over the past year. He'd grown stronger, physically and mentally, and was a natural leader among his friends.
The youthful, rebellious exuberance had also tempered a bit. But I could still see the bare bones of the boy who'd once followed me everywhere.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm needed in the war," I said flatly.
"But Eric's already fighting and you just came home. Why do you have to go again?"
"Because…" I have to find and kill our brother. "Because I just do."
Large, dark eyes stared. The same color as mine, except for the subtle grey flecks that came from our mother.
Minutes earlier, hers had shone with tears. His reflected bewilderment.
"The entrance ceremony for gardinel training is next week," he said, tentative."You'll be there, right?"
"No."
"But you promised!" Young voice cracked with hurt and anger. "Everyone else's brothers will be there!"
I suddenly couldn't stand the innocence of his face. Didn't want to be responsible for it.
Because whatever happened, I could never truly come home.
I turned my back to him. "You don't have brothers, Dax. Not any more."
"Tristan?"
Shaking off the cobwebs of the past, I managed a small smile. "Needed to talk to you about something."
I sat on the edge of his bed and Dax settled into a chair across from me.
Resolve wavered and doubt suddenly surged. He'd been so young then. I'd lost one brother, but he'd lost two.
Could I really ask him to do this?
Her forlorn voice, naked with vulnerability, echoed in my head.
Why did you give me the music?
I took a deep breath. The cost of this choice had been high. I wouldn't let it go to waste.
It was stilted at first. But with each sentence, my voice grew stronger, words coming faster until they tumbled out with an honesty that scraped my insides raw.
Dax remained still, his eyes never leaving mine.
When I finished, a silence weighted with the enormity of my request descended between us.
"Is this what you want?"
Every choice I'd made in my life led to this question.
He leaned forward, voice intense. "Is it?"
The small odds had further decreased with my return. But no matter how infinitesimal the possibility, I wanted to be ready.
And that meant believing in both Warrior Prince and Tristan.
"Yes."
"Then let's make it happen."
No hesitation. No doubt.
Insides shook. "You understand that —"
"I'll never forget your face when you went after him."
Solemn expression showed no trace of youthful impetuousness. Only a grave understanding of the blood and history binding us together.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course." Clear eyes held mine. "You're my brother."
A fragile warmth of regret and gratitude expanded in my chest at the simply spoken words. "Thank you."
"When do we start?"
His slightly crooked grin was an almost exact replica of Eric's. But the way he ran fingers through his hair was a gesture I recognized as my own.
Pride warmed my blood. Maybe Dax was the best of both of us.
"Tomorrow."
A great deal needed to be accomplished and I wanted to return to Haverleau as soon as possible.
He nodded. "I'll meet you in the library after dinner. Have you told him?"
I stood and headed for the door. "I'm seeing him now."
"Does she know you're doing this?"
Surprised, I turned back. "No. She can't."
A shadow briefly fell over his eyes, followed by contemplation.
"What's she like?"
Guarded but honest. Self-protective yet recklessly brave. Maddeningly provocative with an iron will and discipline. Instinctive emotion and analytical intellect.
A beautiful strength as deadly as a blade's edge.
I smiled. "She's different."
THIRTEEN
"Difficulty breathing, accelerated heart rate." Ewan continued his report. "All symptoms pointed to a panic attack."
Learning about Naida's past in the hospital's windowless elemental wing would've been suffocating. She didn't like feeling constrained.
"Nexa confirmed the nightmares started about three months ago," Garreth added. "She didn't believe they were visions."
Which meant
The youthful, rebellious exuberance had also tempered a bit. But I could still see the bare bones of the boy who'd once followed me everywhere.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm needed in the war," I said flatly.
"But Eric's already fighting and you just came home. Why do you have to go again?"
"Because…" I have to find and kill our brother. "Because I just do."
Large, dark eyes stared. The same color as mine, except for the subtle grey flecks that came from our mother.
Minutes earlier, hers had shone with tears. His reflected bewilderment.
"The entrance ceremony for gardinel training is next week," he said, tentative."You'll be there, right?"
"No."
"But you promised!" Young voice cracked with hurt and anger. "Everyone else's brothers will be there!"
I suddenly couldn't stand the innocence of his face. Didn't want to be responsible for it.
Because whatever happened, I could never truly come home.
I turned my back to him. "You don't have brothers, Dax. Not any more."
"Tristan?"
Shaking off the cobwebs of the past, I managed a small smile. "Needed to talk to you about something."
I sat on the edge of his bed and Dax settled into a chair across from me.
Resolve wavered and doubt suddenly surged. He'd been so young then. I'd lost one brother, but he'd lost two.
Could I really ask him to do this?
Her forlorn voice, naked with vulnerability, echoed in my head.
Why did you give me the music?
I took a deep breath. The cost of this choice had been high. I wouldn't let it go to waste.
It was stilted at first. But with each sentence, my voice grew stronger, words coming faster until they tumbled out with an honesty that scraped my insides raw.
Dax remained still, his eyes never leaving mine.
When I finished, a silence weighted with the enormity of my request descended between us.
"Is this what you want?"
Every choice I'd made in my life led to this question.
He leaned forward, voice intense. "Is it?"
The small odds had further decreased with my return. But no matter how infinitesimal the possibility, I wanted to be ready.
And that meant believing in both Warrior Prince and Tristan.
"Yes."
"Then let's make it happen."
No hesitation. No doubt.
Insides shook. "You understand that —"
"I'll never forget your face when you went after him."
Solemn expression showed no trace of youthful impetuousness. Only a grave understanding of the blood and history binding us together.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course." Clear eyes held mine. "You're my brother."
A fragile warmth of regret and gratitude expanded in my chest at the simply spoken words. "Thank you."
"When do we start?"
His slightly crooked grin was an almost exact replica of Eric's. But the way he ran fingers through his hair was a gesture I recognized as my own.
Pride warmed my blood. Maybe Dax was the best of both of us.
"Tomorrow."
A great deal needed to be accomplished and I wanted to return to Haverleau as soon as possible.
He nodded. "I'll meet you in the library after dinner. Have you told him?"
I stood and headed for the door. "I'm seeing him now."
"Does she know you're doing this?"
Surprised, I turned back. "No. She can't."
A shadow briefly fell over his eyes, followed by contemplation.
"What's she like?"
Guarded but honest. Self-protective yet recklessly brave. Maddeningly provocative with an iron will and discipline. Instinctive emotion and analytical intellect.
A beautiful strength as deadly as a blade's edge.
I smiled. "She's different."
THIRTEEN
"Difficulty breathing, accelerated heart rate." Ewan continued his report. "All symptoms pointed to a panic attack."
Learning about Naida's past in the hospital's windowless elemental wing would've been suffocating. She didn't like feeling constrained.
"Nexa confirmed the nightmares started about three months ago," Garreth added. "She didn't believe they were visions."
Which meant
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