Page 34 of War Hour

The three individuals who stared back at me after falling through the portal huddle with their heads bowed, backs facing me.

I move my focus beyond Ardis and the redheaded female I assume is Sar, breath hitching when I lock eyes with Torryn. My lips part in surprise at his unwavering stare. Blinking softly, I maintain his gaze, nose tilting upward.

Torryn’s eyes widen, arching one eyebrow. A glimpse of the same smirk he wore on Ardis’s face sparks before it’s gone.

He’s the first to turn away, muttering to Sar and Ardis, who both peer over their shoulders at me. Sar rolls her eyes,whispering a retort before turning on her heel. The trio walks toward me, wading through the tall grass to approach me as if I’m a frightened child.

It’s not until Torryn stands above me, extending a hand to help me up, that I decide how I feel.

It isn’t fear that clenches my fists, although perhaps I should be afraid, considering I’m in a place I don’t know, surrounded by three strangers.

Jaw tightly clenched, I take Torryn’s offered hand.

No, I’m past being scared.

At the same moment Torryn’s hand closes around mine, I yank hard, using my weight to pull him onto the ground beside me. He lands with a thud, and a gasp sounds from Sar.

Using his momentum, I haul myself on top of him, reaching to yank the dagger from my boot as I swing my leg over his torso. When the hilt is firmly in my hand, I lean down, holding the knife to Torryn’s throat. My hair falls around my face from the motion.

Baring my teeth, I hiss into his face, “Explain.”

Torryn doesn’t seem surprised at the sudden change in events. His eyes darken when he looks at me.

Leaning forward, Torryn props himself up on his elbows even though it presses his skin tighter to the blade. “Trials, Lysta.” With gritted teeth, Torryn forces out, “You’re really making me regret giving you that back. And here, I thought we were allies.”

“Torryn,” Sar calls in a worried voice.

One of Torryn’s hands raises from the grass, waving her off. “We’re fine, Sar. Stay out of it. Both of you. Lysta and I need to clear the air.”

“Answer me,” I add, pressing the blade tighter against his skin, until a bead of blood pebbles at the tip.

“You haven’t asked me a question,” Torryn says with a raised eyebrow.

Frustration burns under my skin, and I can’t help but let out a growl as I throw rapid-fire rambling at him like icy spears.

“Explainisa question, an open-ended one. One you have enough context to answer. But if you need me to break it down for you—” Releasing his shirt, I point at Ardis, who has the nerve to look sheepish under my angry focus. “You’re not who you said you were,Lord Torryn.You used me. You manipulated me. Was there anything not a lie?”

“The only thing I lied about was who I was. It changes nothing else. I still plan to stop Drytas.”

My hold on the dagger loosens at his words. Eyes searching his face, I look for a reason to not believe him. Furrowing my brows, I lean in tighter. “You left Thoman. You promised you wouldn’t.”

Torryn’s hand reaches up slowly. “If we aren’t able to convince the other courts to intercept Drytas, you won’t be able to return. Going against him, against your court, is treason. He’s safer there.”

An angry laugh bursts from my mouth. “No, he’s not. Someone told Drytas others were involved in the riot yesterday. He’ll find him and execute him since he can’t Trial him.”

Torryn’s eyes widen before he looks to the side.

He hadn’t known.

When he looks at me once again, his eyes are hard.

“There are too many lives at stake for us to go back for your boyfriend. Even if Drytas thinks someone else was involved, he doesn’t know who, and they would have to find him first. Maybe if you stop threatening me, we can get the courts to act before that happens.”

I take a deep breath. “He’s my friend, and he’s saved my life more times than I can count.”

Torryn rolls his eyes. “Well, I didn’t need your friend. I needed you.”

I can’t help but growl at him, pressing the knife closer against his skin. “You were working for Drytas. You’re the reason I’m Trialed in the first place.”

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