Fires of War (War and Deceit #4) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,84
on his brother, then like an owl I saw in the woods, his head spins around and he fastens his gaze onto me. I get an uncomfortable feeling as I watch him. He’s been too quiet today. It’s like watching a viper. You know it’s going to strike, you just don’t know when.
Clearing his throat, Naril leans forward, his expression dangerously neutral. “Now that we’re on our way and you can’t escape,” he begins, tilting his head to one side. “Are you going to explain what’s going on between you and my brother?”
Mother above, I curse, eyes wide as I stare at Naril’s smug face. Of all the days he could have chosen…
Silence fills the carriage for a few seconds as we all absorb his announcement, because that’s exactly what it is. He might have phrased it like a question, but he’s worded it in a way to try and cause as much drama as possible. He could have taken me aside to quietly ask me what was going on. Instead, he waited until my mates were here and essentially publicly branded me as an adulterer. Fear and dread are at the forefront of my mind, but also anger. I’m angry at him for doing it this way. He may be trying to hurt me, but he is also hurting everyone else in the process.
Gathering my courage, I glance at Tor to see his reaction and notice he’s wearing a resigned expression, and when I touch our bond, the feelings are the same. Confused, I look over at Vaeril. He seems frustrated, but I expected his reaction to be more…volatile, like when he found out about Grayson. Movement catches my eye, and I see Eldrin is staring at his brother with a look of hurt and frustration on his face.
“Naril…” Eldrin’s voice seems to break through to him, and his mask appears to crack. Turning, he glances at his brother, flinching when he sees Eldrin’s expression. He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off, irritation rising within me. No, he’s the one who wanted to do it this way with everything out in the open, so he’s going to have to deal with his brother’s feelings.
“No, he’s right.” My tone has an edge to it, one that holds a challenge. Naril hears it, straightens in his seat, and turns to face me, his cocky mask back in place. “It’s time. I’m not ashamed.” I lock my eyes with Eldrin as I say this, needing him to hear the truth in my words. Something shines in his eyes, and although we don’t have a bond, I swear I can feel him anyway, telling me something we haven’t dared to say out loud yet. My throat is suddenly dry, so I swallow, and my palms feel sweaty. “Eldrin and I…”
“You love each other.” Vaeril comes to my rescue, surprising everyone in the coach except for perhaps Tor, who crosses his arms over his chest as he observes with interest. Eyes wide, I gape at my mate. My first instinct is to deny it, after all, Eldrin and I haven’t put our feelings into words. Yet when I look over at him and our eyes meet, I get the same pounding in my chest that I do with the others, and it has nothing to do the with mating bonds.
“You knew?” Taking a deep breath to try and steady my frantic heartbeat, I hold his gaze, waiting for his condemnation. Except, although he isn’t smiling and congratulating us, he isn’t snarling or accusing us of going behind their backs like I feared. Naril is staring at Vaeril like he doesn’t recognise his friend, his reaction obviously not what he was expecting either.
A low chuckle emits from Tor. Looking at the tribesman beside me, I see his rueful smile as he leans back, tapping on his chest where the bonds sit. “We can feel your emotions, remember?” he reminds me, and I feel like the biggest idiot in Morrowmer.
Of course they would know, or at least suspect that I had feelings, as they would have experienced some of them second-hand.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I bury my face in my hands and let out a noise of frustration. This whole situation is not playing out how I had hoped. I am not in the right mind frame to be tackling this now, I should be preparing to face the king.
What’s done is done. Eldrin needs you to see this through now.