Page 116 of Moonless
“We felt you go. Both of us.”
She nods, pressing her lips together.
“I know.”
“We thought—” Keer’s grip tightens on the cloth.
“I know, Keer.”
“And you stayed away?”
She doesn’t lift her head. “I didn’t want to come home broken.”
That part’s true, I’ve heard it by the fire. But she hasn’t said a word about me keeping her. Why not?
Keer shakes his head, staring at her.
“You thought that would make us want you home any less?”
She lifts her head for that. “It isn’t that simple.”
“You’re my sister. What part of that changes?”
Axan leans around me, toward her.
“Kes, we would’ve come for you. You know that.”
She turns to him, and the cloth twists tighter in her hand.
“I wouldn’t let her leave.”
Keer’s eye comes up to mine and stays there.
“What?”
“She asked to go home. I refused.”
Kestria turns her head toward me, but I keep my eyes on Keer.
He comes a step closer, growling. “Why?”
The fur lifts along my back.
“She knew I was here. She knew where I lived. If she left, she could bring others to my den.”
“So you kept her.” Keer’s lip comes up off his teeth.
“Yes.”
He looks me over, from my bare shoulders to the blood on my trousers. “You could’ve sent word.”
“I wanted nobody to know. I kept her there so she couldn’t tell you.”
His cloth slips, and he catches it without looking down. At least he caught it.
“Why the fuck would I care where you live? I don’t even know what you are.”
“Gulon.”
