Page 62 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
"I’m sorry. I’m having a hard time understanding. You might have broken me. You apologized for…"
"For making her believe I didn’t have faith in her," Graeson finished.
"And she wrapped the wound you received after you made the dumb decision toflyacross the kingdoms to help her?"
The god peered out of his cell, silently observing.
He shifted on his feet. "To be fair, my original plan was to convince her to return."
"You came to your senses, though," Ellie said.
Graeson shrugged. "I suppose."
She massaged her temples with two fingers. "So, what’s the problem again?"
Graeson tilted his head back and sighed. "She asked for space, so I am giving it to her."
"She asked for space?"
Graeson nodded. "That’s what she said, more or less, before she left."
Ellie snorted. "Have you seen the way that woman looks at you?" she asked, hands propped on her hips. "Anytime I brought you up, she grimaced. She’s clearly in love with you; she’s just afraid to admit it."
He stared blankly at Ellie. She was wrong. Kallie wasn’t in love with him.
"We’re trying to stop a war, Gray."
"I know!" he shouted, losing his patience. He did not wish to be a distraction. He rubbed his hands across his face. Then, quieter and calmer this time, he said, "I know. This is bigger than her and me. There’s no room for anything else."
"By the gods, Gray," Ellie said, shaking her head, disappointment dragging the corners of her lips down. "You are an even bigger fool than I thought you were if you believe any of that."
Chapter 26
KALLIE
She’s clearlyin love with you; she’s just afraid to admit it.
Ellie was wrong. Kallie wasn’t in love with Graeson. She couldn’t be.
With Ellie’s words spinning in her mind, Kallie quietly pushed away from the tree she had been hiding behind and returned to the horses and Nyrri. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop on Graeson and Ellie’s conversation. She had ventured over to ask them if they should pick up her training again, but then she had heard bits of their conversation.
Kalisandre is strong enough. She always has been.
It was those words and the sincerity with which Graeson spoke that had made her pause initially. She hadn’t known how much she needed to hear someone say them, to have someone believe in her ability, believe inher, wholly and completely.
She stroked Nyrri’s nose.
"Ready?"
Kallie jumped at Graeson’s voice and spun around. "For what?"
"To get going," he said, tipping his head in the direction they had been heading. When he looked at her for a momentlonger, his brows knitted with concern. "Unless you need to rest longer?"
"No," Kallie blurted. "I’m fine. All good."
He studied her quizzically. "Are you all right?"
She grabbed her finger, about to twist the ring around it. But when she touched bare skin, she quickly dropped her hand and stuffed it in her pocket. "Yes, of course. Just…" Kallie looked at the sky. "We’re losing daylight. We should go."
