Pieces of Eight (The Frey Saga, #2)(31)

I tried not to let the dream take over my thoughts. Concentrating on lost memories made my spinning head throb and my ears ring. But I couldn't help it, I kept returning to it. Something about it bothered me more than it should. And it wasn't merely the agony that I'd repeatedly watched him endure. It was something else, something forgotten.

It felt like it was right there, alongside the anguish of seeing him tormented, the knowledge of his father, the gratitude toward Anvil for his intervention. A significant truth, just out of reach. But it was adding to my headache so I brushed it off, counting stones in the corridor on my way to the practice rooms.

Which, to my surprise, I found right away. I was certain it was because I'd wanted to avoid Ruby, who stood front and center, impatiently waiting for me.

She saw my state and shook her head, clicking in disapproval. "Can't you at least try?"

I ran my fingers through my hair in an attempt to smooth it. She wasn't impressed. The way she was looking at me, like it was time for a renovation, actually made me eager for practice. "Ready to get started?" I asked.

She smirked. "Chevelle asked me to step it up this morning."

Oh crap.

"Prepare yourself, Elfreda."

Before I had a chance to do anything other than cringe, the room lit up in a circle of flames so massive, I could not breathe. I struggled for air, wincing as the heat assailed my skin, my eyes. I had no notion of even where Ruby stood as she taunted me. "React, Frey. Counter."

I had nothing, no ideas, no answer to the fire. The circle flared and closed in, advancing at an alarming rate, and still, I stood helpless. And then the flames disappeared completely, as if they'd never been.

"Seriously?" Ruby scorned. "What is with you, Frey?"

I was considering telling her when we heard Grey approach, coming in through the far door. We turned to greet him when, just as he entered, a large, golden-furred mountain lion leaped from the pillars behind him, nearly landing on his back before it was tossed aside by magic.

"Damn it, Frey," he complained.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ruby fight a smile as I apologized. "Right, I'll send them away. Sorry."

"Come to watch practice?" Ruby asked him.

"I hear it's going to be a good one," he teased.

"Not so far." Ruby directed an accusing glance my way.

I groaned.

"What happened? I thought you'd been doing well. Heard you'd even bested Red."

Ruby shot him a fierce glare.

"I don't know about that," I said. "I just can't think of-" My sentence was cut off midway, I'd even forgotten I was speaking when the memory came back. I'd been watching Ruby, the affectionately foul glare she directed at Grey, or maybe it was just being here, in the practice rooms, but I remembered. And it had been in the diary, I was nearly positive.

They were both staring at me, waiting on a revelation when I turned from the room. "I have to go lie down. I'll come back later."

I ran straight to my room and dug through my pack until I found it, hands trembling as I skimmed through the pages for the entry. My fingers ran over my mother's script, the words I had recalled, the words that supported the memory that was calling to me.





Father is already discussing arranged marriages, even mentioning Rune’s son, of all people.





A flush seemingly ran from the weathered page, up my arms as it flooded my neck, my cheeks, overwhelming the thud in my chest, asking too much. I heard someone behind me and barely recognized the realization that I'd forgotten to close the door in my haste as I threw the book aside and turned, expecting Ruby.

But it wasn't Ruby. The heat drained from my face, leaving it colorless, taking my breath, drying my throat, incapacitating me as I watched Chevelle, staring at the diary on the floor beside me, knowing that he'd seen me, he'd seen what I'd read, he knew that I knew.

He was motionless for an eternity before his eyes made their way to mine. I waited, speechless, unsure if I should prevent his explanation, part of me certain I didn't want to know more. But as he opened his mouth to speak, I could almost feel the whole memory returning, teasing, as if it would come back if he would only name it.

He closed his eyes as footsteps approached and the act felt like an apology.

I was unable to look away but regained my breath just before Ruby entered behind him. He took one deep breath before he opened his eyes and turned to her, giving no explanation, consequently implying he was waiting on hers.

She uncharacteristically faltered before answering. "I was just checking on Frey." She was clearly confused, knowing I'd only moments ago run from the practice rooms.

It was silent as we waited for his response, my mind running through a thousand scenarios that started with him commanding her to go, allowing us to be alone; him leaving without another word, without another look at me; him turning on me, furious; or the room bursting into flames as Ruby had demonstrated earlier, which, oddly enough, seemed like the least painful option.

But none of the visions I'd had prepared me for his quiet words as he faced me and asked, "How are you, Freya?"

I felt my brows pull up and struggled for composure. My mouth opened to reply but quickly closed again when I realized I'd no idea how to respond. His dark blue eyes were on mine, waiting, and though I couldn't look away, I knew Ruby's were as well, her deep emerald eyes that so resembled mine. And then I was lost again, fixed on a memory that wouldn't quite develop, somewhere in the blackest sapphire.