Fate and Destiny (The Fated Series, #2)

Chapter 92 - Darius - Hell Storm

"Are you sure about this?"

"Nope."

"But you're ready, right?"

"Not at all."

"Could you at least try to lie?"

"No."

"Not even for me?"

"Not even for you, Winston."

"You wound me, Darius. Really."
I roll my eyes at my friend, knowing full and well that we had this conversation twenty minutes ago when he asked me the same thing. Twenty minutes ago I could've lied, but Lance told me not to hide the truth so I didn't. I'm not sure if it's working, but I'm definitely feeling less confident about what we're about to do.

"For Saint's sake," Kat sighs, walking to join us at the top of the hill just outside of the city. "You'll be fine. You have each other and you have magic."

"I don't," Winston points out.

"Then you're fucked," she says simply.

"What-"

"Kidding. Saint's you're uptight. Maybe you should chug some of whatever your brothers are having over there." We look over to where the rest of my questionable friends all down a bottle of whatever alcohol they stashed away in Ozzie's saddlebag. Based on their faces after they take a swig, I'd say it's a strong one they stole from the wine cellars back in Fernweh. Leave it to them to steal what I'd be perfectly fine giving them.

"Good idea." He walks over to them and takes the offered bottle.

I debate going over to take some myself, but then I remember what happened the last time I had something strong and decide against it. I kind of need my common sense if we're all to make it out alive tonight.

"It's too pretty for the ugly that lies inside," Kat says, staring out at the white-lit castle. It does look like it's from a fairytale. Its walls sparkle from the stone with which it's built in the moonlight, and the ends of the tower reach towards the dark star-filled sky. At least it's not cloudy. That would be ominous.

"Indeed it is," I agree. "Unlike a strong-willed red-head, I know."

She gives me a look as if to say, nice try. Look at that. I'm so desperate for reassurance that I've resorted to flattery.

"Do you know if she's going?"

My eyes go straight down to the tent still surrounded by wolves, all of which now sleep. I can't tell if it's a good or bad thing, but the Andrastrian woman - Rina - is still in there with her. I can't hear her words either, but they're both in there, and they were still for most of the time, but then they started moving, and now they're still again. Sitting on a couch if my powers tell the truth.

"I don't know," I answer honestly. "I can't hear what they're saying, and I don't think she'd appreciate it if I were."

"Probably not, but you wouldn't have to if she would just talk to us." I turn to look at Kat when hearing the strain in her voice.

She's angry with Clarice, which isn't a surprise, it's just weird to see her finally let it show hours after she had tried to get to Clarice herself. It does hurt to know that a total stranger was the one that got through to her in the end. We're her friends, her family. Why is it so hard for her to share things with us? We share things with her all the time, and I had thought we could trust each other.

"You know what to do?" I ask Kat, taking note of Lance strolling up the hill. He's the last of us aside from the Ginerva, but they've all been doing a last sweep of the city and should be back within the next few minutes.