Page 27 of A Legacy of Storms and Starlight

If Jilah could hide in plain sight, so would she.

She was thinking of Jilah and the children as she tucked into a canna cake that Holt had just handed her. He’d brought her one every day, without fail, regardless of what the tavern staff brought them for breakfast.

“Train me,” she said through a mouthful of warm canna cake. It wasn’t as good as Mrs Andell’s. It wasn’t as good as his, either, but she’d never admit that.

“Train me so I can join the Fae uprising.” Perhaps she wouldn’t have to run. Perhaps she could join a cause worthy of risking her life for.

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

“Then don’t promise. Just do it.”

Holt gazed out of the window, eyes darting across the rooftops. “I thought you wanted to live.”

“I do. But I also want to make a difference.”

“It’s dangerous,” he said, turning his attention to her.

Zylah pushed away from the table. “Well, it’s a good thing you’re not really my husband, because it isn’t your decision to make.”

He blinked, but she couldn’t read his expression. A few weeks with him and she still couldn’t read him at all.

“You’re right. It isn’t,” he said softly.

But she wouldn’t let his tone soften her anger. She stormed into the bathroom to get herself ready for the day.It’s dangerous.She was well acquainted with danger.

“What is this?” Holt asked from the bedroom, irritation lining his voice.

So he’d found the money, then.

“I told you, I wanted to start repaying you as soon as I could. Jilah just gave me my first pay yesterday.” She needed to spend it on supplies. Needed to save if she was going to keep moving, but she owed him. She fixed her hair, checking the roots. The erti root would need to be topped up soon.

Holt rested against the door frame, watching her in the mirror, hands sliding into his pockets. “Do you repay all your friends in coin?”

“I… I only had one friend.” The fire fell away from her words when she thought of Kara’s dainty face.

“Well now you have two,” Holt said, holding out the money for her.

She squeezed past him without taking the money from his hand. She had no intention of taking it back. Even if she had to wash the same clothes in the bath for a month. “Please, Holt. I need to do this. I—”

“I’ve no need for your money, Zylah. Just live your life, that’s repayment enough.” He was still in the bathroom doorway, this time facing out into the room, eyes following her as she gathered her things.

She hated that she relied on him for so much. That she couldn’t provide for herself. “What aboutyourlife? Surely you don’t intend to keep this up forever. Soon enough Arran will realise we’re not married.” She straightened her bedsheets, trying to hide her frustration.

“Has it ever occurred to you that I like the company? That I like seeing that little pile of feathers on the dresser when I come back at the end of the day, or hearing you clatter around in the bathroom, or knowing someone else is here when I wake in the middle of the night, is—” he took a step closer.

“I do not clatter,” she said, heat flushing her cheeks.

He put the money back on the dresser, slid his hands back in his pockets again. “You do clatter. And you get water everywhere.”

Zylah rolled her eyes, scooped up the coins and tugged at one of the hands he’d shoved into his pockets. “I can’t rely on you; I have to do this.”

Holt didn’t budge. “Oh, you can’t?”

Gods. Now you’ve offended him.“Just take it, Holt.”

Kopi hooed from his spot on the dresser.

“Will you also insist on giving Kopi coin?” Holt asked.

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