Page 43 of The Alliance

Kingsley asked, “What will you do to Glimmer for attempting to get inside?”

Yeah, my mate wasn’t great at subtle. He was a straight-forward kind of person, in his way.

I wasn’t complaining.

Lady Hoskins turned her eyes on Kingsley and my chest clenched, but she merely looked for a second and then said, “I understand his desire to see it. He has not done any harm. I will ask that you do not try to enter again without my permission.”

I really, really should have said yes. That was all I needed to do.

But I wanted to make sure first.

“Enter again? Am I allowed to see it first?”

It might have been my imagination but I thought I saw her lips twitch into what might – just might – have been the faintest smile.

“Yes, Glimmer, I give you permission to enter the Hoskins armoury.”

I couldn’t believe it.

The old Lord Somerville hadn’t allowed anyone inside our armoury and I’d only been granted access once I’d actuallybecomethe Guardian, meaning I hadn’t known until that point what items I’d have to help me keep my family safe.

Yet here was Lady Hoskins, granting me access to her armoury like I was, what, one of the family?

I was too overwhelmed to answer. All I could do was bow my head deeply, showing her the respect she deserved and the gratitude I felt. I took my eyes off her, making myself vulnerable and showing her that I trusted her in return. She must trust me and my family a great deal to do this.

Her voice wasn’t sharp but it wasn’t soft, either. She was demonstrating trust but she wasn’t completely relaxed about it.

“Lew, Darren, you will supervise the Somervilles as they enter our armoury. No more than two at a time.” She levelled her gaze on me again and added, “Please do not touch anything without permission.”

I shook my head. I only wanted to see. I needed to know they had enough weapons that they could fight and defend the castle if they needed to.

“I will defend your clan with my life, Lady Hoskins.”

From where he was standing beside her, I could see Dimpy blinking at me as though I’d said something strange, but Lady Hoskins nodded. I reckon she understood me. It had been an answer to her implied question.

She turned to leave, and her mate followed closely behind her.

Anthony – standing close beside Dimpy – asked, “Nana’s not going to stay?

I shook my head. “She won’t like seeing it. She wants to be away from the temptation to stop us seeing a place inside her territory that might make it vulnerable.”

“But she’s letting you see it,” said Anthony. “That means she trusts you.”

Kingsley butted in. “We’re honoured by her trust. We shall not betray it. Her clan will ensure the armoury is protected while we are inside it.”

I could almost see Anthony’s interest spark. “Is that something dragons worry about? Are you connected to the armoury?”

Dimpy took his mate’s arm and began steering him down the corridor. “I’ll tell you all about it in the library.”

Matty put his hands on his hips and summoned his mate like a pet dog. “Dum, come here. Stay with me.”

“But I want to stay here and watch the Somervilles in our armoury.”

“You don’t, you want to stay and annoy Kingsley.”

“I thought he might want to spar with me for a while in the training room.”

Kingsley wasn’t given time to answer. Matty said, “No, he doesn’t.”

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