That’s it! I shrieked, sounding like a crazy woman but not caring at all. Don’t we have enough problems without the two of you acting like imbeciles?
He is a problem, Kona growled. That’s what I’m trying to tell you.
You’re the only one causing a problem right now, Sabyn told him, striking out with a blow that should have knocked Kona into next week.
Kona roared, the sound so low and mean that it sent shivers up my spine. I turned to look at him, to try to calm him down, and felt fear skitter through me at the sight. His eyes glowed, his fingers were curled into claws, and he fairly vibrated with the need to rip Sabyn in half, though they were still circling each other. It was the first time I’d ever seen him like this and it reminded me, forcibly, of the fact that he wasn’t human.
He might be able to shift to human form, but Kona was selkie. As I watched him look for an opening to get at Sabyn, I finally realized just what that meant. In those moments, he was much more the animal defending what he considered his than he was the human.
Kona, please. Don’t do this. I turned to Sabyn, who didn’t look any more civilized. Please, just walk away. I’m so sorry—
Don’t apologize to him! Kona reached for my arm, but I shook him off.
I was so furious with both of them that I could barely think, barely speak.
Don’t tell me what to do! I yelled at him, the last of my patience eroded by his barbaric attitude. Tiamat is on the verge of a major strike, we’re in the middle of a humanitarian crisis, and you two want to pick a fight like a couple of children. What the hell is wrong with you?
You don’t understand—
And you’re not trying to explain it to me, are you? I waited, but Kona didn’t say anything and neither did Sabyn. Fine, then, I’m done. I turned and started swimming away.
Tempest! Kona called after me, but I was too angry to turn around. Too angry to do anything but flip them both off as I swam away.
Judging from the choked sounds echoing behind me, I wasn’t sure which of the three of us was more shocked.
I was in my room half an hour later, sitting cross-legged on my bed while combing out my hair—and the snarls that two days of hell had caused—when Kona finally caught up to me.
He didn’t bother knocking, just flung open the door and stormed in like he had the right to be there. Which only ratcheted up my anger another three hundred notches. Normally, I had no problem with him coming right in, but that courtesy definitely did not extend to him when he was acting like a crazy person.
Get out! I said.
Not until we settle this. He stalked toward me, eyes blazing with a crazy kaleidoscope of colors.
I didn’t realize there was anything to settle. You acted like a maniac out there.
You don’t know Sabyn like I do. You can’t trust him.
First of all, isn’t that up to me to decide?
He gritted his teeth. Not in this case. I know more than you do—
Excuse me? I swear I thought my head was going to explode.
I’ve lived down here my whole life. I know things about Sabyn that would completely freak you out.
Like what? If you’re going to go around beating your chest, you need to at least tell me why.
I—He—For a second I thought he was going to lose it all over again. But he pulled back at the last minute. Gritted his teeth and curled his hands into fists.
Look, I’m already freaked out. I gestured to the window. In case you haven’t noticed, things are completely screwed up around here and the last thing I need is for you to lose your mind along with everyone else.
I don’t want you training with Sabyn.
You don’t get to make that decision.
He snarled, Don’t push me on this, Tempest.
No, Kona, don’t you push me. I don’t know who you think you are that you can barge in and nearly kill my trainer. I don’t know who you think you are that you come up here and start issuing orders like I’m supposed to jump just because you said so.You know, you could give me the benefit of the doubt, Tempest. I’m acting like this because I don’t want that bastard anywhere near you. He’s bad news.
Kona stalked straight up to me, until only an inch or two separated us, and glowered.
Don’t try to intimidate me. I shoved him away, hard.
He moved back a little, but made it abundantly clear that it was his choice, not mine. Jesus, Tempest, do you know me at all?
I’m not sure. You’ve been growling and snarling like an animal since you showed up. And what are you doing here, anyway? I thought you were preparing for the Bringue.
It’s canceled in light of what’s happened. My family and I came to help. With Stormy Point, he clarified when I looked lost.
Oh, right. I felt awful for getting so wrapped up in my own angst that I’d forgotten the refugees.
He sighed, ran a hand over his face before asking, Can you at least try to look at it from my perspective? I’m already worried about you—it was only yesterday that you were at death’s door, remember—and the first thing I see is that jerk leaning over you, preparing to deliver a killing blow. Was I supposed to just stand there and watch it happen?
You were supposed to trust me!
I do trust you. It’s him I don’t trust.
My mouth dropped open. Did you really just say that? How old are you? Ninety?
More like two hundred, but who’s counting?
Ugh. You know what I meant. That sounds like something my father would say.
And he would be right.
I narrowed my eyes. I really want to punch you right now.
The last of his anger dissipated and he grinned. Go ahead. He leaned down to give me a free shot.
I didn’t take it, not because he didn’t deserve it but because in the space between one blink and the next, he went from a seething animal on the brink of losing control to the charming guy I’d grown used to. It was strange to witness the transformation, and though I wanted to relax, I couldn’t forget the darkness I’d seen in him.
Where did all that power come from, anyway? I demanded. I’ve never seen you like that.
What do you mean? You’ve seen me wield energy before.
Yeah, but not to that extent. Sabyn kicked my ass earlier and you took him on like it was nothing.
You lost half your blood volume yesterday—that’s the only reason Sabyn could take you.
That’s not true. I hit him with everything I had earlier and he rolled right over me. He’s got a lot of power.
Not as much as you do. Kona seemed convinced of it.
In that case, you should have had more faith in me. Do I really look stupid to you?
Of course not. The fact that I was still furious must have finally gotten through to him, because he reached for me placatingly. Tempest—
Don’t Tempest me. Did it ever occur to you to ask me what was going on before losing your mind out there? Of course I don’t trust Sabyn. I’m working with him because Hailana ordered me to, not because I want to.
Still, it’s dangerous. He shook his head. You don’t know—
You can’t have it both ways. Either he’s a poser without any power or he’s dangerous.
The two aren’t mutually exclusive, you know. He’s sneaky and he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. He’ll do whatever it takes to get ahead.
But we’re on the same side.