Double ruh-roh.
“I’ve been away at our Riverspan Base for the last few weeks, trying to help them hold off a band of Stormers who’ve been especially aggressive. But when I got wind of last night’s incident, well . . .” He shakes his head. “Guardian Gusty already—”
“Wait—hang on. Gus is short for Gusty?”
I laugh when he nods.
“Anyway,”Os says, clearly not as amused by this as I am.“Guardian Gusty already briefed me on what he witnessed. But I’m hoping you can shed some further light on the attack.”
It’s strange to think of it as an attack, but I guess that’s what it was.
“There’s not really much to tell,”I mumble.“I went to the mountains to get some fresh air and I’ve been so tired from not sleeping that I guess I dozed off and Raiden’s creepy wind found me.”
“Gusty told me you go up there a few times a week. He assumed you were searching for someone.” He raises the brow on the scarred side of his face.
I shrug, trying to stay calm as I search for a believable lie. “Fine. If you really want to know, I go up there to check on my friend. I like to make sure he’s still safe, and I didn’t want the Gales to know because they’ve asked me to stay away from him.”
Told me is more like it, but I’m trying not to sound bitter.
I know they’re right that being a part of my life puts Isaac in danger—but it hasn’t been fun cutting off my best friend. He bought my excuses for a few days, but eventually he figured out something was up. And when I wouldn’t—couldn’t—tell him the truth, he stopped calling.
I haven’t talked to him in almost two weeks.
Os doesn’t look as satisfied with my explanation as I’d like. But all he says is “What did Raiden’s wind do to you?”
I really don’t want to relive any of it, but Os insists. So I rush through a few details.
“A girl,” he interrupts. “You didn’t know who she was?”
“No.”
It’s not even a lie. That girl was not Audra.
“And what did the girl do?”
I feel my face get hot as my mind fills with the memory of notAudra lying on top of me.
Os must notice my blush because he says, “Oh.” Several seconds of awkward silence pass before he quietly asks, “Is this why you canceled your betroth—”
“No.”
I give him my I don’t want to talk about this glare and he falls silent. But just when I think he’s dropped it he adds, “If you’re experiencing urges—”
“Dude—we are so not doing this.”
I barely survived my parents’ you’re becoming a man and your body is changing talk when I was a kid. I’m not going through it again— especially with someone named Os.
He clears his throat. “Fine. But it sounds like Raiden has found a way to lure you deep into your consciousness with your desires. That will be a much harder trick to resist.”
He doesn’t have to tell me. I know better than anyone how close it came to working. “But why would he want to do that? Doesn’t he need me conscious if I’m going to teach him what he wants?”
“I’m sure he has a way to release you. But you’ll be much easier to catch if you can’t use the power of four to defend yourself. And there’s no telling if we’ll be able to pull you back if this happens again.”
I stare at my bandaged pinkie, trying not to think about how desperate Gus must’ve been to bite me. “So what’s the plan?”
As soon as the words leave my mouth I realize what I just walked into.
“I’m not teaching anyone Westerly,” I jump in before Os can ask. “And it won’t help anyway. I’ve already tried every command I can think of.”
“Yes, but those of us with more knowledge of the other winds will be able to think of things that you can’t.”
“Not an option.”
And somehow I doubt that. I’ve been practicing with Westerlies a lot, and it’s amazing the things they’ll let me do. But this trick is beyond them. They’re too trusting and agreeable to block another wind—which I know sounds crazy, but it’s true. Westerlies like to get along with the other drafts, and that makes it kind of hard when the other drafts are evil.
Os puts a hand on my shoulder. “Listen, Vane, I know you want to protect your heritage, but if you would just listen to reason—”
“No, if you guys would just listen to me. Aren’t people supposed to listen to their king?” I ask, shaking his hand away. “Do I need to start threatening beheadings or something?”
It feels weird playing the royalty card, but I’m so tired of this fight.
I’m tired of everything.
I’m just tired.
Os sighs. “If that is truly your decision, then I can only think of one other option.”
“Okay . . . ?” I prompt when he doesn’t say anything.