intriguing. Aron then remained present during Nic’s lessons as a safety measure, with instructions to break in and take control of Nic or Dari if either seemed out of control, trapped, or endangered on the other side of the Veil.
“You two seem more relaxed with each other,” Dari said as she surveyed Nic and Aron. “But also more tense. Did you talk about important things—finally?”
Aron sighed and nodded. After all, Dari had been encouraging him almost daily to make his apologies and amends to Nic, and have done with it. To his surprise, Nic flushed and nodded as well, and Aron realized Dari must have been chiding him, too.
By the Brother. Did she control all the men at Stone, or just most of them?
Aron could only stare at her. Jealousy stabbed at him, and he glanced from Dari to Nic and back to Dari again.
They hadn’t discussed Nic as a person Dari might show interest in courting. Aron had no agreement with Nic like he had with Stormbreaker. And why should he? Stormbreaker and Aron had known Dari for many cycles now. Nic was a newcomer. What did he know, really, of Dari’s strength, of the depth of her true beauty?
“Aron?” Dari’s voice nudged into the whirlwind of emotion consuming Aron. “Is something wrong?”
When he made eye contact with her, he felt suddenly foolish. Her gaze was both warm and concerned, as well as guileless. Nic had a similar expression—polite concern. Nothing more. There was no undercurrent running between the two of them, as Aron had so often observed between Dari and Stormbreaker. As people no doubt noted between Dari and himself.
Yet as he gazed at the two of them sitting beside each other, staring at him, there was … something. Some sensation apart from the two of them, yet related to them.
Aron felt his brow furrow even as he said, “Nothing’s wrong. I’m sorry. Let’s move along with the lesson.”
Dari hesitated, and for a moment, Aron thought that she didn’t believe him, that he wasn’t really upset about anything. Then he realized she was uncomfortable about what she planned to have them do today.
He heard the concern in his own voice when he asked, “What?”
Dari placed her hand on his knee, at the point where their legs made contact. “I think it’s time, Aron. I want you to try compelling a person to do something. A simple action, limited, with no potential for harm.”
Aron’s entire essence rebelled against the idea, so much so that a tremor ran through him and he wanted to get up and flee the chamber. Gods, but weapons practice and riding Tek were so much simpler than this, so much more a part of who and what he wanted to be.
“No,” he said, his voice growing more hoarse by the second. “I don’t want to. Not unless I have to.”
Nic’s frown communicated sympathy, but Dari’s face reflected determination and conviction, which made Aron groan.
“Lord Cobb and Lord Ross are only a short time from arrival.” She gave Aron’s knee a forceful squeeze. “Stone scouts have sent word that Brailing and Altar contingents are approaching through Cobb’s grasslands, with Mab forces not too far behind. We even have word of more Thorn envoys on the road. Shortly after your trial at the Ruined Keep, we’ll be beset.”
Aron closed his eyes, though he knew he couldn’t shut Dari out, least of all if she really wanted something from him.
“If you don’t begin to master this skill now, it will be too late, Aron. The need for the full measure of your graal might present itself, and you wouldn’t be certain and confident in using it.”
Aron opened his eyes to find her studying him with that stubborn expression he knew only too well. He would either do this, or she would invent ways to torture him until he agreed. And he knew he needed to try, to have a grasp on using his legacy to achieve an end other than saving his life or someone else’s in a desperate situation. His grasp on the skill was too tenuous, and he needed practice—but at the expense of some hapless, random stranger?
As if reading Aron’s thoughts word for word, Nic said, “There’s no need to seek a stranger. I volunteer.”
Aron’s eyes went wide, as did Dari’s.
“I can’t. No. Not you.” The refusal spilled out of Aron even as Dari choked out a similar rejection, but Nic only smiled at them.
His blue eyes were calm and earnest. “My consent removes most