Page 61 of Blood Weaver
“Good,” Silas said. “Three days from the stroke of midnight, be prepared to leave.” He turned and swiftly left my tent.
Henry rushed inside with worry etched on his face. “Is everything okay, Miss Leila?”
“Yes, Henry,” I murmured as I stared at the tent flaps where Silas had exited. “Everything is fine.”
19
Ispent the rest of the day alone in my tent, contemplating my conversation with Sir Edric. For starters, it was surreal to speak to him. Because his death was so sudden, I’d never gotten closure and spent years ruminating on what I could have or should have done. Beyond the sense of closure, I was decidedly uncomfortable in the Crimson Clan’s camp. I still didn’t know where we were, and based on Sir Edric’s warning, they were not to be trusted.
I was sitting at the table, stirring the bowl of medicine the healer left for me when the flaps of my tent opened and Ronan strode in with a bright smile and two massive jugs of wine. “Your wish is my command,” he declared as he approached and placed the two jugs on the table. “I hope these will be enough. It wasn’t easy stealing them from the Rose Petal.”
My brows shot up. “Youstolethem?”
He smirked. “It’s not like I can walk through the front door, Leila. I’m a wanted man.”
I chuckled. “Right. Of course.”
He frowned. “Are you okay? You don’t seem like … yourself.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just trying to work up the nerve to take this bitter medicine the healer concocted for me. If only I had something sweet to eat it with.” Though not the truth, it wasn’t solely a lie, either. The medicine smelled disgusting.
Ronan sat down across from me and his grin spread. “Well, you’re in luck, then.” He pulled a wrapped bundle from inside his vest, then unfolded the cloth to reveal two moon cakes. “Selene told me these were your favorites.”
My eyes widened. “You saw Selene?”
He nodded. “I thought you might want to know how she’s doing.”
I leaned toward him and gripped his hand. “Is she okay?”
He nodded again. “She’s doing well. Luckily, Marcellus paid Madam Rose enough so she no longer has to entertain. She spends much of her time in her room or in the back garden, but she’s surrounded by Valorian guards at every turn.”
“At least she’s not working,” I muttered.
Ronan offered me the moon cakes. “Go on; take some so you can drink your medicine.”
I gave a tight smile before grabbing one and taking a bite, then quickly drinking the medicine. Thankfully, the bitterness was absolved by the sweetness of the moon cake.
Ronan uncorked one of the wine jugs with a pop and slid it toward me. “A Thousand Roses, just what you’ve been craving.”
I watched Ronan for a moment. He was behaving much … sweeter than he normally did. Was there a sinister purpose behind it all, as Sir Edric suggested? Or was Ronan simply being kind? My heart was torn by what I wanted—Ronan—and what I knew was wrong –also Ronan.
Ronan knew I couldn’t give him all of me. That eventually I would have to return to Valoria and when I did, we would have to permanently part ways. Even though Sir Edric told me it wasn’t safe in Valoria, the end of my hidden identity would comesoon. I could only continue being Leila and stay hidden for so long before the truth came out.
“Leila?” Ronan snapped his fingers in front of my face. “You’re zoning out. Are you sure everything is okay?”
I shook my head and smiled. “Yeah. Everything is fine.”
Just then, I was struck by a thought. If I wanted to get the truth out of Ronan, these jugs of wine might do the trick.
“Drink with me,” I begged, clasping his hand in mine. “It’s lonely drinking by myself.”
Ronan laughed. “I got these for you! Don’t worry about me—”
I pouted, “But there’s more than enough for both of us. Come on!”
“I was hoping these jugs would last you a couple of days, at least. I didn’t think you wanted to drink them all in one night!” he laughed.
I shrugged. “Let’s have some fun.”
