book for, then?”

“It’s a study on how to break binds and pacts between dragons and their riders.”

“And why would anyone do that?”

“I’m not sure. But the elders thought the celestial event was an important piece of information.

It was noted the currents of magic are strongest then.

And we have reason to believe the King is waiting for one to test out the theory, since he doesn’t have that ring.

” He motions to my hand. “Now comes our conversation about what your punishment should be.”

“Punishment?”

“Is this the part where I break through the window?” Daeja grumbles down our bond.

He answers, “Yes. It’s only fair, considering you could have just asked me about it rather than stealing from me.”

I clench my teeth. “Do you truly blame me for not trusting you when you’re not entirely forthcoming with your information? That, and you’re also not the most approachable person to ask questions.”

“You know, in thirty years from now when you’re my age, you might not be the most approachable, either.”

Daeja growls, and he turns to look at her through the window over his shoulder, before he turns back to me. “If you read the book, then you know you hold the upper hand here. With your ring, you can easily break our pact at any point. I have nothing to gain to break it and everything to lose.”

“Like A’nala…” Daeja murmurs.

Though, I think A’nala is just the beginning of what he’s referring to. “Are you really able to hear all of this through the window?”

She snorts, her breath fogging the glass in a cloud before it dissipates.

Sethan continues, “I’ll do the best I can to gain your trust, but you need to give me the chance. Can you at least do that?”

As if delivering the book wasn’t enough of an example? I watch him, debating the best answer, before I finally mutter, “I can try.”

“Then that’s the most I can ask for.”

“I have one request.”

“Name it,” he mumbles warily.

“The curfew doesn’t apply to me.”

Cole doesn’t show up to dinner at the community hall later that evening.

After everyone finishes their meals, we all return to our rooms and settle in for the night.

Melaina and Archie assist me in securing Darian’s chains to the hooks in the far wall of the room.

Darian looks ready to snap at Archie’s hand as he sheepishly tugs to double-check the strength of the hooks.

Archie squeezes my shoulder as he and Melaina leave the room.

I change out of my day clothes into a nightgown, blow out the wall sconce candles, and shuffle into bed.

I drift off into sleep for a short amount of time before I wake to a soft knock.

My eyes flutter open, and I scan the wall where Darian’s chained up.

His eyes flash open, meeting mine in the darkness. Another set of knocks.

“Well, I’m not going to get it,” he grumbles.

I nervously slip out of bed, bringing a dagger with me to the door. A knock this late at night can’t be anything good.

When I part the door open, I release a breath and open it more. Does anybody know what a godsdamn curfew is? “What are you doing here?”

Marge presses a finger to her lips. She beckons me out with an urgent flick of her hand.

I gesture down to my nightgown, and she spins her hand in circles to spur me into action.

When I open the door wider to allow her in, she shakes her head.

Closing the door slightly, I return to the dresser, pull out day clothes, and turn my back to Darian as I remove my nightgown.

“Mmm,” he purrs thickly, clearly enjoying the sight.

I ignore him, shuffling quickly into my pants and pulling a long sleeve on before grabbing a cloak.

“Wher ever could you be going so late in the night?” Darian’s tilted voice mocks in innocent curiosity.

I seize my boots, pulling them onto my legs.

“Late night rendezvous? Scandalous thing, you,” he taunts again.

“Careful. I might actually think you’re jealous,” I whisper as I shut the door behind me.

“Wait—” he calls but is cut off once I secure the door closed.

Marge leads me through the town, slinking through the shadows and sliding against the walls through alleyways. The silhouette of the forest appears off in the distance as we get near the outskirts of Midkeep.

I whisper, “Where are you taking me?—”

“What are you doing out? It’s past curfew. Get back to your beds,” someone commands from behind us.

We turn, facing the direction of the voice.

Two men with metal tipped spears scan us.

One of them lowers their spears, pointing it directly at us.

Marge’s eyebrows quirk up, before settling down above her eyes in intimidation.

I pity the man who dares to challenge Marge—her expression alone would scare the boots off someone.

The other guard recognizes me, his eyes widening as he elbows the one who spoke, and motions toward me silently.

The first guard lowers his spear, clearing his throat before he speaks, “My apologies. Please continue on your way. But hurry back, the forest is no safe place for two ladies on their own.”

“We’ll manage,” Marge grumbles as she grabs the back of my arm above my elbow and steers me away.

We venture into the forest, the pine trees stretching into the sky like an army of still soldiers watching us coldly. The moonlight seeps through the pine needles, washing the forest floor in grays and shadows. Marge holds up a hand to stop me as we near the edge of a clearing.

“What? Why did you bring me out here in the middle of the night, Marge?” I whisper.

“Shh!” Her gaze is glued to something in the distance. A breeze picks up, lifting her hair and shuffling her cloak. She slowly looks at me over her shoulder. “Do you hear it?”

I blink hard, straining to listen between the whispering of wind in the leaves and bubbles of the river farther south from us. “No, there’s nothing out there. This is ridiculous?—”

“Shhh!” she warns again and hobbles toward me. “Close your eyes.”