Page 123 of These Fractured Bonds

His voice softened. “I know it’s hard, but don’t you think it’s been hard for me, too? Being forced to wait, work in the shadows while knowing my father and sister’s killer is hailed as a lord? But life isn’t about what you want. It’s about sacrifice.”

The pine trees behind him shuddered in the wind, snow falling off their great branches. A few snowflakes landed on her and reminded her of the chill, but she didn’t feel it. Leo’s words had already frozen her to the bone. How he had managed to nail all of her insecurities and guilt in one go was beyond her.

“Earlier, you told me to do what I want,” she whispered.

His Adam's apple moved as he swallowed; he looked away. “Because I was sure of your answer.”

Her heart slowed, her breathing coming quick. “You tricked me.”

“I said what you wanted to hear.”

She shook her head, the movement stiff in her horror. He had read her and calculated what to say to nudge her towardhispreferred outcome. Had he done so in the past? Their earlier kisses seared her, and she stumbled backward. His arm shot toward her as though he meant to help her.

“No,” she said, slapping his hand away.

He sighed. “Listen, why don’t you help me get the refugees to Samire while we wait for Augrys and Erick? We can talk more later.”

When she didn’t respond, he added, “They’re going to be fine. Augrys, after all, has been battling the nox for decades. His gift alone is enough to turn the tides.”

He was right; all she could do now was aid the evacuees. She agreed to help, but she ignored his outstretched hand. His words had left a sore spot. She walked toward the sound of hushed voices in a nearby clearing. Allyah’s words came back to her.

Break your core.

She stood taller, determined to do so when Augrys returned. With her magic, she wouldn’t need to be protected.

Afewhourslater,Leo followed her as she stomped to her bedroom. They had finished settling in all the evacuees from the Fire Court, handing them bedrolls and assigning them shared rooms, but Augrys and Erick still hadn’t returned. Reports were sporadic, and everything indicated that Andhar was under serious attack. Her anger rose with every step, and by the time she entered her room, she was fuming. She should have been given a choice; regardless of the threat against her, she deserved that much.

Augrys knew better. Or so she thought.

“Reli,” Leo said.

She ignored him as she had for the past few hours. He caught up to her, grabbing her wrist, and before she could snap at him to let her go, she noticed it—a small, white envelope on her bed. She shrugged him off and picked it up.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Not sure.”

She pulled out a note. She shrieked, dropping it when something furry touched her skin. Her eyes grew wide in horror at the piece of brown hair on her floor.Bri. She met Leo’s startled eyes and shakily picked up the note.

Leo,

An invitation to dinner.

-E

Leo read the note over her shoulder, taking it from her to read it again before crumpling it into a ball.

“An invitation?” he growled. “Those bastards…”

Her heart thudded. Bri had checked in yesterday… She must have been captured between the last check-in and today. That meant she had, at worst, a full day at the hands of Tuom. Horror dripped down her spine, chilling her.

“We have to go,” she murmured.

“I’mgoing to go,” Leo corrected.

“Bri is my friend too,” she cried. “I can’t stay here knowing she’s at Tuom’s mercy.”

His eyes were ablaze, flashing silver, and he shook his head, adamant. “I’ll free her. You stay here and wait for Augrys. Tell him I’ll be at the weeping willow in the Earth Court.”