Page 280 of The Edge of Darkness

Between Niall, Aremis, Roirdan, and myself, we’d accumulated so many weapons that fifty years ago, each of our vaults began running out of storage room. Niall had to carve out a new chamber in The Keep, solely for our hefty cache to spill into.

I caught myself grinning at the thought.

A horse clopped by, scattering pebbles in its wake. Its handler nodded to me as he passed, then kept on, towing a cart full of fresh provisions.

Down the path, outside of the tent we had all met in earlier, Niall was talking with Aremis and Saxon. Every few seconds, Aremis would glance in my direction. Saxon was probably telling him who he really was and how we knew each other—why I was keeping my distance. Why I’d shredded an Elderwood tree with my sword and dulled my blade to the likes of a butter knife.

Saxon was a good male. In fact, he and I had been as close as brothers before he disappeared for thousands of years. But what he’d done, and the fact that he and the others had kept it from me . . .

Perhaps the fates intended it to be that way from the start. Perhaps the seer was right in what she saw, and the others were just following what they thought was the will of the gods and the fates.

Neither of those things eased the hurt and betrayal I felt.

For him to show up now, after all this time . . .

Good male or not, brothers in arms or not, there was so much anger and bitterness in my heart over it, that I had a hard time not being overwhelmed by his sudden re-appearance. It was a reunion I didn’t think would ever happen. One that I wasn’t even sure I’d wanted.

Aremis slid his eyes to me. Again.

Stop fucking looking at me.

He crossed his arms, his mouth twisting at the corner like he knew something was coming, and that I wasn’t going to like it.

Aremis liked to playfully pull at the strings of my irritation from time to time. It was his way of reminding me to “loosen up.” I liked to tell myself that I only let him get away with it because I knew he was limited in the amount of joy and amusement he could partake in, given the fragile situation with his power. But in reality, I needed those reminders, no matter how small they might be, or how irritating. I would never admit it to him, but part of me would lament if his antics ever ceased.

He leaned toward Saxon and mumbled something.

Fates, if he suggested any sort of conversation or apology, I was going to⁠—

Saxon turned in my direction. Behind him, Aremis bit back a grin and tossed me a mocking salute.

Fuck. You.

My grip tightened on my blade, and I pressed it harder against the quartzite, sending sparks spraying as it ground against the stone’s grit.

Why I’d chosen to stick around and not return to my own quarters was beyond me, but I really wished I was anywhere but on this fucking stump, sharpening my fucking sword.

All I could do was watch Saxon approach.

Every crunch of his boots bit into my already thinning patience, and I clenched my jaw. Aremis thought this was funny. But there couldn’t be any less humor in it. I was not in the state of mind to talk to this male right now. I wasn’t sure if I would ever be.

The moment came nonetheless.

“Do you . . . have a moment to talk?”

Yes. But that moment was about eight thousand years ago. Sorry you missed it.

I spent an unnecessary amount of time inspecting the edge of my blade before replying. “Guess I have no choice.” I pushed to a stand. “But first, you and I are going to have a strong drink.”

Half an hour later, I’d acquired a half-full bottle of whiskey from Niall’s personal provisions, and two horned mugs from Vanir. Not ideal for this type of pour, but it would have to do.

Saxon hadn’t said a word as he followed me through the camp like a living shadow.

The sun was high in the sky, beating down against the black stone of the mountains, making us all sweat. I wiped the back of my palm against my forehead as I stalked to the other side of the camp where the trees thickened. There, beneath the shade from the mountain, it was much cooler, and quieter, without the commotion of the other soldiers and Dionachs.

A boulder jutted forth from a small ravine, overlooking a trickling stream.

Convenient. As if the fates planned for this encounter.