Part 30 (2/2)

”You're going to get him?” Audra asks, proving how well she knows me as I grab the nearest s.h.i.+rt and throw it over my head.

”I have to try to get him out of here. If something happens to him, I won't be able to live with myself.”

”You will do nothing of the sort,” Os says from the doorway. ”We have precious little time for you to teach us what we need-and that is the best way to protect everyone.”

I glance at Audra and she nods. ”Listen, Os, about that-”

”Don't you dare-you already agreed.”

”I know. But I can't. You saw how sick I got.”

”Then don't get sick.”

”It's not that simple.”

”Yes, it is.”

”Not when I don't trust you!”

I can see Gus and Solana standing behind Os, looking pretty dang shocked that I would admit that. But it's the truth. Might as well lay it all out there at this point.

”You don't trust me?” Os growls. ”I am your captain!”

”Yeah, and less than an hour ago you threatened to torture me and break my bond. I'm sure you can see why that might make you seem a little shady.”

”Is that what this is about? Some sort of blackmail to force me into accepting your relations.h.i.+p?”

”Of course not-we don't need your approval. You don't get to-”

I stop myself and take a deep breath, focusing on the Westerly still floating around my room. It's singing that line again about not fleeing from the path, and I think I finally know what it means.

”Look,” I say, trying to make sense of the chaotic thoughts in my head. ”Everyone's always talking about how I'm the one with the power to fix everything. But I'm not. The Westerlies have the power. Every single time they've managed to save me it's because I stepped back and listened to what my instincts were telling me to do. And my instincts are telling me not to teach anyone else my language, so I have to trust them. I know it's scary-but it was pretty freaking scary when Audra was trapped in a drainer and my instincts told me to make an ultra strong wind spike and launch it at her, and it was even scarier when we were cornered by Raiden in Death Valley and we had to drop our only s.h.i.+eld and unravel our only weapons and hope that the few tired drafts we had would come through for us. But they did. So fine, maybe you don't trust me and I don't trust you, but can we both agree to trust the wind?”

Os's mouth forms one word. Then another.

When he changes his mind again, I say, ”You know you agree with me. You just don't want to.”

He reaches up and smoothes the hair around his braid. ”I do agree that your instincts are important, Vane. But that doesn't mean they're always perfect, either-or that you're properly understanding them. Yes, you felt ill thinking about teaching us, but how do you know that's not just nerves resulting from a life-changing decision?”

”Because it wasn't.”

”But how do you know-and don't give me some pointless answer like 'I just do.' You've never given teaching us a chance. How do you know it won't feel differently if you try?”

”Because I didn't feel like that with Audra!”

Gus cringes, and I realize he never told Os that important detail-which was probably the right call.

”What does he mean?” Os asks, reeling on Audra. ”Did he teach you Westerly?”

Say no! I want to beg her. Lie to cover my mistake.

But Audra squares her shoulders, glancing quickly at me before she turns to face Os and says, ”Yes.”

CHAPTER 34.AUDRA.

I.

could've lied.

I almost did.

But in the split second that I had to think, I realized there's a bigger secret that I need to keep. And this is the best way to hide it. ”Yes, he taught me,” I tell Os, silently begging Vane and Gus to go along with this. ”After we bonded. He wanted to make sure I had extra protection, but I was only able to learn a couple of commands.” ”That didn't trigger a breakthrough?” Os asks.

”I'd hoped it would. But no.” I'm proud of how smooth the lie sounds. ”I've memorized the words, and I know what they mean because he translated them for me. But the language is still a mystery.” Vane frowns, and I can tell both he and Gus are trying to figure out what I'm doing. Thankfully, neither of them corrects me. If Os knew that Vane pa.s.sed his heritage to me through our bond, I'm sure he would expect the same phenomenon to happen with Vane and Solana-and the possibility alone would sway the Gales to vote to break our bond and try it.

Maybe it would work.

Maybe it wouldn't.

But Vane is mine.

Solana has pretty dresses and a pretty gold bracelet and the pretty future the Gales promised her. But I have a lifetime of knowing Vane, protecting Vane, sacrificing everything to keep him safe.

And he chose me.

I won't let the Gales take him away.

I won't let them know how powerful I am, either.

As much as I hate to be underestimated, it can also be an advantage. And if Os is harnessing the power of pain, I need all the advantage I can get.

”Did you know about this?” Os asks Gus.

Gus shrugs. ”The battle was so chaotic it was hard to tell what was going on.”

Os looks less than satisfied with that answer, but he turns back to Vane. ”And you won't teach me the same commands you gave her?” ”I told you, my instincts won't let me.”

”What about Solana? Her family was chosen as our royals for their kind, generous manner, and she's been the only one able to calm your nightmares-twice now.”

The reminder of my earlier failure cuts deeper than a windslicer.

So does the hope s.h.i.+ning in Solana's bright eyes.

But Vane's words heal the pain. ”I only trust Audra.” Os reels back toward me, his disgust so obvious it might as well be a sign around his neck. ”And what commands have you been privileged enough to learn?”

”Why do you care?” Vane demands before I can answer. ”Because I'm trying to strategize! If you won't teach the rest of us, the least you can do is tell me her strengths so I can organize our formation accordingly.”

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