wanted, you can fight it. You can hate it. He didn’t. He chose to enjoy what he called ‘freedom’.”
“Let’s just get you back. I don’t want to talk about this.”
He started walking then stopped and spoke over his shoulder. “Thanks for saying it doesn’t matter. I can’t tell if you mean it, but it’s a nice thing for you to say.”
They walked together side by side. She didn’t feel the need to stay in front of him. Although she could tell he felt the need to be shielding her, he had gradually lengthened his stride until she had to take three steps to match one of his. It didn’t tire her out as it should have, it just annoyed her slightly. Was every guy she met going to treat her like a wounded baby bird?
“Can you stop trying to outrun me. You don’t even know where we’re going,” she said, trying to keep her annoyance out of her voice.
“Sure, sorry. I tend to walk fast when I’m nervous,” he said, slowing his pace.
“Why are you nervous?” she asked, not understanding what he had to be worried about.
“I uh… don’t know how Cole is going to react when he sees me,” he said, running a hand through his hair anxiously. “He doesn’t know who I really am and the person he thinks I am is definitely not going to be welcome around him or you. He hates me.” He put a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t worry. Cole trusts me. Even if he doesn’t trust you, he’ll listen to me,” she assured him.
“I wouldn’t sound so sure about that if I were you,” he said quietly.
She was going to ask him why he thought Cole wouldn’t want him near them, but Armaan had already started walking.
He didn’t know what he was talking about. Cole couldn’t hate anyone. Especially not Armaan, he was so easy to like. Once you got around his resemblance to his brother.
They were near the opening, and she was surprised that Armaan had led them to the correct spot. She had been so involved in her thoughts she forgot to tell him where to go. She realized he knew where they were going the whole time. Of course, he knew where they were staying, he’d known where to find her, after all.
She turned to him. He didn’t seem to notice her studying him, too lost in worrisome thoughts. His jaw was clenched tightly. The flexed muscles partnered with the evening light cast haunting shadows across his boyish face, making him appear older and sharper than he was. Or maybe it was his nerves that made him look this way. She guessed this might be the way a soldier looks before going into battle. She broke through the trees entering the clearing before Armaan. He had fallen back without her noticing. She wasn’t paying any attention to him, having caught sight of the cave and the familiar person running toward her screaming.
17
It took her longer than it should have to process the words Cole was shouting at her. Both because it was a shock to see him running at her screaming and because her worrisome mind automatically assumed something had happened with Madgie. Once she understood his words and the reason behind them, she relaxed.
“Run! Amanda, get away from him, run!” he said.
She looked around to try to find Armaan, but he was still somewhere in the brush. Cole had reached where she was and put himself between her and the dark forest.
“Get yourself into the cave. I’ll cover you,” he said over his shoulder, his dark eyes never leaving the shadowy wall of trees. “It’s okay, Cole. Shiphra sent him. He’s here to help us. Come out Armaan!” she shouted around Cole who tensed as soon as the name passed her lips.
“You think Shiphra sent him, Amanda? Have you learned nothing over the past few days? You can’t trust a member of the Guard. They’ve been–” His body lurched forward, but he straightened himself quickly as one of the shadows stepped into the clearing.
“I can get that fixed for you,” Armaan said, putting a hand to his throat and making a choking gesture. “Shiphra lifted my gag, I’m sure she can do the same for you,” he offered with a wave of his large hand.
As Armaan stepped out into the little light left of the day, Cole flinched slightly as if the mere sight of him was a blow.
“Go to the cave please; I don’t want you to see this,” Cole whispered to her. “Leave now and I won’t hurt you,” he said to Armaan.
His words sent a wave of shock rolling through her, and her mouth fell open, but Armaan seemed unfazed.
“What?” she asked in bewilderment. “Did you not hear what I just said? He’s here to help us! Cole, listen,” she pleaded as he readied his stance.
“Will you be leaving or not?” he asked again firmly.
Armaan scratched the side of his head in false contemplation. “Um… no,” Armaan said with a smile.
Amanda threw her hands up. Why did he have to try to get under Cole’s skin? He was making her want to attack him.
“She’s telling the truth you know. Shiphra sent me here to guide you to her, and I don’t often fail my duty.”
“No, you don’t often fail your masters. I do believe that to be true. Amanda is just confused as to who is pulling your strings,” Cole said.
“Don’t tell me that I’m confused! You’re the only one confused here. I’m telling you he’s here to help us. Can’t you trust me?”
“You know I trust you, just not with this. He has a silver tongue and can spin a tale. That’s why girls listen to him, girls like you, and every one of the pretty little things who follows him around turns up missing. Do you want to know why?” he asked through his teeth. he felt Cole’s anger become more and more concentrated, turning into something resembling hatred.
“Because Guard members like to have fun with women and the women end up…” Cole swayed a little so she steadied him with her hand.
“It isn’t what you think. He hasn’t been working for the Ancients. He has never been a Guard member. All of those girls you’re talking about ended up in New Hovel, the city that Shiphra protects. Nell is there now waiting for us,” she explained, hoping he’d listen. Amanda could feel Cole’s doubt, but she knew Armaan wasn’t lying to her. She didn’t know how she knew, but she did.
“You don’t understand the things I’ve seen him do, the terrible stories I’ve heard him tell,” Cole said in a haunting voice.
“It was all part of the act. I had to pretend to be somebody that made me sick for the greater good. I wish I could have had your life, Cole. You were free to be yourself, free to think the worst of me. You could choose to have attachments.” Armaan’s eyes flickered toward Amanda for a longing moment. “I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not this terrible person you think I turned out to be. You remember who I am. We were practically brothers, Cole.”
“That was before you became just like your blood brother. You are nothing to me now,” Cole said.
Her heart fell as Armaan’s despair reached her, and she could no longer stay behind Cole’s protective arms. She darted in between the two men and stared into Cole’s dark eyes. “How could you say that? Can’t you feel how badly you’re hurting him? He’s coming with us whether you like it or not, and I’m not about to let you go running off on your own—”
“I would never run off and leave you!” Cole interjected.
“I know that,” she assured him as calmly as possible. If this trip lasted more than two days, she would be completely bald from ripping her hair out. “You don’t trust Armaan, and I do. I see why you’re having such a hard time with this, but even though you don’t trust him, I know you trust me.” She stepped closer to him, closing the distance she had put between them, and cupped his cheek.
His eyes bore into hers pleadingly, and she was lost in them. She didn’t know who had first said that the eyes were the windows to the soul, but she was reminded of how true the adage was. Cole broke the silence that had settled over the clearing, and when she came back to herself, she noticed the day’s light was now gone.
