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"Of course," Aren replies

"They need to be left alive to report to Radath"

Aren nods again He tries to e Kyol can’t " My words are more an accusation than a question Kyol’s face is as unreadable as ever

I throw off Aren’s ar to let him become a martyr because of me "You can’t stay Radath will kill you"

"McKenzie," Aren whispers a warning He hurries to the door, presses his ear against it

"Shh" Kyol places his fingers over my lips I slap his hand away

"Why won’t you leave?"

The h his mask "The war isn’t over"

"Don’t bullshit me, Kyol"

"McKenzie, I--"

"You said you would leave"

"I can’t, kaesh--"

"Why!"

"Because I couldn’t live with myself!" he roars

I flinch back and a sharp, alh s? All these years, I thought only the king’s decree kept us apart I didn’t think he despised hiabout us drawing all the guards

"McKenzie," he says, his voice low, controlled again "Radath has been whispering in the king’s ear for years, telling hiht this war Atroth listens because the eneral’s more deplorable plans, but if I leaveI "

"That’s why you want to stay?" I ask Lies and truths have been tangled up for so long, I’m not confident I can tell them apart anymore

His jaw clenches He nods "If I leave Atroth to Radath’s counsel, the ill end, but thousands of innocent fae will be killed in the process"

His wordsthe Realain I understand why he wants to stay behind--I respect it even--but I can’t keep doing this I accept who he is, what he stands for, but I’irl in love with the honorable hero; I need so his responsibilities for me At least some of the time

"I can reason with Atroth, McKenzie," he continues "I will reason with him I’ll convince him to speak to the false--" He stops, draws in a breath "To the son of Zarrak We can negotiate peace"