Chapter 66 The Truth Among Friends pt2
Oberon’s hands clasp my head, then gently, tenderly angle it back so I’m looking up at him. “Anara…”
I smile, sweet warmth flooding my whole torso. In my eighteen years, few people have looked at me the way Oberon is. It means I cherish it. Revel in it. Can’t help but lean into him a little more.
His thumb grazes over my cheek. “You told Alric I’m your friend.”
“My closest and dearest.” When I’ve grown up a misfit, a servant, a traitor, a broken soul desperate for redemption, that means everything.
Oberon came back for me. He sees the Anara that existed before…
Zaries’ dark, brooding face flashes through my mind and I forcefully push it away. Death defined our connection the day I saved him but failed Elsie. I can’t live under that shadow anymore.
Oberon’s lips angle up. “My feelings have always been far more than that, Anara.”
I blink, unsure why I’m surprised. I shouldn’t be taken aback, let alone unprepared.
“Obie…” I breathe, having no idea what I want to say. When the silence drags out with each rapid heartbeat, I realize no words are waiting to fill the silence.
Oberon’s blue eyes shimmer with a mesmerizing mix of pain and tenderness. “I knew the Trial was going to be dangerous. I was willing to face death for you.” His hands tighten, pressing his fingertips into my hair. “But I underestimated being able to watch you face death.”
Tears sting my eyes at his beautiful words. And at the inevitability that I’ll continue to face death. This ends with the silver dragon king’s end or my own. “I need to do this—”
“I know. I get it. But you haven’t realized you don’t need to do this alone, Anara. That I want to be by your side in every way.” Oberon’s breath puffs over my face. “If you’ll let me.”
My own lungs expel every last drop of air. I’m reeling. I woke up with a broken body, and am now standing, fully healed, with a mind trying to absorb too many revelations.
Alric has been searching for me my whole life.
My mother’s name.
Now Oberon, looking at me like that, waiting…
“I want you, Anara.” The smile that was toying with his lips blooms, lighting his face with an achingly familiar softness. “Which means there’s something I want just as much.”
I wait, breath non-existent, pulse-pounding.
“For you to want me.”
Holy heck, and I thought my mind was reeling a moment ago.
Oberon angles his head down as his thumbs stroke my temples. “Kiss me, Anara. Show me this is more than friendship.”
I want to. Sweet heavens, I want to.
My eyes flicker to his lips, remembering how they felt. How I felt. I want to feel those magical, warm sensations again. I want to see what would happen to Oberon’s beautiful smile if I did.
My hands twitch against his chest. My heart climbs up my throat.
Yet…every other muscle fails to move.
“For flames’ sake, take the hint, you rookie.” Sylvain’s stomping footsteps thud through the soil. “Not to mention Anara could use the opportunity to breathe after what she’s been through.”
I jerk back and Oberon does the same a moment later, swinging around to face Sylvain. “This is a private moment.”
Sylvain opens her arms wide as she stops a few feet away. “The middle of a clearing? You need to check your definition of private.”
I step away from Oberon, surprised at my friend’s hostility. “He was worried about me. Oberon and I have known each other all our lives.”
She crosses her arms, then cocks a hip for good measure, not taking her gaze off him. “We were all worried. Which is why I’d like to check my friend’s okay.”
Oberon straightens as his chest expands, but I place a hand on his arm. “Sylvain’s been a good friend to me.” Another thing I’ve had in short supply.
His jaw works as he growls three words. “She’s also Flamepeak.”
Sylvain smirks. “Oh dear, was I interrupting something?”
Oberon glares back, a silent communication I have no understanding of filling the tense air.
“We need to head back to the fortress shortly,” Oberon mutters, then stalks away.
I watch, conscious that Alric did the same not long ago. I’ve gone from being a loner to the center of these complicated, confusing threads. Like the knot that holds everyone together.
One that has no idea how to unravel.
Turning, I decide to focus on trying to understand what the hell is going on. “Why were you rude to him?” I’ve only seen two sides to Sylvain—the impressive warrior and the happy girl who makes the most of the moments in between. Animosity doesn’t feel like something that naturally fits in between.
She sighs, her eyes softening. “Have you considered that asswipe has an ulterior motive?”
Oberon? “An ulterior motive?”
“You’ve been away from Obsidian Reach for a long time, Anara.” Sylvain angles so her back is to the others. I’m vaguely aware Blight has joined Oberon by the alicorns. “And they’ve always been a greedy bunch.”
I frown, not bothering to point out that although I’ve been away, I’m still from Obsidian Reach. Although the queen would say I belong to Stormcoast now.
And yet Hellbane is the one place I’ve ever felt strong. As if I could define myself rather than someone else do it for me.
Shaking my head, I focus back on Sylvain. “I hadn’t realized the animosity between Obsidian Reach and Flamepeak was so strong.” Strong enough that Sylvain and Oberon clearly don’t trust each other. Even Alric was hostile. “The three provinces are supposed to be at peace.”
Unity is how we’ll defeat the dragons.
Sylvain shakes her head, although I’m not sure which part she’s disagreeing with. “Just be careful, okay? You can’t afford to trust the wrong people.”
It’s my turn to sigh as I resist the urge to rub my temples. I should’ve flown away with the wyvern…
“Anara!” Oberon calls. “We’re ready to leave.”
Sylvain slips an arm around my shoulders, squeezing. “Come on,” she says, her usual zest back. “You totally need to fill me in on that bitch, Cinder. While we devour a hindquarter or two.”
I nod, even allowing myself a smile. I need a moment to breathe. My body is bruised and my mind overflowing. Some food while I do that is an excellent idea.
But before we can move, the sky goes dark. Sylvain and I are instantly ready to fight. Oberon is already running toward us, Blight and the alicorns right behind. I scan the space above us, expecting Ember’s monstrous wingspan to be closing in.
She’s returned to finish what she started.
To devour her meal.
Except the sky is empty. An unnatural gray, the sun little more than a muted silver orb, but empty.
Silas’ voice fills the air. “The final steps to becoming a slayer shall commence in one hour.” The sound echoes with a supernatural timbre, amplified by his dark magic. “The path to glory or ruin awaits.”