Page 89 of Beneath the Flames
I tugged my coat tighter, wishing it would dosomethingtokeep me warm.“Sure.”
He stayed silent for several moments, and I thought he had changed his mind, but then, he asked, “Why are you doingthis?Helping Rhydian, I mean.”
His question caught me by surprise, and it took me a moment to figure out how to answer.
“Because he needs me to.”It was more complicated than that, but I couldn’t find the right words to explain.
“But he brought you here against your will and is forcing you to stay.Why would you still help him?”Nico said, angling his head.
I blew out a breath, the air clouding in front of me.“I guess because an entire kingdom will die if I don’t.”
Nico’s answer was quick.“But Eroth means nothing to you.And only Rhydian and I remain here.Why does it matter to you whether the curse takes us or not?”
It felt like he was trying to get at something, but I didn’t know what it was.
I stared at the ground, watching my too-big boots slide around on my feet.“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know why you’re risking your life for two Fae and a dead kingdom?Don’t you think that’s something youshouldknow?”
“It’s the only way back to my family,” I answered, voice almost a whisper.
“Is that the only reason?”
I wasn’t sure why I hesitated.Ithad beenthe only reason, but it didn’t feel complete anymore, though I couldn’t quite nail down what the other reason could be.
“Yes.”
“Did you know your eye twitches slightly when you’re lying?”
My gaze snapped to him, and he had a smug look on his face.
“I’m not lying.”
“There it is,” he said, pointing at the subtle twitch that myright eye indeed was doing.
I crossed my arms, scowling.“I think you’re a little too observant.”
“You don’t survive in a deadly kingdom by not paying attention.”
I supposed he had a point.
We walked in silence after that, and it felt like hours later when we finally made it to the volcano.Thankfully all the lava here was mostly hardened, so I didn’t have to worry about stepping into a river of fire.I started looking around for any ash that we could take back to the castle with us.
A thought occurred to me.“Nico?How come the Scorching Rivers haven’t tried to come after us?Rhydian isn’t here to keep them back.”
Nico fished inside his coat and pulled out some sort of amulet on a long chain.It looked similar to the one I had seen hanging around Carrow’s neck, only this one was gold, the stone in the amulet a shiny amethyst.
“Because of this,” he explained.“The rulers of the four kingdoms each have an amulet like this.This is Rhydian’s.After the curse fell and Eroth began changing, he gave it to me.He said it was for safekeeping in case anything happened to him, but I think it was his way of keeping me safe.”
At my confused look, he chuckled.“These amulets are imbued with powerful magic.I’m not quite sure what exactly they all can do, but this one has always protected me when I leave the castle.I’ve never had the Scorching Rivers—or anything else—come after me.”
Rhydian had given Nico a powerful amulet for protection?That didn’t sound like the actions of a liar or a Fae bent on destroying Avalea.That sounded like someone with a heart that cared about his people.
Iwantedto believe in Rhydian and not believe Carrow.But taunting me with going home complicated everything.
“That would’ve been nice to have,” I muttered, and Nico’s face fell.
“We didn’t think you’d need it.Not with Rhydian protecting you.”Nico cleared his throat.“Speaking of Rhydian…Do you think he’s handsome?”
