Page 121 of War Hour

Evander’s eyes go wide at the sight of me jogging over to him, wrapping my arms around his torso as relief floods my body. His arms wind around me in return, one hand settling over the back of my head.

Eyes wetting, I breathe in his scent, letting it flood my senses to comfort me. “When I didn’t see you, and it was all Valor’s Guard, I thought they had gotten to you—” My voice cracks on the words, but I shake my head.

Evander nuzzles his face into my hair, before murmuring into my hair, “You weren’t supposed to be here.”

I move to lean back in his arms, which only makes Evander tighten his hold on me, not letting me leave the crevice of his neck. “What do you mean? Of course I would be here if I can help.”

“You promised you would stay in the capital,” Evander says in a sad voice. “How did you get here so quickly?”

I had promised him before I knew he was in trouble.

When I tear myself from Evander’s arms, I finally notice the figures standing in the doorway. Several Valor guards stand with their swords in hand, watching our interaction with amusement lit in their eyes.

Gasping, I grab Evander’s arm, summoning my shield behind him. It splits the room once again, preventing the guards from advancing further into the Trial Hall.

“We can take them, Evander.”

Evander’s hand slides under my chin, forcing my gaze to his. “There’s no need for that, Lysta.”

I don’t even process his words. Instead, focusing on how all at once my control of the shield slips away. I watch with horrified eyes as the barrier protecting us from the guards falls. Digging deep within myself, I try to bring the shield back with no result. When nothing happens, I look at Evander, and it’s as if I can hear my heart shattering across the tile floor.

“What is going on?” I ask, backing away from him as if the answer will change the direction of what I know is happening. It makes little sense. Nothing makes sense anymore.

Evander approaches me slowly, blue eyes never leaving my own. “Step aside. Let things happen as they are going to.” In a whisper meant for me, he continues, “I will explain this to you later. I promise.” Evander reaches a hand out as if to touch my face.

Smacking it out of the way before his skin can touch mine, I retreat closer to Lord Gennady, who has not spoken since Evander entered the room. Out of his reach, I try again to summon my shield, begging for the familiar hum to zing through my body once again.

Abandoning the pointless pursuit, I unsheathe my sword, leveling it in the space between me and the man who had once made me feel safe. My eyes burn as hot, heavy tears escape and trail down my cheeks.

How had I not seen this?

If Evander has the power to take away powers, that means that day in the field. The assassin—it had been Evander.

A sob bursts from my mouth, and it feels like I can’t breathe. The room suddenly feels too small. He is too close.

Out of the corner of my eye, Severin leverages himself in front of Lord Gennady, sword at the ready. Lord Gennady stares blankly at his son, disappointment clouding his expression... but not surprise.

“Talk to him,” I cry out to Lord Gennady. “Why aren’t you saying anything to him?”

“Evander has made his decision, Lysta.”

“I decided?” Evander snarls at his father. “More like you decided for me.”

It’s as if a stranger has taken hold of Evander’s body. Saying and doing things I never believed Evander would hours ago.

“Do you knowLord Gennady’spower, Lysta?” Evander says, a crazed look in his eyes as he points his sword at his father. “What the Lord of Truth is capable of?”

“Don’t blame—” Lord Gennady starts, but is cut off by Evander.

“He sees the truth. None of that lying nonsense like Severin here. He can see the truth in people. Who they are... who they can be. All before they truly even know themselves.” Evander scoffs, shaking his head. “Imagine having your one parental figure—the person who’s supposed to guide you in life—convinced that you’ll burn his court to the ground one day. Punished for something that I might do as an adult when I was just a kid.”

I don’t know what words to say to fix what is breaking in front of me. Every word out of his mouth stabs through my heart, bleeding me slowly of anything I could have ever felt for him.

“Evander, you decide your own fate. Nothing someone else does gets to dictate your heart.” My lip trembles as I stare into his eyes, begging for him to stop. “No one can do anything to change your heart.”

For a fraction of a second, I think my words have broken through. His face softens as he looks at me and what I think might be regret crosses his face, but then his eyebrows knit together. “He plans to step down as Lord of Truth.”

I look between them, trying to piece together what they aren’t saying. “Isn’t that what you want? I don’t—”

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