Shadow Wings (The Darkest Drae Book 2)(11)

“Oh, dear lady,” Kamoi said.

“My name is Ryn,” I sighed. “Stop it with the lady this, lady that, please.”

I tore my gaze away from the prince to look at Tyrrik and got a glimpse of his backside. It would’ve been a more pleasant view if his aketon wasn’t so long.

I froze at the errant thought and furiously scrubbed my mind clean of the sentiment. Bad Ryn! I heaved a sigh and sat. “I’m fine. Just give me a minute.”

Tyrrik turned and extended his hand to me. His bare hand.

I reached out, hesitating inches from his palm. Would he shut me out, or would I get some cryptic message when our skin touched? Part of me wanted to yell at him. But if he, Dyter, and the Phaetyn prince were all in on a secret, it wasn’t just Tyrrik I was pissed at.

I grabbed Tyrrik’s hand, but he blocked me from his mind as he pulled me to my feet. You better not be keeping secrets from me, I blasted at him.

What if it’s not what you think? he immediately replied.

“I don’t care,” I snapped. I turned to Dyter and Kamoi. “I’m done with secrets. If you want me to get behind this quest, or whatever you want to call it, you’d better start telling me what the hay is going on. You want me to train, you want me to save the land, you want me to help you fight the emperor, but you tell me nothing? I’m walking away right now unless you tell me everything. I’m one hundred percent, I-will-never-speak-to-you-again serious.”

I stomped over to the Phaetyn prince. “If you know something about my powers, you should be telling me, not keeping it secret.”

I turned to Dyter. “I’ve trusted you my entire life. I never once betrayed you while Jotun tortured me. Not once. The least you could do is prepare me for any more surprises. And don’t yell at me when I need a minute to decompress. If I want to serve ale, let me serve ale for a day.”

I turned to Tyrrik, but my words dried up in my parched mouth. I hated him for lying to me. I hated myself because although I hated him, I felt safest when he was near. My head was messed up, and though the abuse I’d suffered wasn’t all his fault, so much of my distrust of the world was.

“If you ever want me to trust you, ever, you need to stop hiding things from me. Stop omitting details. Stop passively letting me come to the wrong conclusion. If you want my trust, you need to stop doing what you’re doing.” I pointed at Dyter and the prince. “If the three of you know something I don’t, you better start showing some modicum of confidence in me and some respect for what I’ve been through, or I’m leaving right now, and I’m not coming back.”

Tyrrik’s eyes darkened until they were all black. His skin rippled but soon stilled. His gaze went over my head to Dyter. “You’d better ride as fast as you can. We’ll spend two days in the caves and then come find you.”

The Phaetyn prince asked, “Do you think that’s wise? She’s still part Phaetyn. I can see it even now on the cusp of her change.”

Dyter sighed, and I turned to see him rubbing his bald head, his shoulders sagging. When he looked up, he offered me an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Rynnie. I only wanted to spare you a little longer. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

It felt like he’d scooped my heart out. “Spare me what?”

Dyter pointed to Tyrrik. “I’ll let him tell you.”

My head spun as Dyter and Kamoi rearranged the packs and said their goodbyes to Tyrrik and me, but I didn’t really hear them. After they were gone, I turned to Tyrrik. “What is it then?”

He shook his head. “Not here.”

I glared at him. Again. “What do you mean not here? That’s not how this works. Did you hear a single word I said?”

“Yes, I heard.” He was suddenly before me.

“I’m not leaving this spot until you tell me.”

Tyrrik blurred and brought his lips close enough to brush my ear as he whispered, “If we don’t get to the caves before you change, you will have more to worry about than what secrets I might have. We can talk while we ride.”

His warm breath sent shivers down my spine, and a current of energy pulsated between us. I swallowed, pushing down the desire to turn toward him. Instead, I batted him away. “Why did you have to whisper that in my ear?”

His gaze dipped to my lips. “No secret on that, Ryn. I wanted to be close to you.”

“That’s . . . not allowed,” I finished lamely. “And I’m not falling for it. Tell me now, Tyrrik, or go away. I can’t be bothered with your tricks anymore.”

“You’re sure you wish to know?”

I closed my eyes, waiting. I was pretty sure at this point nothing he could say would surprise me.

“I would’ve waited until you had the privacy of a cave, but I suppose you’ll know soon enough anyway.” Warmth touched my body as the Drae stepped closer. “You are the Emperor’s daughter.”

I snorted and waited.

“I’m telling the truth.”

I opened my eyes and stared at him. “Wash your mouth out.”

“What?” Tyrrik asked, concern in his eyes. Probably for my mental state because that sure was under pressure at the moment.

I choked out the words. “You’re not serious?”

“I never joke when it comes to you.”