Octavion watched through the trees as Lydia slammed her car door and marched up the three rickety steps that led to the single-wide trailer she’d rented from a local farmer. She flung open the door and tossed her backpack across the room where it probably landed on the couch like usual. Without bothering to step inside, she spun around to meet his eyes. Even at a distance, she found him easily. He shouldn’t have bothered hiding behind the old shed.
She saw you, ya know. You’re getting careless. Lydia’s thoughts struck his brain with a vengeance. If he didn’t calm her down soon, he’d be listening to her rant all night long.
Less than a second passed and he stood on the top step, looking down at her. “I only came to see if she was all right. You said she fell.”
“I said we fell. And I’m fine, thanks for asking.” She turned and walked into the trailer, leaving the door open.
Octavion stepped inside and gave the door a gentle shove to close it. “Why are you angry with me? I am concerned for both of you, but you said nothing about you being hurt.”
Lydia plopped down on the couch and leaned back against the cushion. “It’s not that. I’m tired of lying to her. She’s the only friend I have here and she deserves to know the truth—all of it—even about you.”
This wasn’t the first time they’d had this conversation and he was pretty sure it wouldn’t be the last. As long as Kira was part of his sister’s life, he’d have to listen to Lydia’s tender heart try to convince his stubborn head to reveal their secrets. Fortunately, using his head was the only way he’d allow himself to think these days. If he thought with his heart, it would surely betray him—again.
“You know that is not an option.”
Lydia sat up and scooted to the edge of the cushion. “Why not? She’s not like the others. She has gifts. She’d accept who we are. I know she would.”
Octavion understood her feelings. Watching Kira from a distance hadn’t just been because he was keeping a close eye on his sister. He’d become more than a little protective of Kira as well. “Why must you always ask? You know I cannot allow this. It is forbidden.”
“Yeah? Like, who’s gonna know?”
“I would know.”
He watched as she pulled her long braid over her shoulder, unfastened the band and ran her fingers through the waves of blonde hair. She looked so much like her mother, it was eerie. And when had she become so beautiful? His mind wandered to when they were forced from their home and he’d brought her here, promising their father he’d protect her. She was so young and naïve about this world, but now she fit in better than he did.
“Ouch.”
Octavion’s focus shifted to the present where Lydia rubbed the back of her head. “Blessed Zi’ah! You said you weren’t hurt.”
“Octavion, if father heard you talk like that, he’d have you beheaded.”
“Ha! I am the only male heir. I rather doubt my punishment would be so severe.” He pulled her hand away from her head and explored the area with the gentle touch of his fingers. “You have a lump. What exactly were you two doing?”
Lydia pushed him aside and stood. As she passed through the kitchen doorway and opened the freezer, she mumbled something he couldn’t understand.
“What?”
She stepped back into the room with a small towel pressed against the knot on her head. “I said, ‘she was trying to climb that stupid rope again.’” She returned to her place on the couch. Using her backpack for a pillow, she stretched out with her feet propped up on the arm. “I was spotting her when she let go. We both went down pretty hard.”
“And you are certain she is not injured . . . as you are?” He added the last part for good measure. That’s all he needed—Lydia sensing he might have feelings for Kira.
“Ya know, if you let me tell her everything, you could find out for yourself. Maybe she’d even let you examine her to make sure she doesn’t have any . . . lumps.”
Octavion pulled the towel out of Lydia’s hand, dumping ice on the couch and down her shirt. She jumped to her feet and pulled her shirt away from her body to let the cubes slip through to the floor. “Picking on the injured. Some protector you are.”
He laughed genuinely. There was a time when their teasing felt natural and a big part of their daily lives. Not so much anymore. He’d had to grow up fast with the responsibility that had been put on his shoulders—letting his guard down for even a second could cost them both their lives. “I’m your guardian, not your nursemaid.” He threw the towel at her face, but she caught it before it hit.
Her eyes flickered from emerald green to icy blue and back. “Testing my reflexes again?” A hint of their heritage seeped through her sweet voice, a familiar tone, not unlike his own.
“Do you need testing?”
“In your dreams.” Lydia tossed the towel back at him. “I might be up for a little sparring match, though. We haven’t done that for a while.”
“I think you are right. Is tomorrow soon enough? I would hate to take advantage of the . . . injured.”
Lydia’s eyes widened. “Oh, crap! I almost forgot to tell you. Kira and I will be on the mountain tomorrow, so you’ll have to keep Toran on the north side by the canyon.”
“Why would Kira want to go up on Black Creek? Even you do not like it there.” Octavion crossed his arms over his chest, a little suspicious of her motives.
“She doesn’t. I have a photo assignment and Kira agreed to go with me. Well, sort of. We’ll be on the south side where the sun brings out the wild flowers, so you better keep your distance.”
“And how am I to protect you if I am so far away?”
“Oh, please. It’s not like we’re in any danger. We’ve been in Oregon for more than two years now with no hint of Shandira on our tail. I think a few hours enjoying nature isn’t going to kill us. You need to lighten up. I can take care of myself, ya know? And Kira, too, just in case you were wondering.”
He shifted his weight to one foot. “That knot on your head is evidence to the contrary. She could have hurt you.”
Lydia laughed. “What? Now you’re saying I have to be afraid of Kira? Be serious, Octavion. She’s my friend. And this knot was an accident.”
“We both know how friends can betray us.”
Lydia propped her fists on her hips. “Now you’re just being stupid. Kira would never hurt me. She’s more like a sister than a friend. I’d trust her with my life.”
“Sister? And that fact gives you comfort? Perhaps it should give you more cause to question her loyalty.” The minute the words left his mouth, he knew he’d said the wrong thing. Their older sister, Shandira, was the reason they were on the run in the first place.
Lydia’s whole body sagged as she dropped her hands to her side. “That’s mean. You’re just jealous because I have someone besides you to talk to. Sometimes I think you want Kira to mess up, so I have to rely on you again for my every need.”
“That is not true. I merely want you to be cautious. Learn from our past, Lydia. Do not repeat it. That is what Father taught us.”
“He also taught us to never back down, to stand tall and fight our enemies. A lot of good that did us. I feel like a scared little rabbit hiding in its hole.”
Octavion stepped closer and touched her cheek with the back of his hand. He could tell she was fighting back tears by the way she blinked. So brave, this one. He lowered his voice so his sincerity would be clear. “Do you think I enjoy holding back like this? I lay awake dreaming of the vengeance that is mine—of the debt I have to settle. But now is not the time. There is a season for everything in our lives and now is the season to wait—to be patient. The time to fight back will come soon enough. You have my word on that.”
Lydia leaned into him and relaxed against his chest. He had a feeling it was to hide the tears that streamed down her cheeks. “I miss Xantara. I miss our home.”
Octavion pulled her into an embrace and tried not to think abou
t what she’d said. He missed home, too. “I know.”
Maybe giving his sister a little space tomorrow wasn’t such a bad idea. Besides, how much trouble could she possibly get into?