Walk This Way

AARYN

The tension between Gar and Elreth crackled—not with excitement or thrill as Aaryn felt with her sometimes. But with a weight of evaluation that frightened even Aaryn.

What had passed between these two that Elreth seemed suddenly frightened of her brother? Or, maybe more accurately, what her brother could do? Aaryn knew she wasn't scared of fighting him physically. So why did she seem nervous that he was here, stepping into responsibility—something she'd been urging him to do for years?

Aaryn looked back and forth between them, but they stared at each other as if they were unaware that anyone else was even present.

"So… is this some kind of initiation?" Gar said, the edge of humor in his voice. "Do I have to run naked through the City and prove my allegiance, El?"

It was the wrong thing to say and Aaryn's stomach sank. Even Gar seemed to realize as soon as the words left his mouth that this wasn't the time to taunt her.