Page 76 of Rook of Ruin
He growls after seeing the memory. “I’ll get you back.” He gags. “I will never be able to look at a Grey Sister again without seeingthat.”
“What are best friends for?” I yell over my shoulder as I leave.
This brothel will no longer be a source for cauch or money for the Panther. Vetter is a criminal dickhead, but he doesn’t participate in the sale of flesh or drugs. Women here will be protected, allowed to continue their line of work but given otheropportunities if they want them. Small fucking victories against the Panther.
I intend to claim a larger victory, againstOrlaith,when I find out why she took my memories—but I must get to her first. For two months now, she has never been alone, always with the bastard prince of Bethal or secretly guarded by her sister’s Ravens. I’ve been constantly pulled away, sent on small, meaningless missions alongside Paul and Zane. Every party, every ball, every social engagement at the castle, she hasn’t been there. I attended every single one, and Ihatebeing social, forced into meaningless conversations with courtly Crow fucks who have no idea what it takes to keep this kingdom safe. I’ll do it to obtain a title, the only way I could ever be considered—
“Right, best man?” Zane claps me on the back, and I frown at him, moving farther away. Was he talking to me? Zane rubs his hands together. “I want an epic stag night.”
“What?” I pause, staring at the short man by my side.
“You’re my best man. Who else would I choose?” He tilts his head back to look at me and makes his eyes big, fucking puppy-like.
“Any-fucking-one else,” I reply, walking away from him and opening the door to the outside world—not giving in to his delusional puppy face. The smell of the sea cleanses the scent of the heavy perfumes from the brothel as Zane and I walk together on the crumbled sidewalks of Enthe.
“Aw look at you. I love it when you assert yourself. Exactly why you’re my best man.” Zane grins savagely. “Who else will rein me in?”
“Paul.”
“Nah, he loves my wild side. He’s my best-best man if you get my meaning.” Zane laughs at his own joke, then begins ticking other names off on his fingers. “Tess and I aren’t as close as youand I. O will probably be Paul’s. Other than my handsome man, you are the only one who knowsme.”
“I wish I didn’t.” A little smile forms at the corner of my lips, and he notices. I do know Zane, and he knows me. The real me. Not the one I hide from the world.
He clicks his tongue. “It’s a shame no one knows how humorous you are. I think half the shit you say to O is hilarious only because—” He gasps, stops, and points a finger. “You. Fucking. Twat.” He shakes his head. “Is she why you have been a walking tragedy? Is it because the prince of Bethal is courting her?”
I don’t bother to answer and walk away from him. My chest burns as the monster in my soul roars.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks as he catches up.
I huff a breath.
“Fuck, okay. How about a little regicide? Tess sent me some poison from Bethal she reaped in a card game. You know the Bethalians—they like a good poison. No? How about a bit of maiming?”
I roll my eyes, but now I have to worry about Zane actually doing it and starting a fucking war with Bethal.
He clears his throat. “What happened? You went after her, and then—”
“Fuck. Fine. I’ll be your best man. Just drop it,” I growl. I don’t want to fucking talk about it with him. I need to seeher. My fingers push into my chest as we walk, trying to relieve the ache.
He catches up to me. “Alright, bestie man.”
“Damn it, Zane.”
Zane tries to hide his smile.“Do you want me to call you buddy instead?”
“Fucking no.”
“Okay, smart-Alec.”
“You’re—”
“Insufferable? I know, big man. I’ve tried changing for Paul, but damn, I’m just too good at it.” Zane sighs, then grows solemn. “Promise me something.”
The immediate seriousness in his tone gives me pause, and I turn around.
“We will kill the Panther before Paul and I marry.” His words are desperate, and I understand his desire to protect Paul.
I hold out my hand. “Done.”
