Page 21 of Rook of Ruin
“No!” Tess hisses, reaching across the mess hall’s wooden table and spearing Paul’s sausage with her knife, then bringing it to her mouth and ripping into it. I’ll have to remember that. It’s the funniest threat I’ve ever seen. “He. Did. Not.”
Paul holds up his hands in surrender. “Okay, I—oh fuck. Not this guy.”
A short redheaded man saunters over and slides in next to Paul. “Well, if it isn’t the three misfits. Soon to be four misfits.” He grins and winks at Paul.
“Margret. Do you have anything fun to trade?” Tess asks the redhead.
“I have a plethora of plunder, spoils only few have seen,” he says and wiggles his eyebrows, keeping his eyes on Paul. “But only if you and your buddies ask for my first name.”
“No.” Paul flat out denies him.
Margret clicks his tongue. “Then you’re out of luck, and I just got a new bottle of spice and one—”
“Deal.” I reach out, and the man named Margret shakes my hand. Paul lets out an exasperated sigh. “I’m saying this for everyone. What’s your name?”
“Zane.” He leans in and swipes a bit of Paul’s mashed potatoes with his finger and then puts it into his mouth. He removes his finger with a loudpop, staring at Paul the whole time.
“Well, my appetite is ruined.” Paul shoves his tray to the side and glowers.
Zane smirks at Paul but waves his hand in the air, beckoning someone. “Baby, I haven’t begun to ruin you. You’ll be mine soon enough. I’m a patient man.”
I let out a barking laugh—grinning ear to ear—and look up at the person Zane is waving to.
Oh. Fuck.
Easily a foot taller than me with beautiful black hair and a gorgeous body demanding my attention—especially where his low-slung sparring pants show an undeniably large bulge—he stands at the head of our table. Tess reaches under and squeezes my leg as if to say, “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”
I squeeze her hand.“Sure am.”
Zane sweeps his arm out. “Meet my future and his friends.”
Tess and Paul both give their last names—anyone who’s a friend of Zane’s is good to know—but then Paul shoots Zane a mean look and says, “Ew.”
"Ossian,” the other man replies, not bothering to give them a glance—he isn’t looking at anyone but me. He smiles, sitting down across from me. “I saw you sparring today. You have good form.” His silky voice makes my toes curl.
Tess squeezes my knee harder, and smug as fuck, I answer, “I do have a good form.”
Ossian laughs. It’s deep and sexy. “Hmmm. Couldn’t just say ‘thank you’?”
Paul and Zane begin bickering about something while Tess watches them in amusement, but my attention is solely on Ossian. “Icoulddo a lot of things, Recruit.”
“Yeah?” He leans a little closer. “What’s your last name?”
I lean back. “If you want it, you have to earn it.”
He shrugs as if unbothered. “I’ve earned worse things. Like this guy.”
Zane chuckles but is still focused on Paul.
Ossian stands. “Anything worth knowing is worth earning.”
I blow out a breath. That was before—before he earned his brace, before he became the Spider. But maybe he is slowly making his way back to the man he’d been before he’d gone on his first mission.
Bringing my knees to my chest, I consider tomorrow. Whatever punishment the queen and her advisors determine, I will gladly accept it and pay my penance.
Chiffon hits my ankles as I abruptly turn the corner. Patsy chose a soft blue demure dress with beading that shimmers as I walk, and around my neck, sapphires sparkle and pearls create an iridescent glow on my skin. The necklace itself gives the illusion of icicles dripping down my chest, while the matching coronet sits heavy on my head. Royal enough, but not regal like my sister. As she dressed me this morning, Patsy insisted I wear the coronet because it reminds the advisors that I am connected to the crown. I doubt they have forgotten.
I’m waiting less than patiently outside the massive gold-and-blue double doors, which lead into a room full of people who will scrutinize everything about me—from my appearance, attitude, down to the very core of my being. I pace the ivory stone floor, pretending to be unbothered by having to wait over an hour to be seen. The Ravens who watch me are probably just as bored as I am. Standing perfectly still for hours is a skill I do not possess.
