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said that Lucas was taken against his will. They took him on his eighteenth birthday?”
    “That’s right,” answers Tolan taking a breath before looking up at me. “The Ange somehow reached him before we did.”
    “ So this means that we need to save him , right?”
    Both Tharin and Tolan remain quiet. I look from one to the other, standing up quickly.
    “Why won’t you answer me? We can save him, right?” I ask pleading ly .
    “I’m sorry, Lily,” answers Tolan quietly apologizing. “He is beyond our reach now. If you don’t come with us, you may not live to see tomorrow. We can only protect you if you’re with us. Not only that, but the treaty must be honor ed .”
    I stand quietly, pulling my thoughts together. W ho are these people to come crashing into my life demanding I leave with them? I don’t want to move. I sense my whole life changing. I know if I leave with them, it will never be the same again .
    I don’t know if I believe their story, but I do know that I want to see my brother again. There is no question about it. I’m going with them to find Lucas. As soon as I mak e the decision, Tharin grabs me by the arm and pulls me close r to him . I didn’t ev en see him get off the armchair. His grip is hard and painful. It feels as if he’s about to dislocate my shoulder.
    He leans in even closer and says, “Listen, I don’t care whether or not you believe us. I don’t care that you think you can reach your brother somehow and change his mind about killing you. I don’t care that you’re afraid and confused. I just don’t care. What I do care about is that a treaty was made between our families . A n oath was taken that my father made and which I intend to keep. You’re not the only one who has lost in this.”
    He shoves me away from him and I barely catch myself, falling back a few steps. Tolan is on his feet with a worried look on his face . Cessa’s up as well. She’s nervous but stays near the sofa . The room is suddenly too quiet and the tension is weigh ing on me.
    I keep my eyes on Tharin as he continues , “You have five minutes to do what you need to do before we leave. If you’re not done, I’ll drag you out of here as you are.”
    I t urn and run toward my room. I’m ashamed of my cowardice, but I can’t help it. I believe him and I’m terrified. After all, I really don’t know him . I’ve never known anyone to be so angry with me. It’s more than anger ― it’s hate . I lean against the close d door, surrounded by the safety of the four walls of my room.
    *

Chapter Ten ~ Tharin ~
     
    I watch as Lily runs to her room. The sight of her running from me, and the fear I saw in her eyes, bothers me more than I want to admit. I have no idea why. Her arm felt so small in my hand, but I couldn’t help myself when I grabbed her. Her loyalty to her brother pisses me off . It made me want to shake her again. Once again, I feel like the true bastard that she surely must think I am, but time is of the essence and I can’t wait while she makes up her mind. Granted, Lily will eventually have to say the wedding vows willingly , but that doesn’t mean I have to wait for her to willingly go with us. If I have to tie her up and carry her all the way to Velesi, then so be it.
    “Did you have to be so rough with her, Tharin ?” I look over at Tolan and see the disapproval on his face. I didn’t miss the way he stared at her at the park, or how he looked at her while they were conversing. They looked pretty comfortable with one another. I don’t know why that irritates me so much. I look away from Tolan, running my hand through my hair , hoping to shake off some of this uneasiness.
    I feel Tolan come up behind me and lay a hand on my shoulder. As always, he calms me down with his touch . I take a deep breath, but won’t turn to face him.
    “I’ve never seen you be so cruel to one who didn’t deserve it, b rother,” says Tolan removing his hand. “She may not know our ways ,