Free Songs of the Earth by Lexi Ander Page B

that night…"
    "Nathan " I started.
"No. Let me finish. I called you selfish. I called you a coward. I told you that you'd brought dishonor on our house, on our name. I only agreed to help you because I thought you'd drag Theo through the council proceeding to teach him a lesson and then be smart and forgive him and take him back."
Ushna grunted under his breath and drew closer. Nathan looked at Ushna and said, "I didn't know what Theo had done."
I snorted in disgust at Nathan, causing him to look back at me.
"You told me what you saw and I didn't believe you. Since the blessing of Shamash, there has never been a recorded case of betrayal. It doesn't didn'thappen. I thought you misread what you saw, Tristan.
"You insisted on the Breaking and I saw the poisoning and I still didn't understand. You almost died…" Nathan's voice broke, tears flowing unchecked down his cheeks. "You were so sick and the only one you'd allow near you was Ushna, and then you left. Things started to come out about the people who slept with Theo. More came forward and by then it was too late. You were gone and you weren't talking to me. All these years, it's been Ushna who called and let us know you were okay. Until this last call…" Nathan's voice hitched again with emotion. "I thought…" Nathan crossed the room and went down on his knees in front of me. "I said terrible things and I thought you hated me. You can hate me as long as you're happy."
I ran my hands over my face, hiding my eyes and struggling to control my emotions. All this time I'd thought my brother believed me to be this horrible coward.
"Tristan, are you happy?"
I felt Ushna's comforting touch on the back of my head. Nathan gazed at me and tried to collect my thoughts.
I dropped my hands and looked at my elder brother. "I never hated you, Nate. I was hurt. It took so long to heal." I rubbed my hand soothingly on Ushna's thigh. "And yes, I'm extremely happy."
A wave of relief washed over Nathan's features and he laid his forehead on my knees and cried silently. I ran my hand over the his shoulders to calm him. Neesie knelt next to Nathan and wrapped a slender arm around him. We let him get it all out. Years of worry and fear were released. I may not have cried alongside my big brother, but it didn't mean I was unmoved. I'd already spent my time with silent sorrows and this didn't make me sad. I had my family back and I couldn't have been happier.
After Nathan wound down, he settled in a chair across from me and I took a good look at my brother. He'd always been handsome, but he'd gained a certain air about him it I couldn't quite put my finger on. It was a change in him that was tangible.
"Why are there so many warriors here?" Nathan asked, breaking the silence that had fallen in the room. I wished I had a little longer to enjoy having my brother back before we got into this. Ushna took my hand and Gregori rubbed the back of my neck. I might as well get this over with.
"I was hoping you could tell me." Nathan gave me a questioning glance as I stood and lifted my shirt to reveal the double helix of iridescent snakes on my torso. He paled so quickly I thought he was going to pass out. Neesie gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, eyes wide.
Nathan jumped up and grabbed my shirt, forcing it down. He tried to pull me toward the door.
"I need to get you out of here now. I have to hide you." Nathan was bordering on frantic.
I attempted to pull away from him but his grip was unyielding and he relentlessly dragged me toward the door.
"Nathan, stop!" I pried at his fingers.
"Let him go!" Ushna reached toward Nathan, but Nathan dodged him. He lifted me in a fireman's carry, momentarily driving the air out of me.
"Nathan!" Ushna roared. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the warriors in the hall block the doorway and Nathan's only way of escape.
"You don't understand, Ushna, I've got to get him to safety. He's in danger."
"So help me, Nathan, if you don't put Tristan down, related or not,