Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Evie

It was a bad time for her brother to be bothering her. The group was waiting for her in the courtyard, and she was already late. As usual, she’d overpacked.

“Keep an eye on him while we’re gone, Keeley—a close one,” she said as she lugged her stuffed suitcase through the corridor. The head of the Malevolent Guard, who was back on Gideon guard duty after his secrets had been revealed, gave her a quick nod.

Gideon’s cheeks reddened. His head was downcast. “I deserve that.”

She didn’t want him to be self-pitying; it made it that much more difficult for her to hold on to her hurt. It was a terrible feeling to be angry with someone and want to comfort them at the same time, and she wished that her brother would be just a bit more awful so she wouldn’t feel the need.

They reached the stairs, and Gideon took the suitcase from her hands, gesturing for her to precede him down. Damn chivalry. “You do not deserve my ire for being manipulated,” she allowed. Evie knew what it was like to be played by their own father. It wasn’t right for her to be angry, but she was human. Emotions didn’t always know right or nuance; they just knew to be hurt when someone caused pain.

They reached the bottom of the stairs, and Gideon carefully handed over her bag. “Here you are. I know better than to ask to join, but if you might tell me where Lyssa is, I’d like to spend some time with her while you’re gone.”

Evie nodded, feeling a sting behind her eyes. “She’s baking with Edwin. You should go help—I’m sure she’d love it.”

Gideon brightened. “Excellent! I’ll head there now. Keeley, will you join me?”

Keeley remained on guard behind him as she rolled her eyes. “Unfortunately.”

They were interrupted when Tatianna stormed down the stairs, thick brows pushed together, mouth turned down in anger.

It was very different from Tatianna’s normal unruffled confidence. “Everything okay, Tati?”

Tatianna flung a braid out of her eyes. Her face looked perplexed, and her brown skin glistened with a sheen of sweat. “Your menace of a sister stole my diary.”

Evie set her suitcase down and clamped a hand over her mouth. “Oh no!”

Tatianna’s dark lashes fanned out as her lids went half closed. “Are you smiling under there?”

She shook her head, not wanting to speak, because she was, in fact, laughing. As was Gideon, who barked out a “ha!” before masking it by rubbing a hand over his mouth and down his chin.

Tatianna adjusted her pink sleeves. She had changed into long, silky pink trousers to better accommodate traveling. She narrowed her eyes, which were dusted with vibrant pink shadow. “I think it’s a family trait.”

Evie looked at her friend closely and pursed her lips. “Tati, did something happen in the cupboard?”

The healer froze, growing more rigid as Clare made her way down the stairs behind her. “I’m coming along, too,” the youngest Maverine announced.

Every strand of hair on Clare’s head was out of place. Every. Single. One.

“Unnecessary,” Tatianna grumbled as she made her way for the door, Clare following behind her. They were near each other but apart, like opposing forces that didn’t want to touch but couldn’t help but remain close.

Once they were gone, Gideon broke the silence first. “Our sister is…something.” His laughter barked out before he could stop it.

Evie moved her hand from her mouth, putting both over her eyes. Her echoing giggle was light; it calmed her immensely against everything that was currently trying to weigh her down.

His low laughter harmonized with hers, and when she removed her hands and looked at her brother, his smile faded. She watched as his eyes went red and glassy. “I’m really sorry, Eve. For everything. I can’t tell you how much I wish I could do it over. You might not believe me, but I promise I will make it up to you.”

It was enough.

She threw her arms around her brother, burying her face in his neck. “It’s okay. I love you. It’s okay.”

Gideon sniffed quietly into her shoulder, gripping Evie the way a child would a mother’s skirts, like he was the little boy once more, with so many fears and no way to manage them. “I’m sorry.”

She shushed him, rubbing circles on his back. “No one will ever hurt us again. I vow it.”

They pulled apart slowly, watery smiles and drying tears making both their faces sticky and red. Keeley had moved off to the corner, clearly uncomfortable with the display.

Evie picked up her bag. “Make me something tasty with Lyssa and Edwin for when we return? And look after things while we’re gone.”

“Count on it.” With a trembling chin, Gideon gestured a hand toward the back door. “Now get out there and find our mother.”

She was nearly to the door when she halted and spun around. “Gideon.”

He looked at her, ever the gilded hero. He was good—a different sort than her.

This was why she said carefully, “I want to hurt the king. Not because he’s done bad things. Not because he’s bad for Rennedawn. I want him to hurt because I hurt, because he hurt all of us. Do you think that makes me a villain?”

He smiled hesitantly; even Keeley appeared surprised by the question. “No, Eve. It’s okay that you feel that way.”

But as she walked out to the now-saddled dragon for their long trip to Becky’s family home, she noted something she’d seen behind her brother’s eyes, behind his words.

Fear.