The Blessed Curse (The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 4)(3)

“He didn’t listen,” Zyi concluded with a sigh and nodded to him. “He never listens. Thank you for trying, though, Neph.”

Neph nodded slowly as his gaze fell on the packed bag hidden just beneath the edge of her bed. He studied it for a long moment and nodded again. “I even tried to get him to exile you,” Neph continued as he turned back to her.

Zyi gazed up at him and then slowly stood. Carefully she shifted the kitten in her arms and offered it to Neph. “I waited for you to come upstairs,” she said, her tone so low the words were barely a whisper.

Watching her carefully Neph took the kitten and stood silently as she gathered her bag over her shoulder. “Where?” Neph asked. He knew he should be stopping her, but he didn’t have the heart to. Their father had been quite clear on the subject of her leaving, and he would be furious when he found out that Neph had known.

“Away. Anywhere is better than here, Neph,” Zyi whispered, her eyes growing glassy once more. “You are the only thing I will miss here.” Moving quickly she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly.

He could feel her tears soaking through the cotton of his shirt as he wrapped his own arms around her tiny frame. She was so much smaller than the rest of them, so delicate and fragile. The idea of her being alone in the world terrified him, but then the thought of her facing the trial frightened him more. If she couldn’t stand against him and hold her shields, she didn’t have a prayer against the odds they would face tomorrow. “Let me go with you,” Neph began unsure exactly where the words had come from. He didn’t actually want to leave Delvay, but then, he didn’t want to see her go alone, either. No one else would understand her. Not like he did anyway. She was his twin; he knew her better than anyone else ever could. He had always protected her. What would she do without him to guard her from others? In Delvay, it had been childish teasing. The outside world would be so much worse and he knew it.

Zyi laughed, and the sound was choked with her tears. Pulling back from him she shook her head and smiled. “I love you so much for offering, Neph, but your place is here and we both know it. I only waited here so I could say goodbye. I never thought that you might go with me.”

Her voice was thick and Neph felt his chest tightening.

“I don’t mind leaving her, Zyi. Let me get a few things and we will go,” Neph placed the kitten carefully on the bed and started to turn for the door as she grabbed his arm. He paused and looked down at her once more as she shook her head again. “Zyi, neither of us has ever been outside of Delvay. You don’t even know what you are walking into,” Neph said gently.

“A better life for me, but it’s not a life for you Neph. You belong here. You do have the warrior’s spirit. You are one of the strongest in Delvay now. In time you will be more than Father could ever hope to be,” Zyi whispered as she placed a hand on his cheek. “Keep them in balance, Neph. Father is as cold as winter and Kadan is heartless. You are the only one in this damned place with any compass ion at all. Maybe one day you will lead here, and I can come home again.”

“I will never lead Delvay, Zyi,” Neph said with a faint smile and watched as she stepped away toward the door. “How are you going to get out of here without them noticing?” Neph asked quietly.

“They are drinking downstairs aren’t they?” Zyi asked, pausing by the door.

“Aren’t they always?” Neph snorted in response.

“Then they should be sleeping by now. I added a little something extra to the mead tonight. Nothing that will hurt them of course, but they will get a very sound night’s sleep from it.” She smiled impishly and winked at him. “I will miss you so much, Neph,” Zyi said softly as she stepped out into the shadowed hall.

With a final glance around the room Neph carefully picked the kitten up once more and balanced it in the crook of his arm as he blew out the candle and headed for his own room. Delvay would be a darker place without her, but he knew in his heart it was for the best. Still, that didn’t silence the voice screaming for him to go after her, to stop her, to go with her, to do something. A lump was growing in his throat and he could feel his eyes burning with unshed tears. With a heavy sigh, he stepped into his own room and leaned back against the door. The kitten stirred in his arm and he absently ran a hand through its thick fur. For the first time in his life, he was truly alone. There was no one left in Delvay that he could confide in, or show weakness to. Zyi never judged him for emotions. “I should have gone with her,” he whispered to the cat as he sat it down carefully on the foot of his bed and began to strip out of his sweat stained clothes. Tomorrow would be a long grueling day, and it would be best to be well rested before facing it. Not that he truly believed he would sleep tonight. With a heavy sigh, he glanced back at the hallway once more. He doubted he would ever sleep soundly again, knowing she was just as alone as he was in a world that was much crueler than Delvay. The Academy might have been safe, and he could only hope that was where she was heading.