I glare at him, my earlier despair morphing into white-hot anger. “Fun? You think any of this is fun?”
“Come now, Everly. Don’t tell me you’re not enjoying your little adventures with Cenric.”
“Adventures?” Poison laces my words as I continue, not caring who Hawke is anymore. He can rot in a desert for all I care. “Is that what you call threatening my family and forcing me to spy on people?”
Hawke remains calm and composed, those gold eyes regarding me with a vexing detachment. “It’s necessary.”
“Necessary for who?” I demand, jabbing a finger at his chest. “You? Your demented sister?”
“For you, Everly. For your people,” Hawke says, his tone far more sincere than I ever thought possible for someone like him.
I scoff. “What do you know of my people? You’re Calcite!” I hate how I spit out that last word, as if he’s deceased. As if he’s someone to hate because he’s Calcite.
I have never disliked anyone from another tribe before. Never let bitterness fester in my heart like mold.
Now, I hate Hawke. Hate what he has done to me. Hate that he has caused Cenric to not trust me.
A muscle clenches in Hawke’s jaw. “I know there are people who would like to see the entire Bloodstone tribe disappear.”
My eyes narrow as I search his face for any hint of deception, but he appears earnest. Still, I won’t be fooled so easily.
“Isn’t that what you want?” I challenge.
“You have no idea what I want,” he says, his words even.
“Like what?”
Instead of answering me, he pulls a folded missive from hiscloak. “Give this to Cenric.”
“Why?” I ask as I eye the parchment. “Is it laced with poison?”
Hawke smirks again. “Poison is Alvina’s weapon of choice, not mine.”
Before I can object, he places the missive in my hand. “Do as I ask, Everly.”
My skin bristles at the way Hawke speaks to me, as if I’m his puppet and I have no choice but to obey him. “Or I could scream and watch as Cenric slaughters you.”
Hawke’s smirk deepens, twinkling in his eyes, as if he finds great amusement in my words. “Oh, Everly. You really are delightful. If you weren’t in love with Cenric, I would take you for myself.”
I open my mouth to rebuke him, but he disappears.
Great!
I drop my eyes to the parchment and debate whether I should open it or find Cenric and throw it at him.
Or I could toss it in a fire. But then, I’d have to explain to Hawke why I didn’t deliver it.
Damn him!
“What to do, what to do...” I tap the parchment against my chin.
I could always read it first. Then again, do I really want to know what’s inside? Knowledge is power, sure, but it’s also a burden, and I’m carrying enough of those already.
I grab the fox. “What do you think I should do, little guy?”
The fox stares back with its carved eyes.
I sigh. “Fine. I’ll give it to Cenric. But I’m not going to likeit.”
