Page 161 of Unrivaled
We’d all fucked that one up.Now we’d have to deal with what came next…and when.
If they were all sweet and doe-eyed at one another today, I might just run Luca through with the blunt tourney sword.
Fuck.I threw my legs over the side of the bed and started limbering up.
CHAPTERFIFTY-EIGHT
ISOLDE
The One gave us the Son, who walked beside Barloc.From Barloc, through the Son, from the One, came the locways and Arcanloc itself.—the Book of Bread and Salt
24thDay of Autumn’s Son Moon,
Age of the Locways, Year 272
La’Angi Keep
It wasn’t Audrey’s fault the reek of the room made my stomach turn and my skin crawl.That wasn’t how I’d expected to find her, and it disoriented me.I moved carefully, my body aching, my head pounding.I hadn’t spotted the pirate’s sails in the bay, but nor had I looked.I lengthened my strides to move past where she’d fallen asleep atop whomever it was, ignoring the dying embers in the fire and going up the circular stairs.From the corner of my eye, I saw someone’s hand move in a slow, soothing pattern, as if someone was half asleep.I didn’t look.I was too shaky, after the poison.If she was cold because the fire had gone out, she could figure that out herself.I didn’t want to be explaining my appearance to whomever had distracted her last night.
Upstairs I opened windows, breathing in the air that smelled of sea and far off places.There were benefits to being so far above the city.
My hands didn’t shake as I pulled up buckets of water for a bath.I’d expected to find Audrey already awake, but this was fine.I should’ve just sponged myself off and got dressed.I should’ve, but I felt dirty to my core.
Nobility werevile.
Kaelson, to his credit, had been an excellent host.
For all my bravado, there was little that could be done openly about Luca.I’dbeen inhispersonal belongings.I had some protection as Audrey’s handmaid, but he was a nobleman.Anything that happened would need to be quiet.
The bucket slipped in my hands and splattered over me.
None of that was Audrey’s fault.She couldn’t change the locways.
Yet.
I hauled up another bucket, focusing on the pull of my muscles, the feel of the rope, the sound of the water pouring, then the swing of the chain as I hooked the bucket back on to be sent down to the kitchens.
There was nothing for it.
I hauled my thoughts back to the water.You’re tired.You’re raw.Who wouldn’t be, in my shoes?
The pretty dress I’d worn could’ve gone up in a wonderful cloud of smoke.Ripping it off my skin would’ve been so cathartic.
Every lace was undone neatly.I threw it in a bucket to soak and went to the bath.
The sun was coming up.Audrey hadn’t slept late often since we’d established our pattern.If she hadn’t stirred by the time I was clean, I’d meditate by myself.It wasn’t sleep.I needed that badly.But it was almost as good.In some ways, it might even be better, right now, given that I had a full day of duties ahead of me.
The soap was thick and slimy in my hands.My belly rolled.I fought the nausea, and grabbed the brush to attack my skin.
Audrey would probably opt to bathe.Elnyta might want to join her.The thought of being anywhere near intimacy sent disgust creeping into the crevices of my heart.I rejected it forcibly, climbed out of the water, and scrubbed it off my body.It wasn’t Audrey’s fault, and I knew better than to let the poison in my heart spread.
Today was renewal.I didn’t reach for the brown dress done with vines and buds all over it.I didn’t know if I could stand, today.My absence would be remarked upon, but I’d been absent yesterday afternoon as well, and given how hard Black Borough’s people were looking at him, I shouldn’t have been at the top of Luca’s list to suspect.
I was still barefoot when I heard voices.Not just voices.Anirritatedvoice.
The battle energy flooded my exhausted system.Because I was alone, I reached out and took hold of the stone to steady myself.I’d been doing this for too many decades.Last night had been far too close.
A man’s voice—shocked.I couldn’t make out the words.Or mayhap my mind wouldn’t allow me to.But I heard Audrey respond, the irritation gone.I knew the tone well.It was the tone she took when delivering unpopular orders or information in her capacity as lady…and unofficial Duchess.
