Page 32 of Rook of Ruin
I hear him curse as he approaches us, the two guards clearly aware who Alec is and unsure about what to do since I’m yelling at the infamous Spider. Artho calmly stands like the good boy he is. Alec pets his neck, and Artho moves his head in approval.Traitor.
“Where are you going?” Alec’s jaw clenches.
“Out.” I lift my chin.
“Out,” he repeats. I see a vein in his neck pulse. “You want to tell me why you left this in your intimates drawer?” He removes my brace from a bag I didn’t see him holding and glares at me. The two gate guards look at each other, unsure if they should laugh or pretend they aren’t here.
“If I go out, I can’t wear it. You know—rules.” I give him a brilliant fake grin. “Do you make it a habit of going through women’s intimate drawers?”
His jaw ticks. “No. I—”
“So just mine?” I continue to smile.
Alec’s lips twitch, and his silky voice lowers. “Only ever yours.”
My false smile wavers, and an expression of shock forms.
His mouth curves as if he won this argument. “You have permission to go out and to have your brace, but only if either Sir Caddel or I are with you. Patsy should have explained it to you. Hells, O. You thought your intimates drawer was a good place to hide your brace?”
The two guards stare and, given their expressions, wish they were anywhere else.
Narrowing my eyes, I sigh sarcastically. “Aren’t you supposed to know everything? Patsy is sick. She couldn’t tell me. And where else would I put my brace? Up my ass?”
The guards shift their feet, sucking in their cheeks, trying not to laugh.
Alec pinches the bridge of his nose, holding in a breath. “Fine.”
“Fine,” I spit back.
“Move forward. I’m coming with you.”
“No, this horse—”
“Is a warrior horse, he can handle more than one person—that’s what he was bred for. Do you think I’m that callous?” Alec hands me my brace and mounts Artho.
“I think you’re something,” I growl, but I’m oddly secretly pleased.
“You’re right, I’m something—completely fucking amazing. Thank you for noticing.”
I huff a small laugh, and he adjusts himself, wrapping his arms around me and taking the reins.
Alec speaks to the guards. “Not a word. Not one fucking word.” They nod, both crooking a smile, and move out of our way. “Put on your brace, O.” He clicks out of the side of his mouth, and Artho moves forward slowly.
I put on my brace and then yank down my sweater sleeve. All the excitement of seeing the pink ranunculus flowers and the book is hidden in the layers of annoyance, frustration, and confusion. “I’m going to Wesson.” Alec doesn’t reply. “Thank you. For the flowers and the book. I started reading it this morning. Have you read it before?”
“Yes.” He shifts slightly. We sit in silence for a few minutes, passing farmland, before he asks, “Do you like it?”
“I do. I’ve always liked Jovan’s story.” I feel him adjust again.
“Because it’s romantic?” He sounds genuinely curious.
I pull my long braid to the front of my body, making sure my hair isn’t hitting Alec in the face as we ride, and a wave of jasmine hits the clean air. “Because it’s a tragedy. Life is a tragedy.”
He leans forward, carelessly close to my ear. “I never pegged you for someone so cynical.” His silky voice makes me squirm.
Clearing my throat, I pause and consider my words. “I’m not. I just know people love and lose.”
“Did you love him?” he asks softly.
