Page 94 of Silver & Gold
“I don’t understand.”
“I don’t care.”
Frustrated, Seth glanced at the golden statue. “You called this the Alchemist. The Alchemist? As in—”
Seth cut off as he looked toward Soroush again—and found him gone.
CHAPTER 29
“SETH!” RAIDER SHOUTED as loud as he could from the middle of a bridge. Barefooted, having thrown on only his sarong, he raced across it and darted down one of Jannat’s stone paths, which lay pale in the predawn light.
He drew breath to shout again—and Seth came tearing around a corner. Raider’s shout turned into a garbled cry. Seth sprinted his way with a speed belying his heavy build. Expression intense, Seth practically barreled into him.
“What happened?” Seth demanded, grabbing Raider’s arms.
The relief was so intense that Raider sagged in Seth’s grip and struggled to respond.
Frantic eyes darting over Raider, Seth demanded, “Are you okay? Goddamn it, Raider, answer me!”
Anger swept in, drowning out his relief. He yanked free of Seth’s grip. “Where the hell have you been? I woke up and you were gone.”
“Goddamn it, Raider, you scared the shit out of me, shouting my name like that!” Seth snatched at Raider again and hauled him in, crushing him against his chest.
“Scared you?” Raider retorted, pushing back against Seth. “I’m not the one who vanished! Where have you been? You must have left during the night. Seth, why the hell would you—”
“There was something I had to see. I’m sorry I scared you. I thought I’d be back before you woke up.”
Raider yanked free again. “What the hell do you have to sneak around for?”
“I wasn’t sneaking—”
“Yes, you fucking were!”
“Fine! Okay, yes, I guess I was sneaking—”
“You guess,” Raider sneered.
“But I needed to look into something, and I didn’t want it to be a problem.”
“Well, it is a problem, Seth. You don’t sneak off in the night like that. Something could’ve happened to you!”
Seth pulled a face. “So much for you thinking this place is so damn safe.”
“Fuck you, Seth, that’s not fair. And besides, it’s more that I thought—ah, shit, never mind.” Chest tight, Raider turned away and crossed his arms, looking out over the green and blue of Jannat.
Seth was silent behind him. Completely still. Then he said quietly, “You thought I left you.”
The landscape blurred.
“Oh, baby.”
Tears spilled down Raider’s cheeks. Goddamn it. “Never mind, Seth. It was stupid. I just panicked, that’s all.”
Footsteps approached. Then Seth’s arms slid around Raider’s ribcage, under his crossed arms. Raider found himself tugged back against Seth.
“Baby, why would you think that?”
“I don’t know. I guess … I know you’re angry with me and …” Raider shrugged. “I don’t know. I said it was stupid, okay?”