Page 55 of Where We Belong

“Is that how he obtained those new bruises?” I ask.

“Mmhmm,” he says, resting his arm lazily over his knee, his attention back on his food. Barkus’ raspy voice slithers through the air. “He speaks truth.”

Nyk sighs heavily, rubbing his temple. “Of course you would say that. Theron believes what he’s saying, Barkus. That’s his truth. I see why they are saying you’re defective.”

“You think you are defective too, you cannot get Eira to love you as you wish.” Barkus hisses.

“Give me another rock, Kaed, I swear to god—”

“I know, just ignore it. It gets off on riling people up.” It’s strange to see Nyk fraying at the edges.

“I. Do. Not.”

Barkus slinks further into the back of his cell, and I catch Ashley’s disapproving stare as she looks between us. “He’s a monster, Ashley. Never forget, the worst of them make you pity them first.” Her pretty green eyes still search the beast’s cell with her brows bunched together.

“I need Theron conscious, Nyk,” I say, leveling him with a look. “I need to talk to him, don’t knock him out again until I have what I need.”

“No problem,” he says around his last gigantic bite, covering his mouth with his fist.

I drape an arm around Ashley, pulling her into me. “You’ve been quiet, are you okay? Want me to walk you back up?” She shakes her head, a ringlet coming loose from her bun. “Alright,” I give the back of her neck a squeeze. “Just say the word and Nyk will knock him out again.” She giggles softly, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. Eucalyptus smoke seeps from my fingertips, curling like a threat toward Theron’s cell. Just before he groans, the bars hiss when I slam a controlled wave of heat towards him. His body launches across the cell, hitting the stone with a dull thud.

“Getting your own back, are we?” He chokes, his smirk barely forming.

“I have no need for revenge, sweetie.” I tilt my head. “Just having a little fun. But you will answer my questions. Were the rebels behind the attack on the Princess?”

His laugh is slow and cocky, but it’s all a façade. He’s nervous. He has never liked pain. It’s a wonder how he passed his Obsidian training. “What, no foreplay?”

Ashley flinches when I lift my finger. Bones crack. Unlike him, I have no time for games.

“No.” Red sprays from his mouth and he gasps for air like he’s been underwater. “No, we were not.”

“So how did Nyk claim to be your leader under the Cursewater?” I press, jerking my head toward Barkus. “Or is he defective?”

“I don’t know if that wretched thing is defective, but I would be willing to bet your King is a liar and Nyk simply wasn’t given any. I wasn’t.” That can’t be right.

“Nyk?” I ask over my shoulder, “Were you given any?”

“I—yes.”

Theron tears at his hair, spit flying from his lips. “Lies, lies, lies. They never gave it to us. They took Rhory Cook but skipped my cell. And your boyfriends.”

Nyk makes a tsk sound. “Boyfriend? He wishes.”

“Not anymore,” Barkus rasps.

“Barkus. No more from you,” I growl. If Nyk says he took it, then I believe him. But how did he speak words he knows to be false?

“My truth will not corroborate the King’s lies, that Nyk is not a part of us. He doesn’t have the balls.” Theron sneers, half to me, half to Nyk. I turn to my friend, searching his face. “What are you hiding from me, brother?”

He forces a casual smirk. “Me? I cannot hide anything from you.”

He is correct. “Nyk, talk to me.” I’m not sure at what point in our brotherhood the trust was lost, but my heart is fighting offence. I study him, suddenly realising something is missing. “Where are your rings?” I ask. He seldom removes them. We joke he must give females tetanus when he pleasures them.

For a split second, something pained crosses his eyes. But just like that, his charm slips back into place. “Confiscated. Kaed, I have nothing to hide,” he says, “I have been thinking a lot down here though, and I do think it would be a good idea for you to take Cinder Cliffs up on their request. Both of you.”

“He knows he will never be free. Danger, danger. Hiding. Nyks been a bad boy.” Barkus snarls.

“What is it talking about? Nykholas? Answer me?”