A LAND OF FIRE AND DARKNESS

Chapter 48

I looked between the two of them as Yarris remained far too placid. "I am sorry." He began to say in a gentle tone.

"What did he know?" I asked growing impatient with the two of them.

Delcallon's jaw ticked, "He knew about you." He said looking over his shoulder, "Lewis wrote to him."

My eyes widened as I looked at Yarris whose face washed with guilt. His purple eyes looked at me through lowered lashes.

"How long did you know?" I asked as I slowly stood up from the couch.

Yarris pursed his lips, "I always knew." He sighed, "Lewis told me why he was leaving, and he wrote to me often, telling me all about you." His purple eyes met mine, "He was so proud of you Alinta."

The entire time. Yarris had known about my existence the entire time.

"Why did you not tell anyone?" I barked.

"Lewis asked me not to." He sighed out, "Lewis was my closest friend, I could not betray him."

I shook my head as I tried to take a grip on the pounding in my chest. The fire in the fireplace flickered to my racing heart.

"Why would he want you to keep it a secret?" Delcallon asked as his eyes narrowed at Yarris.

Yarris looked up at Del, "He feared you would hurt her." He stated slowly, "He feared you would see her as a threat or use her."

Del shook his head slowly, "Why would he think that?" He asked with a pained tone.

"She has the ties to rule over both Pretonas and Utohia." Yarris shrugged.

I looked at Yarris and felt confused. I had never thought about how my half-blood did, in the religions of Pretonas, make me the ruler over both Pretonas and Utohia. I barely wanted to rule over Pretonas, I doubted I wanted to rule over Utohia too.

"He truly thought I would use her." Delcallon's voice was filled with agony at the idea of Lewis not trusting him.

"His love for her far outweighed his loyalty to you." Yarris stated, "He did everything he could to protect her."

"He did not know she was Intwined to anyone." Yarris added, "He had no idea that you two would love each other so deeply."

Delcallon shook his head as he pressed his fingers into his forehead. I glared at Yarris as I played through the thoughts in my head.

Yarris had always looked out for me, but Yarris knew. He knew what I was the moment he met me, he knew who I was. And yet...

"You knew Eskar was lying." I snapped with anger causing Del's eyes to snap to me. "You knew I was not Mortal, so you knew that Eskar was lying." My jaw tightened, "But you supported his declaration by saying he would not lie about Intwining."

Yarris's eyes creased into further pain, "I believed that Eskar was trying to protect you." He stated with a heavy voice, "I thought he was twisting a lie, to protect you from Del, to protect you like Lewis wanted to protect you."

"But he didn't." I barked as I stepped towards him. My skin was beginning to radiate in a glow of purples and oranges.

Yarris jumped from the chair and stepped back, to get distance between us.

"He hurt me, and tried to kill me!" I growled as I clicked a flame into my hand. "You could have prevented it all."

His eyes widened as he pressed himself against the wall. His purple eyes darted to my hands that were engulfed in flames. "Al, please."