Page 29 of The Turncoat King

She slowed down, careful to avoid bumping into anyone, keeping to the shadows.

She didn’t think the see-me-not working she’d embroidered into her scarf was true invisibility, but she had found people’s eyes seemed to pass over her. As long as she didn’t make a noise or get in their way, she went where she liked without being noticed.

When she reached the edge of the Rising Wave, she suddenly stopped.

Where was she going?

Back to her tent to lick her wounds?

It felt like a defeat.

Like Luc’s friends had won and she was the one in retreat.

She turned back the way she had come, and saw Luc striding down a narrow walkway between tents, parallel to her own route, heading for the Venyatux side.

She pulled her scarf off, walked to intercept him.

“Looking for me?” she asked.

He stopped short. Stared at her. “Yes.”

“All I did was go looking for you,” she said. He opened his mouth and she lifted a hand to stop him. “Wait. I went looking for you, announced myself, and I was attacked. First that woman pulled a knife on me, and then Revek came at me with a throwing knife, a sword and then his bare hands. I don’t understand.” She passed a hand over her forehead, to push back her hair again. “I was just wondering how I was going to survive when you arrived.”

“There’s no excuse for it.” Luc seemed lost. And angry. “I wanted to make sure you were all right before I go speak to them. Did he hurt you?”

Her hand crept up to her shoulder, which was throbbing, but less so now she had her cloak on. She had worked healing into it when she’d come off worse in a sparring match, and had been delighted it worked. She was just as delighted now.

“Your shoulder?” He stepped closer but she stiffened and he stopped.

“He clipped me, that’s all.”

“Where will you be? I’ve been looking for you all afternoon, and to find you like that . . .” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Please tell me where I can find you after I’ve dealt with Massi and Rev.”

“I’m going to the bath tent. I need to soak for a bit after that. You can find me there.” She gathered her cloak tightly around her for comfort, and started across the narrow divide between the columns.

“Ava.”

She turned to look at him.

“I won’t let this come between us.”

She said nothing to that, simply turned and walked away. Because she didn’t know if that was even possible any more.

Chapter 10

Luc watched Ava vanish into the darkness on the Venyatu side, and felt as if she had slipped from his fingers. She was right to wonder how they had stumbled into this nightmare.

His life since he’d broken free of the Chosen camps had been as he’d decided it. He had taken back control of his life, and had made certain no one would have power over him again.

This . . . whatever this was . . . left him feeling as if he was back in the dark, helpless days when he was at the mercy of those who actively despised him.

A movement caught his attention, and he turned his head as Dak stepped out between two tents.

“This is worse than the old days,” he said, surprised at how steady his voice was. “At least then, you knew they hated you, and you expected them to make your life a living hell. This was done by two people I considered my family.”

Dak shuffled his feet. “I’m a culprit, too, with my attitude toward her yesterday. But I swear I had no idea this was coming.”

“We were just talking about Ava this afternoon.” Luc shook his head. Turned toward his tent. “Where’s Revek?”

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