Page 150 of The Eye of the Fifth
Oslan peeled back his shirt. The slaver’s mark faded just as hers had to a fresh, silky white. He released an unsteady breath as the invisible chain between him and Lilion was lifted, but there was no smile on his lips.
Kyra grasped his shoulders. ‘You’re free, brother. You’re finally free.’
Oslan only swallowed. The shaking in his hands did not relent.
How much torment had he had to suffer to not even feel relief at his own freedom? To be fearful of liberation?
She had never hated Lilion more. Coldly, she told her, ‘We’re done here.’
The Lady of Shadow’s gaze flickered up from the Eye for the first time. She blinked, as if only just remembering they were there. ‘Yes…’ she said slowly. ‘Yes, I suppose we are.’
‘And you won’t try to stop us from leaving?’ Kyra demanded. ‘You won’t sell me out the moment I step outside?’
‘Ah yes,’ Lilion murmured. ‘The bounty for your capture. I must admit, it’s alluring. Times have been hard since you left, and I’ve now lost mybiggestsource of income. People gambled beautifully to watch the lone wolf fight, but they paid a fair fortune to ride the Bull.’
‘Fuck you,’ Kyra snarled. Oslan didn’t even react.
‘Settle down, little wolf. I doubt you’ll believe me, but I’m not keen to see you at the Governors’ mercy again. I still regret that I was powerless to help you the first time.’ Her expression was disturbed. Fake, lying cunt. ‘Leave as you wish. I will not stand in your way.’ A sly, mocking smile curved her lips. ‘Until we meet again, Kyra Dae. MydearOslan.’
Kyra didn’t need telling twice. She grabbed Oslan’s arm and headed for the exit, feeling Lilion’s gaze glued to the back of her head the entire time.
She didn’t stop until they were well away from the Arc and the main streets. By some miracle, they’d avoided the Union completely. Perhaps Roheia was guiding their way.
Despite that, she couldn’t shake the feeling it had been too easy. All of it.
Two steps behind her, Oslan was a silent, sullen shadow as they traipsed to the same spot Kyra had bade Rosary farewell all those months ago.
You’ll be alright, Ky.
Was she alright? In all honesty, she felt the opposite.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Kyra looped her satchel over her head and set it down on the riverbank. It was infinitely lighter now without the weight of the Eye. Yet Kyra couldn’t shake the awful feeling that she should never have relinquished it to Lilion. That it should never have left the temple’s crypts.
She swallowed that thought down too.
‘We can stop here for a moment,’ Kyra told her brother. The Union weren’t swarming the Upper States like they were in the city, and this little spot by the rushing water, covered by a canopy of trees on either side, was as good as any for what she had to do next.
To say goodbye again.
Kyra turned to Oslan, tears already brimming in her eyes. But his attention was fixed on something else. Something that, even under darkness, could still be seen at the top of the hill, just as unkempt and run down as it had been on the day he had left.
The manor. Their former home.
‘Are they in there?’ Oslan said, his voice barely audible.
‘I don’t know,’ Kyra said truthfully through the lump in her throat. How long had Oslan dreamed of seeing his family again? ‘Os, do you… do you understand what just happened? You’re free. You can go wherever you want now. You don’t belong toheranymore. You’re free.’
His brow furrowed, eyes flickering as they had done in the arena when he’d stared down at the Eye. They closed shut, and when he opened them again, there was sorrow in them so profound, Kyra thought she might drown in them. He stared at the house a while longer, and before Kyra could say anything else, he completely broke down.
Sobs shuddered through his body. Tears streamed down his face. His large shaking hands covered his face.
Kyra had never seen her brother despair like this. Not even when their parents died.
‘Oslan,’ she said, voice cracking. She put a gentle hand on his arm. ‘Os-’
‘I just wanted to be free,’ he sobbed. ‘That night… Gods…’
Kyra stared at him, fearful. Had the years of abusing roots completely fucked his mind? Or had Lilion’s slaver’s mark burrowed deeper than flesh, rendering him insane? ‘Oslan, it’s okay. It’s alright-’
