Page 32 of The Turncoat King

It drew the battle lines.

Luc and her on one side, his old Chosen camp friends on the other.

The gesture eased the last of the unreasonable hurt she’d felt.

“She’s bespelled you.” Revek looked surprised that the words had come out of his mouth and he snapped his jaw closed with a clink of teeth. He closed his eyes and breathed in, and then opened them.

“Want to start again?” Luc asked. His mild tone was deceptive.

Ava could feel the tension in his fingers as they gripped her shoulder.

“I apologize for attacking you earlier.” Revek’s fists were clenched.

Her cloak was still over her shoulders, and Ava could feel the tingle of danger.

“Commander?” A soldier poked a head in, took in the tableau, and reared back a little. “Sorry, I can come ba—”

“No.” Massi sounded relieved. “What is it?”

“The scout parties from the Kassian side have doubled since the Venyatu column joined us.” The soldier’s gaze landed on Ava, and she could sense the curiosity from him. “They’re coming closer, too.”

“Double our own patrols, then. I know it’s usually Massi’s task, but Dak, can you see to it right now?”

Massi’s lips thinned at Luc’s words, and Dak glanced between them before nodding and leaving with the soldier.

“You don’t trust me to run the patrols anymore?” Massi asked.

“I don’t trust you to come back and finish what I asked you to do.” Luc shrugged. “Am I wrong?”

Massi was silent for a beat and then gave a sigh. “No. I’m sorry, Ava. I shouldn’t have done what I did. I have no excuse.”

She also didn’t like Ava, according to the working in Ava’s cloak. But her cloak’s warnings seemed to be getting more sensitive, she’d noticed over the last few days. She had worked in a protection spell, layering it a few times against specific threats, but it had become so fined-tuned it was now a barometer of how people felt about her.

“Apology accepted.”

You can accept apologies graciously, her grandmother had always said.Doesn’t mean you forget, or ever trust the same way again.

Massi seemed surprised at how easy it had been. She opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. “Thank you. I look forward to getting to know you.”

Everyone turned to Revek. His fists were still clenched and he was looking down, but he slowly raised his head.

“I am sorry, too. You did nothing to warrant my attack. I don’t remember it, or why I started it, but I am sorry you came close to being hurt.”

Ava inclined her head. “Again, accepted.”

He nodded, then turned on his heel and walked out of the tent.

Massi looked like she was going to go after him, then stopped and turned back. “He wouldn’t have done it if I hadn’t been playing stupid games. It’s my fault. It’s been a shock, having him get lost in the rage after so long. I’ll go make sure he’s all right.”

She walked out, and for a moment, there was nothing but silence around them.

“Thank you for accepting their apologies.”

Ava turned to Luc. He was still focused on the tent flaps behind which Massi had just disappeared.

“They’re your family more than your friends. And families can be difficult.”

He glanced at her, and his mouth quirked.

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