Page 42 of Lies Within the Darkest Tower

I shoveled a spoonful of porridge into my mouth, surprised — and yet with everything I’d seen so far, not that surprise — that it was good: creamy and nutty and slightly sweet. Best not to say anything. Just let them think I was an idiot, no matter how much it stung.

“Really?” the large fae asked, sounding genuinely surprised. “I thought all humans knew not to use the ring in the Gray after dark.”

“They’re supposed to,” another man said as he joined the group. He was human with a shaved head and a deeply tanned complexion like Edred and probably around the same age but without the cruel gleam in his pale eyes. He sat on the other side of the large fae and used the edge of his piece of bread to scoop up his porridge instead of a spoon. “You turn sixteen, your name goes in the lottery, and the village priest tells you everything you need to know.”

“Is that how it worked for you?” the thin fae asked him.

“Yeah, but I had two older brothers and already knew everything before the priest visited our house,” the man replied.

“So, the only way this idiot didn’t know was if he thought he was too noble to be selected and didn’t pay attention,” Grefin said around a mouthful of bread.

The other human’s gaze jerked up to me. “You’re a noble?”

Damn, was that going to be another detail that drew attention to me?

“Unless—” The thin fae frowned. “What’s your name?”

“Sawyer,” I replied, remembering to keep my voice gruff.

“I’m Kit. This is my mate Payne and our teammate, Lewin,” Kit said. “And Sawyer might not know if he doesn’t have any older brothers and hadn’t talked to the priest yet,” he said to Grefin.

Grefin huffed. “The priests talk to everyone on their sixteenth birthday.”

Except the priest wouldn’t have talked with Sawyer because he wasn’t sixteen and he was the heir to Herstind March.

But I couldn’t draw attention to that, either.

Even if there was a chance that I could convince the Lord Commander that Sawyer didn’t belong here, I couldn’t take it. Everyone would get stuck on the fact that I was a girl and that I didn’t belong and that Sawyer had shirked his duty, and I couldn’t risk them hauling him back to the Gray and having the premonition of his death come true.

“I didn’t realize it got dark in the Gray earlier than elsewhere,” I said. “I won’t make that mistake again.” Not that I was ever going to be allowed to leave the Gray… until they discovered the truth. Then I doubted I’d be free to go anywhere, let alone return here. Not that I’d want to.

And if I was smart, I’d get away from these men before they asked more questions or looked at me more closely.

“I’ve got chores.” I grabbed my tray but had no idea where to go or what to do with it.

“You have a bit of time before the second bell,” Talon said, drawing my attention again, capturing me in his mesmerizing swirling gaze.

My breath caught in my throat and the need he’d awaken, that I’d explored in my dream but hadn’t come close to satisfying, swelled hot and slick between my thighs.

Shadows he was beautiful! And I knew what he looked like naked?—

And I had to remember no matter how nice he was to me, I couldn’t trust him. I couldn’t trust anyone. Anyone of them could turn on me as easily as Talon had in my dream and I couldn’t ever let myself forget that.

CHAPTER 27

Sage

“I’ve already madea bad impression on the Lord Commander,” I said, making Grefin huff and Talon shoot him a dark look. “I, ah…”

As if speaking of him made him appear, the Lord Commander strode through the doorway across from me, looking just as gruff and beautiful and imposing as he had been last night in the bailey when he’d been mad at me.

His dark hair — which was indeed black, not brown, with a silver streak at his left temple — was half down, reaching his shoulders, and half pulled back in a topknot to keep it out of his face, and he still wore all his sheathed weapons as if he was always ready for battle?—

And now that I thought about it, every man I’d seen had been armed with at least a sword and dagger, even those working in the kitchen. Payne even had two swords and the man on the bench behind him had a large ax strapped to his back. Edred and Sawyer had only worn their weapons inside for ceremonies, and Edred’s men had only had weapons when they were on guard duty or hunting brigands.

The Lord Commander’s dark gaze landed on me and his scowl deepened.

Yeah, not even a hint of the kindness I’d given him in my dream.

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