Page 41 of Diamond

I want to ask why she has covered it, but the stormy look in her eyes stops me.

"I am not joining a cloister."

Her words are firm and don't seem to have any space for argument.

I am extremely confused. I open my mouth to ask why, but she answers my question before I can ask it.

She squeezes her knuckles tight and the animal at her side visibly tenses up in response. "I have lived my entire life confined to a place. I don't want to do that again. Ever."

I'm not sure how to respond, especially the way her narrow eyes are directed at me. But I don't understand why she has had such a negative reaction.

"A cloister is the best way to keep you and the other women safe, especially with the knowledge that the hunters are especially after your kind." I try to explain, hoping that she will understand that it is a matter of safety.

Nasrin is adamant, and she shakes her head at me. "I can't live the same life on two different planets."

Her eyes are glistening fiercely, and she has not relaxed her stance.

If she wasn't being so unreasonable, I would find the movements and pose noble and beautiful. I don't know what she means by that, but I decide I it's best to not argue anymore.

It is all we have done since the moment we met and I don't want to continue like this.

I want us to start over. To meet each other for the first time again so that I will not be the violent killer she sees me as, but I know that I cannot have everything I want.

Or anything, it seems, judging by how she's once again looking at me like I'm the enemy.

Maybe there will be a chance for that when we get to the cloister, but I will have to get her there first. "It is acceptable if you do not want to stay in a cloister with the other women, but we have to get to Ree first. She is soft-spoken and will listen to your requests so you can take them to her."

Ree will know what to do and say to get her on their side. I am terrible at explaining things to other people.

And especially terrible at saying anything to this small female.

I would probably only make everything worse if I tried to explain further.

Her shoulders droop as she loosens when I mention this, and her frown drops slightly. I can tell she still has thoughts running through her mind, but at least this is enough until we get to Ree.

I am conflicted on whether I want the journey to be quick or not.

Part of me wants us to get to Ree as soon as possible. So that I can make sure she and Roshan are safe and not have to worry about them any longer. While the other part of me thinks thatnow that Roshan is not trying to bite me every time I move, I don't think of it as an enemy and Nasrin is pleasant to be around when she is also not verbally attacking me.

In those brief, blissful moments. My lips quirk up.

It's nice to share the experience of being confused on a new planet with someone else, though I can tell she thinks I have more experience here. I hope I can tell her I am just as confused as she is about why she is here so we can talk about it more openly, but first I need to figure her out.

That means getting her to safety faster than this crawling pace, though I haven't heard anyone else so far.

"Roshan, he can carry your weight, yes?" I ask her, eager to change the conversation.

She shakes her head up and down and I take pride that I understand what it means. "There was a cart and Tehlmar and I were on it while he pulled it, to I believe he can."

I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth gladly. "That is good. You should get on him to see if he will carry you."

She frowns and shakes her head left and right. "No. He's hurt," she says. "I can walk on my own."

Her resolve is so strong that I nearly believe her, until she takes a step forward and squeaks painfully, nearly falling over. I dart forward and catch onto her hand to stabilize her, hovering until she at last puts some of her weight on the animal.

It nudges her with its nose, as if it is trying to find out whether she is fine.

"He might be injured but you are far worse than him. He seems to want to help. I think you should let him."

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