Page 35 of The Crown's Shadow

“Ihavethought about it! It’s the only thing I have thought about since . . .” Graeson hesitated. The truth had to come out. Now or never. He took a deep breath in, then exhaled. “Since Fynn told me he had sensed something was off.”

Dani, having begun to reach for him, froze. Her hand hung in the air as if something was pushing against it. “What do you mean?”

Graeson started to pace in the middle of the training field. Fynn wasn’t here to help. It was only Graeson’s word Dani had to go off. As crazy as Graeson was about to sound, hopefully, his friend could still find the strength to trust him.

He took a deep breath, preparing himself for the ridicule he was about to face. “Fynn told me that when he would try to read Kalisandre’s mind, there was a wall stopping him from reading her thoughts. As if something—orsomeone—was pushing back against him. A barrier. He could only pick up certain thoughts as if he was being spoon-fed them.”

Dani huffed, shaking her head. “Come on, Gray, that’s ridiculous.”

Graeson scoffed, spinning on his heel to face Dani head-on. “Then why didn’t Fynn know she was a traitor? Fynn should have been able to read her mind. Haven’t you wondered why he couldn’t see it coming?”

“He’s not a seer, Graeson! He’s—” Dani hissed. Her shoulders dropped. “Hewasonly a mind reader. There were limitations to his gift.”

Sneering, Graeson shook his head.

A breeze brushed over him, and Graeson welcomed the cool air’s kiss on his sweat-slicked skin.

Dani tilted her head up to the sky. “Okay, fine. Fynn’s strength over his gift was beyond exceptional. However, maybe Kallie’s a fast learner. Maybe her ability to manipulate minds has given her a stronger handle on her own mind.”

“Seriously?” Graeson pushed a hand through his hair. “You know it’s not as simple as that!”

Dani’s face contorted as she thought of any other possible explanation. Any reason thatwouldn’tsuggest Fynn wasn’t as strong as everyone had believed him to be.

But she wouldn’t find another reason.

Graeson approached Dani, placing a hand on her shoulder. “That’s why Fynn didn’t know that Kalisandre had given a message to the soldier in Borgania. He couldn’t read her thoughts, Dani. Not all of them.”

“But that’s—”

“Impossible?” Graeson suggested, his hand falling to his side. “Is it really?”

Dani said nothing as her gaze dropped to the ground once again. Then she grabbed his shoulders. “Look, Gray. I want to believe you. I know how hard it is to lose someone you care about, but are you sure you’re not reading into this too much?”

“There has only been one other person he couldn’t read, Dani.” Graeson shook off her hands. “Me.”

Dani’s natural warm hue drained from her face. She was undoubtedly thinking of the ramifications of having two people who were more like monsters than humans. But that wasn’t what Graeson was suggesting. He knew where Kalisandre came from.

She wasn’t like him. No one was.

However, before he could say that, Dani responded. “We both know you’re different, Gray. Fynn probably just let his feelings get in the way. You know how hopeful he was about having his sister back.”

That may have been true, but as hopeful as the twins were to rescue their sister, Dani was the first to say she would save Kalisandre the first time. However, the fire that had once burned bright within Dani had been extinguished.

“That’s not true,” Graeson countered. “As your father said, there’s more at work here than we think. Someone is manipulating her. Someone has tangled her mind and warped it into something that is not hers anymore.”

Dani shook her head. “She’s not your problem. If that letter is proof of anything, she is not yours, Graeson.”

His feet stopped propelling him. Body immobile, Graeson closed his eyes as Dani twisted the knife deeper into his heart. His voice was ice on his tongue. “She wears my mother’s ring, Dani. She is more mine than she is his.”

“Graeson,” Dani warned, and in that one word, Graeson could sense the pity that filled every letter of his name.

He hated it.

“I have heard Esmeray talk about your mother’s vision many times, and you no doubt have heard Esmeray repeat it more than I have. So, you know as well as I do then that there is one path here that does not unite the two of you. One path that will cut that thread.”

The muscles in his jaw ticked. Through clenched teeth, he gritted out, “This isnotthat path, Dani. I have felt it. I sensed the connection between us.”

“Soul bonds or not, there is always a choice.” Dani sighed, taking a step forward. “Even if you can save her, she might choose not to accept the bond.”