Page 78 of Spirit Rites

“We’re going to get you back to Kaldar’s house. Seren, Kaldar’s personal advisor, is going to meet you there. He will go over your schedule and what is needed of you and when,” Taren explains.

“Okay.”

“Just take it one step at a time,” Jorren adds.

I take a deep breath. “Okay.”

The door at the top of the stairs opens, and Jorren and Tarren both move so fast, I barely see them move. But suddenly, they’re both in front of me. Their broad shoulders block my view of who’s coming. “What do you want, Evren?” Jorren growls.

My body tenses. “I came to check on Kinsley.”

“You mean the Queen?” Jorren

“Yes. Is she okay?”

I don’t know what to do about the concern I hear in his voice. Either he’s great at deception or he really is concerned. I make the decision. “I’m here.”

There’s a pause, and then Taren takes a step to the side. I meet Evren’s gaze. His dark eyes are always intense, but I refuse to let him intimidate me. I don’t know which side he’s on; but I do know I refuse to be intimidated by him. I meet his eyes again. “Which side are you on, Evren?”

He doesn’t miss a beat. “Yours.”

“Prove it. Because right now, none of us are willing to trust you.” Neither Jorren nor Taren say anything to correct what I just said. “Your father just—”

“My father is dead.” There is no emotion in his voice. “He chose his own actions. I loved him. He was my dad, but I don’t condone his actions.”

I stare at him, wishing I had the ability to see his soul. I need to know whether he can be trusted or not. I refuse to make the wrong decision here. “I don’t know, Evren.”

“Look. I know I’m not your favorite person; you’re not mine either. And I know I haven’t done anything to make you like me...or trust me. But my father is gone now.” He drops his gaze to the floor, and I feel for him. I might have really not liked his father, but it was still his father.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I tell him softly.

His eyes bounce over my face. “You really mean that.”

I don’t look away from him. “I do. Nobody deserves to lose someone they love, regardless of what that person has done or hasn’t done.”

He sighs, and I feel it so deeply. “Yeah.”

I make the call. “Check with Jorren to see what he needs from you.”

I hold my breath for just a moment, wondering if Jorren will disagree. I’m hoping he’ll give Evren a chance. Well, another chance, anyway. Jorren doesn’t disappoint me. “Let’s get to work.”

Chapter38

“Can we talk about something?” I ask before the three of them can disappear. I hear somebody coming down the stairs and turn once again. “Reika.”

“Heard there was a party going on,” she says dryly.

I resist the urge to hug her; pretty sure she wouldn’t go for that. “How’s your arm?”

“Fine.”

“Jorren said—” I start, but she cuts me off.

“I said I’m fine,”

“Okay.” I don’t let her attitude bother me. I turn back to the four of them, really wishing Kaldar was here. “So, are we going to talk about this?” Three sets of eyes are on my face. “That man turned into a guivre.”

“Yeah,” Reika says. “We got that; we were there.”