Page 108 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
This time, Everly snarled at me.
“Teddy,” Brenton said softly, lifting his hands. “In the time it’d take you to shoot one of us, we’d be able to take your gun from you and splay you on the ground.” He said it with such kindness that it made my head reel.
One of us.He’d stayed with me as my friend but was one of them. My breath hitched. I knew they could hear it. Could smell my terror. But I wouldn’t waver. Not to them.
“It’s that easy for you, huh?” I asked, my voice small, not trying to hide the way it trembled this time. “To murder an innocent human?” I held George’s eyes until he looked down.
I hurt him purposely. There wasn’t any room for the guilt that rose and rose, threatening to suffocate me.
With my gun still pointed at George, I walked toward him. When I stood in front of him, I lowered my gun to my side.
“Would you make my death swift?” I asked him.
His throat bobbed, and he kept his head downward.
It was nothing compared to the shame that filled me. But this was it. How I got rid of the fae from my personal life.
“Or will you draw it out?”
I offered him my gun, and without looking at me, he took it. Seemed to weigh and examine it.
“Go ahead and kill me, then,” I dared, knowing he wouldn’t.
That despite him killing Javier’s dad, he wasn’t evil. Maybe he wasn’t bad either.
I remembered the way Elias had asked him if he’d taken care of the male he thought had tried to kill me. Only in fae talk,take care ofapparently meant kill. So he had. He’d killed an innocent man they thought had hurt me and tried to kill me.
George tipped the barrel of the gun down, his shoulders hunching with the gesture.
A cold breeze brushed over us, but it was nothing compared to the chill that had settled in my bones overnight.
“I thought the man had tried to kill you.” It came out hoarse as if he’d screamed until his voice gave out. “As Elias’s mate. . .” He shook his head, and I took a step back when he peered up at me with despair swimming behind his eyes. “His death was quick. He felt no pain. I don’t relish in killing others, but I will do what I must for the people I care about.”
Everly stood beside him, then brushed a finger across the back of his hand. When he inched closer to her, she stepped away but kept her hand a breath away from his.
It was all too much. Hitting me at once, one emotion after another.
“Leave,” I said.
I wanted everyone gone.
“Elias wants us to bring back the first journal you wrote in when you started having these dreams and to search your house for a relic that holds soul magic,” Everly said.
“And what Elias wants trumps what I want?”
“I’m sorry,” Everly said. “We only want to make sure you’re safe.”
Yes, guard the defenseless human. Lie and kill for her. All in the name of protection.
It was exhausting. Disgusting.
I wouldn’t have it anymore.
Elias promised to train me to fight, but we’d never had the chance. Or never paved time aside. Other things had felt more important. Like spending time with him, where he could unwind and not worry about all the responsibilities he shouldered.
“You two can search the house once everyone wakes up,” I told Brenton and George. I turned my attention to Everly. “You want to make things right between us?”
“Yes.” It came out low and almost hopeful.
