Page 34 of To Scale the Emerald Mountain

“What is that purpose?” Another tear slips free and slides down my cheek.

“You will learn in due time. It is better to ease you into everything.” Locane’s expression and tone holds a softness not at all typical for him.

“I know you. When I’m close to you, I sense this familiarity. But something about it isn’t right. It’s like… like, I don’t know. Like something changed. I’m having a hard time fully putting my finger on it. Will you tell me how we know each other? What changed?”

A look of unmistakable guilt darkens Locane’s face as he gazes at me. He shakes his head and angles his head before telling me, “I will have to one day, but not today. You won’t forgive me when you learn those truths.”

Locane grabs my hand and squeezes it with apology in his eyes. I gently squeeze his back, surprised at my own contentment to not push him on this right now.

All his light, gentle touches today must have completely unnerved me.

“I don’t know anything about you. Tell me something. Please?”

Locane takes a long pause before asking me, “What do you want to know?”

“How old are you?”

“Much older than you, Ellya.”

Dropping his hand, I poke his shoulder. “That’s not a real answer. How much older?” Locane doesn’t appear to be older than his thirties, but somehow, I know that doesn’t mean anything.

“You are twenty-three? I’m around two-hundred years older.” My jaw drops, and he laughs. “I told you: much older.”

“You must have strong magic then. Only people who are particularly powerful live that long, yes? And you still look quite young,” I tell him, my eyes roving appreciatively over his face.

“Yes, and you have strong magic, too. I believe you will live to be just as old as I. Maybe even older.” Locane gives me a raised brow, as if challenging me to argue that point with him.

“What is your gift?” I wait on bated breath, wondering if he is truly about to tell me something real about himself.

His face returns to its serious, impassive mask as he shakes his head and says, “You’re already distrustful of me. If I tell you, you will be even more so.”

My mind tries to process what that could mean. I come up blank of any possibilities of what he may be able to do. “It might help me trust you more if you just tell me.”

Locane turns his gaze away from me, staring blankly at the wall. He swallows, and I can tell he’s nervous. It’s my turn to give him a gentle, reassuring touch. I grab his chin with my thumb and forefinger and turn him slowly until he’s facing me again.

“Please, just tell me. Tell me something.” There’s blatant desperation in my voice, but I have no shame in begging him to help me trust him.

Locane swallows again. “I can make anyone of a lesser mind do whatever I want them to. I can compel almost anyone to do my will, no matter what it may be.” His voice sounds dangerous as he finally gives me this truth.

I drop his chin quickly as suspicion takes me over. He’s right. I do trust him less now. Standing, I look down at him with accusation. “And how much have you been controlling what I do?”

Locane stands too, pointing a finger roughly into my chest.

“I fucking knew it. I knew that would be the first conclusion you’d come to. This is why I have been so reluctant to tell you anything. You are so wrapped up in thinking everything is about you to actually consider what anything means. Everything is a shallow answer to you.”

“Well, you have made it abundantly clear that you think I am—what was the exact word you used? Oh yes,lessthan you in every way. You never hesitate to point out my shortcomings or make me doubt myself. You never hesitate to insinuate that I’m weak and useless,” I shriek. “Tell me right now, have you compelled me to do anything? Tell me honestly that you haven’t, and I will gladly admit that I was wrong and give you my sincerest apologies.”

I grab his finger digging into my chest and twist it before flinging his hand away from me. He doesn’t even flinch, doesn’t even blink.

“I can’t honestly tell you that,” he snarls in my face.

Pulling back, I slap him across the cheek as hard as I can.

“Fuck you!” I shout. “Fuck you, for trying to make me feel guilty for being suspicious of you, for doubting your intentions. You’re a prick for always trying to make me out as a bratty child when my instincts have been correct! Is this some kind of power trip? Some kind of control tactic? Oh, wait—no. You don’t need a control tactic. You’ve already been fucking controlling me!”

Bending down, I snatch up the staff laying by my foot and twirl it in my hand three times, so quickly it’s nothing but a blur before I right it and jab Locane under the chin.

The impact makes his jaw close with a loudclackas his teeth collide. He keeps his head thrown back where it landed as I point the staff directly at his chest, prepared to strike him again.