Page 79 of The Freedom You Seek

I was furious when that dumbass chuckled, and I was about to blow up when Nayana placed her hand on mine, which instantly calmed me down. What in Kalag’s name was happening to me?

“Dion is right, Thain. Be serious for a change, will you? Last nightwaseventful. I read something that unsettled me while we were at the library. And back at the inn, Dion and I had a fight, and I threw him out.”

All the confused attention was on Nayana, and she shifted in her seat. I turned my hand and took hers in mine, pressing it in comfort, which she rewarded with a tense smile.

“I was pretty much out of my mind, so I took my things and left without intending to come back.”

“You could have kept that to yourself.”

“Better to be honest than lying or omitting parts of the truth.”

Damn. She couldn’t know how deeply her words cut. If she knew how much I—and the others on my behalf—were keeping from her, yesterday’s fight would be insignificant compared to the trouble I’d be in. I could only hope she’d never find out about the secrets we were keeping from her. I had my reasons, perfect ones indeed, to be honest, but knowing her, she wouldn’t accept that.

“So, you intended to run away? What did unsettle you so much to consider something drastic like that?” All eyes were still on Nayana, and it was Ireas who had found his voice first.

“I discovered a book about magic that mentioned the Rite of Binding. And, well, no one told me about itsexistence, and I—sorry, now that my head is clear, it sounds so stupid to me.” Nayana’s shoulders sank deep, her eyes darted across the wooden table, her head hung, and with a frown, I tucked her under my arm.

“You weren’t irritated when we spoke in the library,” Thain said, and all my muscles tensed. Did he really just casually mention that he’d stalked her in the library and had a one-on-one chat with her? Not a single inch of my body moved as I locked my gaze on him. If I found out he had anything to do with Nayana’s dumb decision to put herself in danger, I’d definitely kill him.

“For you, it was obvious we’d be doing the Rite soon. Thanks for asking what I think about forever-bindings, by the way.”

Hot fury was coursing through my veins. And only when Naya touched my cheek did I realize I was clenching my jaw so hard that it was painful. Her touch grounded me, and I relaxed, at least a little. I couldn’t wait to let Thain know he wouldn’t have access to my Nayana anymore, and that was the only thing saving him. I would enjoy delivering that message to him.

Thain frowned. “Why should you be against it? You’ve never heard of the Rite before, and it’s what’s done between a Wielder and their chosen Amplifier.”

The alarm on Fig’s face told me he thought it was necessary to step in, but I raised my hand to shut him up. There was no need for it—I had a much better way to deal with Thain’s misguided, possessive behavior.

“Well, there’s no need to continue this discussion because Nayana won’t be trainingwith you anymore. Nor will you use her Potential ever again.” Smugness and utter satisfaction crept into my voice.

“Since when do you speak for her?” Thain glared at me, then turned to Nayana. “Also, since when do you allow him to do so?”

“Good questions, but let me ask one of my own. Since when do you care what I want?”

The biting remark that Nayana delivered—her voice dripping with sweetness—warmed my cold heart. Sadly, she softened almost instantly. The corners of my mouth curled up as I imagined all the ways I could teach her how to wield her sharp retorts like weapons—and how not to regret it afterward.

“Sorry, that comment was mean. But what Dion said is true. He spoke for me because he knows it’s my choice.”

“But it’s such a waste of power.”

Nayana’s already tense posture changed to rigid at Thain’s last remark, and I glared at the redhead through my eyebrows. To soothe her, I tugged her even closer and stroked small circles on her arm with my thumb.

“That’s all just Dion poisoning you with hateful words, isn’t it?”

“Thain, calm down.” Fig intervened, and it amused me. Typically, I was the one being told to let it go.

“I still wonder what all of this has to do with the fact you ran away, Nayana.” I knew what Ireas intended. He was aiming to defuse the discussion with distraction, not that it would have been too successful if I hadn’t controlled myself as well as I did. But in a way, the medic had doneme a favor, so I indulged him, especially since both Fig and Antas nodded approvingly.

“Yes, Nayana climbed out of the window. I don’t know how she managed to do so without getting hurt.”

She shot me a dirty look, but it was worth it because it eased some of the tension in her muscles. “Cocky bastard.”

I couldn’t stop myself from blowing her a kiss. “Well, when I couldn’t find her, I went to search for her.”

“I’ve never asked how you found me. I had a decent head start, and you were so very drunk. Even though you rode your horse and I was just traveling on my own two feet, you should’ve had a much harder time locating me.”

“Good question. How, Dion?”

“A while back, I forged a magic dagger for Nayana, and she took it with her.” Burning stares hit me from all sides.