Nathan shook his head and let out a laugh, brief and disbelieving. "You jest," he said, voice caught between amusement and caution.
But Darius didn't so much as twitch. His face remained still, solemn…grave, even. Nathan's chuckle died in his throat.
"You lie," Nathan said again, this time softer, trying to read him better.
"I am being honest," Darius replied, calm as ever, though the air between them had grown tight.
Nathan leaned back slowly into the chair, his hand dragging through his hair. "How in all of Kaldora did that happen?" he asked, as though he truly couldn't find the logic in it.
Darius hesitated. He let Nathan stew a moment in the tension before he said, "It was autumn, early. Emmett had gone out on a scouting expedition, took his daughter Annamarie, and Jack. The western ridges from what I recall."
