Glancing over my shoulder, my stomach knots when I see Eldaren standing there, indecision twisting his features. It’s a comical situation. Two damsels walking in opposite directions, and the prince can’t decide which one to accompany.
I sigh heavily and turn around. “Let’s go back to the clan, first.”
“That sounds wise,” Eldaren says, clearly relieved. “That way, I can protect you both.”
We walk back to the Keep in silence. I don’t bother trying to talk to anyone, and they don’t seem to feel like talking, either.
When we reach the Central Keep, Sophia turns to Eldaren. “Do you guys want to stay for dinner?”
“No,” I say shortly. “Thanks, though,” I add belatedly. “I, ah, appreciate it.”
“Stella cooks well enough,” Eldaren says. “Thank you for the offer, however.”
I walk back the way we came, and Eldaren catches up to me in a few strides. “What’s the matter with you?” he says. “You were fine this morning.”
“Bren wants you to leave,” I say shortly. “He told me that, in the clearing.”
“I didn’t hear him say anything,” Eldaren says.
“That’s because he was talking to me in my freaking head!” I point a finger at my noggin for emphasis. “In here. My head. My mind.”
Eldaren’s eyes narrow. “I didn’t know humans were capable of mind speaking,” he says. “It’s even rare for elves.”
“Well, whatever,” I huff. “I wasn’t making it up. Unless I’m suddenly imagining things that aren’t actually there.”
“No, I believe you,” Eldaren says. His tone turns cold. “What did he tell you?”
“He told me to get you off the island. He doesn’t think you’re good for Sophia.”
“So the Watcher was right,” he muses. “Interesting. I wonder what he has to gain by protecting her.”
I blink, my mind going back to my interactions with the strange young man. “Maybe he loves her.”
“Perhaps,” he says, “though he’s going about it in an odd way. He should want what is best for Sophia.”
“And what’s that?” I ask, my voice icier than I intended.
“To help her come into her power,” he says. “I believe I can help her with that. Probably.”
“Great, well, Bren says he knows what I am, and that he’ll only tell me if you clear out.”
Eldaren stops short, and I walk a few paces ahead before I can pull myself to a halt. I look over my shoulder at him. “What?”
Eldaren’s face is scrunched in a scowl.
“I should have beat that boy when I had the chance,” he growls.
“You couldn’t catch him,” I scoff. I’m feeling unreasonably angry, and I don’t know why. “There’s something wild about Bren, and I don’t think you could catch him if you tried.”
Eldaren lifts his chin, glaring at me down his nose. “You are being positively unpleasant right now,” he says. “Instead of throwing insults, why don’t you talk like a reasonable adult?”
I inhale deeply and pinch the bridge of my nose. “You’re right,” I say, after a moment. “I’m sorry.”
Eldaren inclines his head, in what he probably thinks is a gracious manner.
“I don’t suppose it matters what Bren says, though,” I say. “You can’t leave.”
Eldaren shakes his head. “No, Stella, mine, I cannot. I am sorry, but I have to do what I can to protect this Earth.”
He puts a hand on my shoulder. “But we’ll figure out what is going on with you. We’ll learn if you truly wield enchantment and see what we can discover about your past, if you’d like.”
“Thanks,” I mumble. I have mixed feelings about looking into my childhood. I don’t remember anything before I was adopted, and I’m not sure I want to. If it’s anything like the other orphans of Liberty, it was filled with chaos and heartache. I don’t need any more of that in my life right now.
25
Lyra
It’s night. I’m sitting in my room by the open window, letting the city air wash over me. It isn’t raining for once, which is nice.
I haven’t heard anything new from the Founders, or anyone else in our group of rebels for that matter, and it worries me. What is going on? Are they waiting for further news? Am I out of the loop? It can’t be easy to smuggle notes into the fortress, I imagine.
Minutes slip away, and the city quiets a little further. It’s rarely ever completely silent. Cities rarely are. But it’s quiet enough for me.
I haven’t seen Sol for a few hours, and I’m now banking on the fact that he’s sleeping, or doing whatever elves do.
Grabbing my jacket, I slip it on, step into the hallway, and stride to the entrance. Walking past the guards, I notice one of the two men raises his eyebrows in surprise but makes no move to stop me. I’m glad Eldaren doesn’t care whether I stay or go. It makes this much easier.
I keep my walk casual, even once I’m out of sight of the elven base. Sol or another elf might be trailing me. Sol hasn’t mentioned it, but I’m pretty sure he’s watching me because the prince doesn’t trust me. Why else would he follow me around?
Maybe he likes me.
I shake my head, trying to ignore the flush I feel in my cheeks. No way. I mean, he’s more than implied he thinks I’m pretty, but he hasn’t tried to take it further than flirting.
I’m . . . fine with that. I’m totally fine with that.
Mostly.
Maybe.
Besides, even if he did like me, that wouldn’t be enough to justify the amount of time he’s been hanging out with me, would it? He’s spent more time with me than an elven soldier should have available, considering the other duties he probably has.
Or perhaps elves are more human than I realized, and he genuinely enjoys hanging out with me.
I shake my head again, the heat in my cheeks growing stronger. I gotta stay focused. Steps quick, I hurry down to the docks. I want to talk to Vera, but first, I need to stop by one of my old hangouts. I have
