Page 65 of Silver & Gold

Seth looked through the scope but saw only golden sand. “Give me a hint.”

“You don’t see anything?”

“No.” Seth lowered the scope and took a closer look at Raider. He was anxious. “What’s going on?”

“I … nothing.”

“Tell me.”

Raider dragged his gaze away from the dunes to look steadily at Seth. “Why don’t you tell me first. About your plans.”

Seth stilled.

Raider pressed, “I know you’re planning something.”

Seth glanced over his shoulder, but they were out of earshot of the caravan. “Just trust me,” he said. “Please.”

“But you are planning something.”

There was no point in denying it. “Yes.”

Raider looked hurt. “Why can’t I know about it? Why don’t you trust me?”

“Gods, Raider, it’s not that. Of course I trust you. It’s all the eyes and ears—”

“Bullshit. You could have talked to me before we left Kastari. Because I can see it now. You were planning something all along. If it’s not a question of trust, then it’s because you know I won’t like it.”

At whatever Seth’s face revealed—because, goddamn it, that was exactly right—Raider’s right eye flared gold. Seth had spent a long time assuming that eye, like Raider’s other, was arcane, only in a different way. But after what Julian had told him about Raider being not quite … human, Seth was growing increasingly certain that that eye was real after all. It reminded him of Adavasti’s eyes. They, too, sometimes brightened.

Seth took a deep breath and said, “I’ll tell you”—what choice did he have now?—“but please, first, tell me what you were looking at out in the desert.”

Fear flitted through Raider’s eyes. “I’m afraid to tell you.”

“Why?”

“Because …” Raider looked out across the dunes. “I’m afraid it’s in my head. I saw it earlier too, then it was gone. A lot of things have been in my head lately, and … shit, Seth, I’m …” Raider’s chest started heaving. “I’m scared of what it means. I’m scared I’m going crazy.”

“Oh, baby, fuck. Come here. It’s okay.” Seth tugged at him.

Raider’s sleeve dashed across his eyes. “It’s not okay.”

“It is okay. Gods, come here.”

Raider yielded and let Seth pull him close. As Raider’s arms hooked around him, holding tight, Seth felt a surge of frustration. They needed time and a safe space. Raider needed to rest and have a chance to sort through everything.

That was why Seth was doing this. He was going to find that for Raider. For them both. Regardless of the consequences.

Raider’s breathing was shallow. He was trembling. Shit, he really was scared. And this was the man who went charging at giant scorpions and every other danger.

Kahzir had done this to him. Made him not trust himself, not trust his own mind. Gods, it made Seth so damn angry.

Holding Raider against him, Seth asked, “What are you seeing?”

“I keep thinking I’m seeing someone, but then it’s nothing.”

“Someone?”

“Watching us.”