“He certainly likes to prove his point,” Ruv said, once again amused. “I suppose that’s a knight, though. Blunt and forward. Lacking in finesse and subtlety.”
I stared at him. “Obviously you don’t know us at all if you think any of us is subtle. About anything.”
“Point,” he said. “Walk with me, Sam.”
“You’re not going to try and touch my junk, are you?” I asked him suspiciously. “Because Ryan will stab you.” I frowned. “Not that I need him to. I don’t need no man to take care of bidness, if you know what I mean.”
“No. I really don’t know what you mean. Does anyone?”
“Sometimes. Where are we going?”
“Just away from the noise. There’s a dock near where you’re staying that—”
“I know,” I said. “I was there before we left.”
He didn’t seem surprised. “Good. It’s not far.”
I caught Ryan’s eye as I followed Ruv through the crowd. I jerked my head, letting him know I’d be right back. He looked like he thought that was the stupidest idea he’d ever heard, but he got distracted by Kevin saying something to him. I was out of his sight before he ever turned back around.
The noise fell away behind us. The wood creaked under our feet, the water lapping against the posts. I had a tendency toward stupidity, but I kept my eyes open, taking in my surroundings, making sure this wasn’t some feeble attempt from Vadoma to trap me in Mashallaha. I didn’t think Ruv would go along with it, but I didn’t really know him. He was the Wolf of Bari Lavuta. His allegiance was to his phuro. If it was anything like my bond with the King, I couldn’t underestimate what Ruv would do on Vadoma’s behalf.
The dock was empty when we stepped onto it. It swayed gently beneath our feet, but not enough to throw me off balance. A dry wind whipped over the water, a faint mist landing on our exposed skin. The stars were bright above. I’d have to remember what they looked like out here in the middle of nowhere when I was back in the City of Lockes. I didn’t think I’d come back to Mashallaha. Vadoma wasn’t someone I needed. Ruv was a headache I didn’t want to have to worry about. When we needed Zero, we could bypass Mashallaha altogether, or I could send Kevin. Either way, I didn’t want to come back to this city. It had hurt my family too much.
Ruv sat down on the edge of the dock, feet dangling down into the water. I sat beside him, sitting far enough away that we didn’t touch. I didn’t like how my magic felt around him, like it was comfortable, like it could be something more. Apparently my magic was a bit of a slut, given how it seemed to curl around him. Ryan felt bright and electric, like lightning. Ruv was smooth and warm, a desert wind. Ryan told me it took a long time before he was able to feel what I did, and even then, it was faint. I didn’t think Ruv could feel my magic, given that I hadn’t known him for very long, but it still felt… wrong. If this is what it meant to find another cornerstone, I hoped I never had to meet another one for as long as I lived.
“She’s worried,” Ruv said, breaking the silence.
I didn’t need to ask who. “Why?”
“Because she doesn’t think you’re taking this seriously. That this is just a game to you.”
I snorted. “She doesn’t know me.”
“Does anyone?”
“Gary does. And Tiggy. Kevin. Ryan.”
“So you say. But I think sometimes you hide behind a mask, even to them.”
“Right,” I said dryly. “And this is based on…?”
He shrugged. “Observation. It’s what I do. I watch. Your sass and snark. You have magic, but you mostly use words as weapons. There is great power within you, Sam, but you choose to hide it away.”
“I’m pretty sure you were there when I destroyed all those sand mermaids,” I said. “In fact, I know you were there.”
“And it was an impressive display. But I think you’re scared to show it.”
“Great,” I said. “It’s always fun to be analyzed. Because I don’t get enough of that in my life.”
“I’m not Morgan,” he said, and for the first time, I thought I saw a little crack on the cool fa?ade. “Or Randall. I’m not Vadoma. I’m not trying to control you.”
“Then what are you trying to do?”
He turned toward me. I didn’t move away. “I’m trying to understand my part in this. All my life, I’ve been told I would be this… this thing to you. That I would be by your side and act as your cornerstone.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “But I had nothing to do with that.”
“I know,” he said. “And I don’t blame you. But you have to understand. Where your world was changed because of a destiny of dragons, mine was changed when the path I’d been set upon ended against a wall.”
“How did she know?”
“About me being your cornerstone?”
“Being a cornerstone, yes.”
He shrugged. “She said it was part of what she’d seen. In her visions.”
“And you took her word on that?”
He smiled at me, wide and handsome. “No, Sam. I took it on faith.”
“Sometimes faith steers you wrong.”
“Maybe. But it’ll still be there when I need it. Do you have faith, Sam?”
I thought of my mother and father.
Gary and Tiggy.
Kevin.
Morgan and Randall.
The King.
Justin.
Pete, my guard.
And Ryan. Of course I thought of Ryan.
“Yes,” I said. “I have faith. And they have faith in me.”
He was close. I didn’t know when that had happened. His hand was on mine, pressed against the wood. His eyes were dark, glittering in the starlight.
“I could have faith in you,” he said.
“You shouldn’t.” My magic burned.
“I could be that for you.”
“You won’t.”
“Sam.”
“Ruv.”
“I’ll ask you once. Do you believe that I could be your cornerstone?”
I swallowed thickly. “You could have been. But you won’t ever be. Because I found the one who makes me whole. And that’s all I have ever wished for.”
He smiled sadly… and pulled away. I slipped my hand out from underneath his, thankful that he wasn’t pushing this.
“This is where our paths diverge, isn’t it?” he asked.
“I think so,” I said honestly.
He laughed. It sounded a little hollow, but I didn’t blame him. If anything, I blamed Vadoma for filling his head with something that could never be. It was yet another life she’d interfered with, and it wasn’t fair. “For what it’s worth, Sam of Wilds, I think you aren’t what anyone expects you to be.”
I smiled at him. “Thank you, Ruv.”
He leaned forward, and for a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. Before I could pull away, he pressed his lips to my forehead, the lightest of touches, and then he was up and walking back down the dock. His footsteps fell away until there were no sounds but the water.
I looked up toward the stars and breathed.