The Silver Siren (Iron Butterfly, #3)(10)

“I know you tried,” I spoke softly.

“How did you know? How did you know about the fire?” Kael asked and nuzzled the back of my head with his chin.

“Would you believe me if I told you I had a vision? I saw it before it happened, so I tried to stop it.”

“Did you know about the Septori?” He asked.

I had a feeling he already knew the answer. “Yes,” I whispered meekly.

“It was why you sent me out of the barn after the farmer wasn’t it?” Kael growled into my ear. He was angry and I couldn’t blame him, but I wasn’t afraid of him.

“Yes.”

“You are one of the most stubborn, stupid, selfish people I know. Do you realize that?” Kael was furious and I let him vent. He needed to vent. I had put him in a position where I knew the outcome and almost made him break his promise to my father to protect me.

“Do you realize what you did? The barn almost came down. You could have died!” Kael’s breath was coming quicker.

My silence was all the affirmation he needed. He pulled Faraway to a stop and pulled me by the shoulder so I had to look at him.

“That was you? Were you trying to get yourself killed?” His disbelief and anger made me comprehend how foolish I was.

I dropped my head in shame. I had been trying to kill myself, and Kael must have realized that, because he wrapped both arms around me and hugged me.

“Don’t! Don’t you do anything like that again? Do you hear me?” Kael rocked me in his arms and I cried.

“You don’t understand, Kael. I felt the monster I was becoming rise to the surface. It loved power and didn’t care whether people lived or died. I had to try and kill it before it consumed me,” I sniffed and tried to look away from him, and not show him my silver eye.

“You have been touched by it, but you’ve survived. You are stronger because of it.” Kael grabbed my chin and made me meet his eyes. “I won’t let the monster get you. I promise.”

And like before, I believed him. Kael pulled back to stare over my shoulder, eastward. His eyes took on a faraway look, and I could see the muscle tick in his jaw as he pondered something.

“I want you to come somewhere with me,” Kael said, never taking his eyes off of the distant mountains. “There’s something I need to do.”

“Where?” I asked and turned slightly to see where Kael was gazing. It was the mountain range to the southeast. A dry and barren range with little to no life.

“Why so many questions? This will be just a little detour,” he said.

“What about the others? What about Hemi and Joss?”

Kael pulled away from me. “Thalia, I promise you will get to see them again. It’s just been a very long time since I’ve been this close.” His gaze drifted to the barren mountains again, and I could hear longing in his voice. It became soft and husky. “I’m so close, yet so far.”

Never before had he asked for something from me. Demanded yes, but asked no. What harm could there be in going with him? We would just be a few days behind the others, and I knew that with our bond it would be easier if I just went with him.

“Okay, Kael. You lead, I’ll follow.”

His face erupted into a smile of relief. A smile that rocked me to my very core. I forgot to breathe.

Kael wrapped his arms around me in a completely unSwordBrotherly fashion and touched forehead to my temple. “Thank you,” he whispered. “Thank you.”





Chapter 7



We spent most of the rest of the day on horseback. When we stopped for a drink I switched places. Riding behind Kael, my hands lightly resting on his hips, was awkward at first. But I was tired and emotionally drained from destroying the barn. Frequently, I fell asleep leaning against his warm back. He let me rest and didn’t disturb me, only stopping when I needed a break. I could tell he was in a hurry to get to our destination, so I tried to not call for a rest too often.

Faraway was tireless, as if he could sense Kael’s impatience, and we covered more ground than should have been possible. We didn’t stop until after the sun had set, and Kael had found a small out cropping against a rock wall.

Kael dismounted first and without asking, wrapped his hands around my waist to lift me down. My legs were stiff and my back sore from riding in the same position all day, and I was grateful for the extra support from the ground. Stretching out my legs, I walked the perimeter of the camp Kael had chosen. There wasn’t much to shield us from the elements; large boulders and rocks covered most of the terrain other than the large outcropping. There was enough room underneath for two people to sleep if it rained, but we had no supplies. No bedrolls, food, or anything else.

I turned around looking for Kael but he was gone. “Kael?” I called out.

No answer. My voice echoed into the night, and the lack of response worried me. At night everything looked larger, darker, scarier. I had to remind myself that I had a SwordBrother nearby. Everyone was scared of them. Faraway had remained silent most of the day and even now had moved off to the edge and looked to be standing guard. I knew that my magnificent horse loved to pretend he was invincible but in fact was far from it. He was probably as exhausted as I was.

You should find some food. You look terrible, I thought.

His large equine head turned my way, snuffing at me. I look better than you. I was carrying two today. All you did was sleep.