“The moment you joined The Order, you became part of our family,” he said. “Lucia sees it, and I do too. You’re a good guy, Barrett, no matter how much you deny it.”
I was so over this optimistic bullshit. “Shit. You’ve opened my eyes. Why don’t you get Lucia? Get the other members of The Order while you’re at it. Let’s have a bonfire and celebrate my rehabilitation from dungeon scum to upstanding citizen.”
Micah arched a brow. “You’re not fooling anyone with the attitude.”
I didn’t stop, didn’t slow my pace as we continued aimlessly through the streets. “Then what will it take to get you guys off my back?”
“Just let us in.” Micah placed his hand on my shoulder. “Let us help you.”
“What makes you think youcanhelp me? It won’t change anything.” I hated how his words tore at me, how a part of me wanted to give in. “It’s too late for help.”
His voice softened. “It’s never too late.”
Tell that to her.
“What happened to you?” he pressed. “You are so hellbent on shutting all of us out. Why?”
I don’t know why I bothered responding, but the words came without my permission.
“Because when someone puts their trust in me…” My words fell short as my feet came to a halt. I hadn’t realized exactly where they had led me, and something fractured in my chest at the painful reminder of the truth, of why I could never allow anyone inside again.
Burned remains stood before us. Even the stone hadn’t been spared from the flame’s wrath. I hadn’t come to this place since I’d been released, hadn’t wanted to see it. It was as if time had stopped that night, what little remained of our home abandoned, nearly untouched.
“...I fail them.”
9
THALIA
Barrett Stratos.
My eyes passed over the paperwork for his enlistment into The Order’s recruitment program. Something had nagged in the back of my mind from the moment I first saw him training with Micah two days prior. I had never seen the male before…
So why did I feel as if I had?
There was no mention of his background, his family, his history—just his name, and his description.
I knew the family name—the current head of House Stoicheion was a Stratos—but I had no knowledge of him having a relative named Barrett.
“Who are you?” I mumbled under my breath.
“Thank you for helping me get these done,” Damien said from where he sat at his desk. I looked to find him bent over a stack of parchment, quill tipping back and forth furiouslyas he wrote.
Marcus huffed a laugh. “You’d never be on time with anything if it wasn’t for us.”
“Our impeccably organized king wouldneverbe late submitting his work,” I said with a knowing look.
“All right, you two,” he chided. “I’m not behind, I just need to get this done before I head to the Godsrealm for a few days.” Damien’s voice seemed to tip off at the end, as if he had said something he hadn’t intended to.
“You’re leaving for the Godsrealm?” I asked, arching a brow as I set a stack of completed paperwork on his desk for him to sign.
Marcus and Damien glanced at each other nervously, and I frowned. He rarely went to the Godsrealm. There were those of us who did, either for diplomatic missions with The Twelve or for importing goods the way Semele did, but rarely did he join.
“Speaking of the Godsrealm,” Marcus said, seeming to shift the direction of the conversation. “Vivienne should be back tomorrow.”
Damien’s brows rose. “I received word Tobias’ mate welcomed a baby girl a few months ago in the Godsrealm.”
“I didn’t even know she was pregnant,” Marcus said, his lips pressing together. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Tobias doesn’t exactly like me. I don’t expect him to say anything, but I thought Vivienne might’ve at least mentioned it to me.”
