Page 3 of Infernal Bonds

“I guess you’re right. Will he be okay?”

In the fading light, a few twinkling stars appeared in vivid shades of pink, turquoise, and other hues I’d never seen in the night sky on Earth. Most stars on the human plane appeared white to the naked eye, but if I squinted, I’d sometimes see blue, red, and orange hues.

He stepped behind me, placing his large hands on my shoulders. “Are you worried about him?”

“Of course I am.”

Even if we weren’t romantically involved, Ezra made sure I could see my friends before I came to Elyrdin. He even saved me when Shane tried to kill me—even if he didn’t stop his father from trying to execute me.

To be fair, I didn’t think he could have if he wanted to.

“He’ll be okay,” Ash said, bringing me back from my thoughts. “He knows how to handle the council.”

“It’s not the council I’m worried about.”

I didn’t like the idea of Ezra facing his father alone after what happened in Cholian. Not after seeing how far his father would go to play the part of a leader who only wanted the best for his people—even if that meant killing an innocent person on live television for all to see.

Ash remained silent for a long moment before he squeezed my shoulders. “He’s survived Cornaith longer than you’ve been alive. He’ll be fine.”

“How’d you know what I was thinking?”

“Because you’re not the only one who’s faced Cornaith’s wrath. We all have dealt with his discipline in some form or another.”

His confession about Ezra’s father and Zeke’s captivity came back to me. While he’d never offered specific details, Zeke’s traumatic response in the elevator told me all I needed to know about Cornaith before I ever met him.

I wouldn’t have been able to forgive them without what I’d learned prior to being captured. They were prisoners as well, only their restraints weren’t physical, and they weren’t free even now.

“I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I brought a few things.”

Ash and I turned as Zeke entered the room, carrying a stack of clothes.

He thumbed through the stack after placing it on the bed. “There’s some shorts, pants, a hoodie… and a T-shirt, too. Uh… Did I interrupt something?”

Ash shook his head with a smile. “I wouldn’t leave the door open.”

I whacked him in the gut with the back of my hand, making him laugh, then crossed the room to Zeke. “No one’s doing anything. I just got here, and this isn’t my house.”

“I didn’t mean that.” His face flushed as he glanced down at the clothes. “You both look like something’s wrong.”

I glanced at Ash as he came up beside me.

“She was just wondering when Ezra would be back.”

Not a lie. I was sure he didn’t want to trigger Zeke by mentioning Ezra’s father.

“After everything that happened last week, I’m just not sure how your council will treat him.”

Zeke sat on the edge of the bed. “They wouldn’t hurt Ezra.”

“I didn’t think that. I don’t know what I was thinking, honestly.”

Would Cornaith hurt his own son? He seemed like he had a few screws loose. I hadn’t thought of anything specific when I asked if Ezra would be okay.

“So, what’s all this?” Ash asked, changing the subject.

“Oh! It’s some stuff of mine. Something to sleep in until she gets her stuff put away.”

“I can go outside and get some stuff.”