“Come near her again and you’ll wish this blade was made of steel.”
I imagined cutting Gage again and again. Allowing him to heal and then injuring him until every inch of his skin had been broken. A fire awoke in me the night he tried to take Em. It burns now fiercer than ever.
My gaze finds the stars once more. Out of habit I grope for my knife. I feel bare without it, but I’ll get used to it. What I’ll never get used to is life without the ones I love. My mother is gone, but I still have my sister. And soon I’ll have Em back too.
“Hey.” Tide walks toward me, my pack in his grasp. “Ebony borrowed this. She wanted to look at your books.”
“She could’ve asked.” I take it. “They’re more your books than mine anyway.”
My chief cook shrugs. “Yeah. True. But you know Ebony. She’s never asked for a favor in her life, and she’s not about to start now.” He elbows me.
I comb my fingers through my hair. Scratch my arm. Goose bumps make my hair stand on edge. Anyone who claims the desert doesn’t get cold has never experienced the climate after sundown.
Ebony emerges from the tent behind Tide. “Oh.” She shakes her head. “It’s just you. I thought I heard my name.” She looks away. Is she embarrassed?
Tide leans back and folds his arms. “You heard right. Ebony, Ebony, Ebony.”
She narrows her eyes. “Oh, shut up. I’m going back to bed.”
“Hey, wait,” I say. “I may not see you before we all split up in the morning. I wanted to say—”
“I’ll take care of Khloe. She’s as much my sister as she is yours. Stormy feels the same.”
“Thanks.” I can’t bring myself to say good-bye. Who knows where we’ll be at the end of everything. As much as I’d rather Khloe go into hiding with Makai’s group, I know she’d never have it. “There’s one more thing too.”
“Spill.” Ebony flips her hair over one shoulder. She keeps glancing at Tide as if he might run away.
“What do you know of the Midnight Rose? Any additional information you could give would be useful moving forward.”
Ebony shrugs. “She’s searched for the Rose as long as I can remember, only I didn’t piece it together until David told his story, and then Dahlia flipped out. On top of everything, finding out my mother is the immortal Fairy Queen . . .” Her voice trails.
If she’s about to cry, she contains it. “Why does she want the blasted Rose anyway? Another’s need has nothing to do with her deepest desire. Isabeau has always been, and will forever be, out for her, herself, and her.” This time I know I catch her sob, though it’s more angry than sad. “I guess that’s where I get it from, right? Like mother like daughter.”
“Wrong.” Tide goes to Ebony, tugs on her hair playfully. “You changed. You chose good. You put others first. You’re on our side.” My shipmate turns to me then. “The original Council of Reflections was formed because of that flower. My mother always told me they were guarding something important, but I never knew what.”
Gaze darkened, Tide raises his voice. “When the Shadowalker stole the Rose, he put a great power back in the Troll’s hands. My great-grandfather passed guardianship down to my grandmother and then Mom. I was to be next in line. I’ll do whatever it takes to rectify the mistake Josh made.”
As if on cue Josh and Wren join us.
Stormy emerges from a nearby tent, yawning and scratching her neon-pink boy-cut hair. “What’s all the fuss? I thought we all agreed. Sleep, then save the Reflections. It’s not too difficult a concept.”
“What are you lessers doing up, anyway?” Ah, Wren. Always condescending. Can’t even last an hour without putting someone down.
“We could ask you the same question,” Ebony retorts. Looks like Wren’s met her match. Nice.
But I’m not paying much attention to the girls. It’s Josh who catches my eye. I peer at my brother through the shadows. He stands there in silence, staring into the night. Something about his expression has altered and I step closer.
Tide follows my gaze and says, “I’d keep moving, Shadowalker. I’ve kept my cool near you, but I wouldn’t expect it to last.”
Josh clears his throat.
“Let’s go. He’s not your judge.” Wren touches his arm. Who knew she was capable of such tenderness?
“No.” He clears his throat again, this time louder than before. “He is.”
I recognize the change in his tone immediately. David?
He makes eye contact with Tide. “I will never ask you to forgive me for what I have done, Tide. I was foolish and took things too far. The Fairy Queen claimed she and your mother shared a Kiss of Accord over the Rose. Countess Ambrose promised to keep a matter quiet in exchange for the blossom. I do not know all the details related to the exchange. I do know nothing is so important it was worth sacrificing your mother’s life. I am truly sorry.”
Tide’s fists clench at his sides. The anger I’ve been expecting to surface seeps through his tight knuckles. Crowe, this isn’t good.
“Leave,” Tide says. “Leave and you’ll go your way and I’ll go mine. It’s what my mother would want.”
Ebony touches Tide’s arm, no doubt trying to calm him before he needs it.
“I deserve to die.” David, or I am almost certain it’s David, scratches the back of his head. “I will not blame you should you agree.”
I step forward, positioning myself between my brother and my friend. My gut tells me what’s coming. Here we go.
“Don’t come near me. I mean it.” Tide’s voice elevates a hair more, making the quiet desert around us seem smaller. He’s not a big guy, but his voice carries.
A few surrounding tents illuminate, the residents within lighting their lamps, awakened by the commotion.
David’s face contorts with pain. And that’s when I know more than ever this isn’t Josh. Because Josh would be proud of his despicable actions. Someone who worshipped the Void wouldn’t own up to what he’s done with remorse the way his better side is doing now.
“I ended her life in an attempt to better mine.” David hangs his head. “My regret runs deep.”
Tide launches himself forward.
Ebony half gasps, half squeals, “No!”
Khloe’s eyes go wide, fully awake from her sleepwalk.
Wren steps in front of David, but he dodges her, making no move to defend himself.
Oh man, I hate that I have to take this measure. But I can’t let Tide exact his revenge now, not like this. He’ll regret it later.
“Tide!” My voice is a step down from Makai’s commanding boom. Still, it gets Tide’s attention.
His gaze meets mine long enough to matter. I’ve caught him off guard, and he’d never expect me to use my Shield Calling against him anyway.
He freezes in place, eyes narrowed because now he can’t move. “Let me go, Cap.”
I raise my palms. “This isn’t the way. You know that. You’ve said as much yourself.”
Eyes like slits now, he gives a jerk of a nod.
Taking a broad step back, I release my power over him. He staggers but doesn’t fall. Without a word he marches away in the opposite direction, Ebony trailing after him.
Khloe shoves her finger toward Ky’s chest. “What did you do, big brother?”
“Me?” I’m all mock innocence and charm.
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “Do I have to take care of everything around here?” Her arms rise and fall in a quick toss. Then she marches after Ebony and Tide.