Page 47 of Shadows and Runes
I thought that's what I was doing.
“Thosemenhanging around you. I can see the way they look at you, Rhys.”His eyes pinch together.
“And the way you look at them.” He raises a brow at me, a question in his look.
I could understand Jace, but who else was he talking about. I’d only been around a few others for longer than a few minutes; Cole, Lucien, and Ilyric, and he couldn’t possibly be talking about them, right?
I mean, Ilyric was an arrogant ass, only recently showing a softer side, but an ass nonetheless.
I didn’t really know much about Cole, but he seemed dependable, his eyes unreadable like stone most of the time, with small and soft expressions when least expected. And Lucien…he was a mystery, always looking as if everything going on around him was boring and trivial. His eyes dark and deep, as if peering into your soul, and his gazealwaysfinding me.
My brows synch together. Maybe Isaac was confused about what was going on, probably only seeing me with them when he’s around and jumping to assumptions.
I also haven’t had the time to tell him about Jace and the mate bond yet. That’s going to be an interesting talk. But one for when all this is done and we have the time.
“Rhys, I'm just saying…you need to be careful.” Isaac lets out a shaky breath, pulling me from my wandering thoughts as he scrubs a weary hand down his face.
“We don't know these people or what they’re capable of.”
Maybe not all of them, and notfully, but they hadn’t shown me anything to worry about or doubt yet. They have only given help and shown that they were dependable, more than evenIthought they would be.
“There might be more than just one traitor. We have to take that in as a possibility. We trust no-one but ourselves.” He gives me a firm and commanding look.
But we already dealt with Gregori…
Just as I’m about to tell him that, he cuts me off before I can speak.
“The Prismaloct was destroyed.” My eyes widen.
“How?” It was in Isaiah's office. Who could’ve done that?
A dark mask hardens his facial features as he continues.
“I found it smashed to pieces on the office floor, just as I brought the last fragment from the storeroom.”
My shoulders drop as I drag a shaky hand down my face. It feels like we take one step forward to be thrown three steps back.“Wait,but it was fine earlier when I was in the room with the guys.”
“Exactly. Only me, you, andthosefour knew about it.” He gives me a dark look.
No…he’s wrong. There wasoneother. The person who overheard me and the guys, the one that told the Library group…and that could’ve been Gregori.
Maybe he did this before he came to attack me in the basement?
“No, Isaac. It’s not them. It could’ve been Gre—”
“Rhys,” Isaac cuts me off, his voice turning cold. “You don't even know them.” His tone is sharper and clipped, his eye darker and void of emotion. “You can’t put your trust blindlyin people just because you want tofuckthem.” His words cut like a blade, never before hearing such anger from him.
His face stiffens, a slight look of confusion etched across his features before he shakes it off. Returning with a regretful look toward me.
“Rhys…I’m sorry, I don’t know why I…I didn't mean that.” He sighs, his face dropping and shoulders hunching forward, his eyes full of regret as he glances toward me.
“I haven't been getting much sleep lately and not feeling myself, and now all this.” He gestures around us, exhaustion taking over his face. “But that’s no excuse.”
Looking closer, he had large dark circles under his eyes, and his face was much paler than usual. He needed to get some rest.
“I shouldneverhave taken it out on you.” His face softens slightly as he stares at me, a pained expression in his eyes. I give him a small nod. I can see he’s exhausted and regretting his words. I could always kick his assafterhe got some rest.
“I just don't want anything happening to you.” His brows scrunch together before he looks away. He clears his throat, not used to displaying such tender emotions.