Ortai Legacy

13 - Departure (L)

I looked back at Thyr. "I have to go talk to a potentially violent drykon. Unless you'd like to try and talk to her for me?"

He hesitated. "It isn't safe for you to go alone."

"Then you come with me."

His gaze slid to Mar'kost, who was still holding onto my polearm. "I believe it would make more sense for him to accompany you."

"Who?"

"Mar'kost."

"And who's that?"

"You call him 'Mark...'"

"Never heard that name in my life. If you can't escort me, how about-" I looked to Raeve. "-my favorite murderous nix?"

She gawked at me for a moment before retreating into her bedroom.

I shrugged and forced a grin. "Guess you're the only option, Thyr."

"You're being childish."

"Debatable. So, are you going to let me go to Cadmus's place, or do I have to jump off the balcony?"

He stepped aside with a shake of his head. "You may go."

"Great." Dragging Mar'kost by the polearm, I marched out into the hall.

"This is ridiculous," he said in Cadmus's voice. "You know very well that I had no intention of hurting you or allowing you to be hurt."

And how, exactly, did I know that? How could I possibly know what his reaction to losing the Knight bond would be? Worst case scenario, he could turn on me in an instant. Even in a scenario that was only less than ideal, breaking the bond could stun him long enough for his team to make their move.

Holding the polearm with one hand, I walked him like a toddler on a leash into the lifter. He didn't speak in the presence of the lifter's operator, but as soon as we stepped outside the building, he started again.

"I only intended to cut the Knight bond long enough to convince them that it isn't controlling me."

And what if it was controlling him, at least to some degree? Finding that out in front of his team was the worst possible place to do it.

"This silent act does neither of us any good."

I wasn't so sure about that. Keeping quiet was obviously making him sweat, which was the exact reaction I'd intended to cause. I was sick and tired of being scared for my life while Mar'kost acted like there was nothing to worry about. Sweating for a half hour was the least he could do.

"Do you intend to stop talking to me forever? What about our dreams—will you pretend I don't exist then?"

Probably not. I didn't think I had the self control to not bite him and keep quiet at the same time. Not that I was about to tell him that.

"Look, I genuinely care about your well-being, and if Cadmus agrees to house you long term, it's likely for the best that you stay with him. But I don't want you to leave because you think I secretly want to see you harmed." He sounded genuinely concerned.

I almost said something but caught myself at the last second. He wasn't going to get me that easily. I had to be strong, at least for a little bit.

We walked for a while, Mar'kost pestering me the whole time. I managed to keep quiet until Cadmus's ranch came into view.

"I love you, and-"

I tripped over my slippers and pitched forward.

He caught me with a worried look. "Your heart sounds extraordinarily loud, but I can't sense anything else when I'm like this. Do you feel unwell?"