Page 87 of Ashes of Betrayal

Bree observed the chaos around her before murmuring an oath under her breath.

In response, Lara cut her a weary smile. As soon as the audience was over, she’d insisted on bringing Gil here.

However, Bree’s brother wore a guarded expression. Like her, he wasn’t sure what Lara was up to.

“My father never hired an archivist, even though he needed one,” Lara said finally. “Some of the scrolls in here were written by his great, great grandsire. It’s a mess … one that will take years to sort out.” She paused then, sympathy shadowing her green eyes. “I know it’s not the life you wish for, Gil … but the role is yours.”

Gil’s gaze jerked to her, surprise lighting in his eyes. “You’re offering me a position here?”

Lara smiled. “Aye, if you want it.”

He stared back at her, a nerve flickering under one eye. An awkward silence swelled in the alcove then before he swallowed and dropped his gaze. “Very well, I accept,” he said gruffly.

Bree flashed Lara an apologetic look for her brother’s lack of grace. However, her friend merely shrugged. She then focused on him once more. “We will meet again in a few days … and you can advise me on how you plan to catalog all of this.”

Gil nodded. Then, following Bree’s swift elbow to the ribs, he remembered his manners. “Thank you … Your Highness.”

38: BRIEF AND BEAUTIFUL

“THANK THE GODS, that’s all over,” Lara sank down into a chair by the hearth and took the cup of wine Mirren handed her. “I was dreading my return to Duncrag … and how everyone would react.”

The day was done, and they’d retired to Lara’s bower to share some wine. From tomorrow—once she took the throne—she’d be expected to move into her parents’ quarters. But she’d spend tonight here in her old bower—a small yet richly furnished space. Furs covered the floor and colorful hangings draped from the walls. The air smelled of lavender and rosemary. When she’d resided at Duncrag, Bree had spent many afternoons in this bower with the princess, chatting to her by the fireside as she attempted to learn how to sew and spin.

“You dealt with everything well,” she answered, seating herself opposite Lara. “And if you were nervous, no one noticed.”

“Aye, they were too busy staring atyou,” Lara said, eyeing Bree over the rim of her cup. “Having a Shee warrior as my counselor and warder has caused quite a scandal.”

Mirren poured another cup of wine and held it out to her. Bree took it with a tired smile. “Are you regretting it?”

“No,” Lara replied. “Are you?”

Their gazes met, and the challenge in her friend’s pine-green eyes made Bree’s smile widen. “Not yet.” She wouldn’t admitit, but she’d found this afternoon even more draining than she anticipated.

Their gazes held for a few moments before Bree’s smile faded and she looked away. “I thought you’d blame me for your brother’s death,” she admitted softly. “After all,Iwarned the Raven Queen about the Marav ambush.”

“I wanted to … initially.” Bree glanced up to see a sad smile curving Lara’s mouth. “But you did try to stop the Shee attack, and that redeems you in my eyes.”

Bree stared back at her, even as a blend of guilt and relief clutched at her chest. Lara’s good opinion mattered to her.

“I think Bree was a wise choice, Your Highness,” Mirren volunteered then, as she retreated to a stool a few feet back from the hearth. “You wanted someone to protect you … well, the folk here are too wary of your warder to come within a few yards of her. No ruler of Albia has ever been safer.”

Bree snorted at this, while Lara arched an eyebrow. “Aye, that’s right.” Her attention focused on Bree once more. “I watched you fight in the north … I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Warmth stole over Bree then, and she realized she was embarrassed by her friend’s earnest praise. “I’m over three hundred years old,” she murmured. “I’ve had time to practice.” Both Lara and Mirren’s gazes widened at this admission, and she chuckled. “I’m still very young by Shee standards … my people live into the thousands of years.”

Lara took a large gulp of wine before giving her head a rueful shake. “We must seem … like children to you.”

“Not at all,” she replied honestly. “The opposite.” Her gaze held Lara’s for a moment before she glanced over at Mirren. “I’ve learned much from you both.”

Mirren’s mouth quirked. “What … how to play dice?”

Bree gave a soft snort. “Aye, but so much more besides.” She paused then, the warmth in her chest building before she pushedon. She’d be candid with these women—she owed them that. “Before meeting you both, I didn’t have any friends. I scorned female company as something that was beneath me … but I never realized how lonely I was until I came to live at Duncrag” —she swallowed then to ease the sudden tightness in her throat— “until youbothshowed me what I’d been missing.”

Cailean was sleeping soundly when Bree slipped into the sleeping nook next to him. It had been a long day, and she was relieved to bid Lara and Mirren goodnight and retire.

Snores rumbled through the alcove, although the noise wasn’t coming from her husband. Skaal was curled up next to the glowing hearth on the other side of their quarters.

Ignoring the fae hound, Bree propped herself up on an elbow and gazed down at Cailean. Even exhausted, his chest wrapped in bandages, he was beautiful.

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