23

~Aspen

"This is a terrible idea," I mutter.

I don't even know where we are. This morning, Kastriv came to me with an offer that I couldn't exactly refuse. And now, I'm standing in an unknown Territory, walking through a park toward a Noble who tried to kill me.

"He needs to be spoken to," Kastriv reminds me. Even if he is right, I'm not sure how I feel about having to see Ellard's face again.

"Why?"

Kastriv looks down at me, a cold rage behind his eyes. "Because he may continue to pursue you otherwise."

I shudder. There are too many people in my life who I am afraid of, who I am running from. At some point I'm going to have to stand up to them, and I suppose now is the time to start, even if it's not going to be easy.

"If he kills me now, it's your fault," I tell him bluntly, staring out over the green pond before me.

Kastriv threads his fingers through mine. "He won't kill you. Not with me around."

"Comforting," I mumble.

We stop, facing the pond. To my left, I see a figure tentative