Page 30 of Unrivaled
“She’ll have my spear,” Thomas offered, gruffly.“If she’s in need.”
It was so unlike the older man to offeranythingthat I couldn’t help but glance at him.He didn’t meet my eye, but I wondered who the widow’s late husband was.
Brian, with a bow, left the group to visit the crew of the Siren’s Ally, Isolde vanished to put a broken widow back together, and we set out to find the troublemaker who didn’t know when he was beat.
By the time we’d found Riordan, one of the small class of younger people who’d had wealth they’d seized reclaimed by La’Angi.He’d upset a group of people, caused further issues Audrey had to add to her list, and had the arrogance to demand, “You and what authority, mylady?”
Thomas and I didn’t agree on much, but getting Riordan into his room to cool off for a while was a show of exemplary teamwork.
I left Thomas guarding the door and tracked down my lady with clues from the people she’d encountered, eventually ending up in the steward’s wing as the sun dipped low.
When I saw her, she was sitting perched on the very edge of the chair.Her long legs were drawn up while a single toe supported her weight.There was a pile of papers beside her, a quill in her hand, and her eyes were on a piece of parchment like it was a loved one’s corpse.She rocked back and forth in short, jerky movements.
As I walked in, her expression was already settling into the familiar polite lines, her long mouth slightly upturned, her golden eyes friendly, her brow smooth.It was a symptom of the survival skills that had carried her through this far.My heart twisted in my chest as her expression melted again into one of relief.Every step I took toward her made that false helm of politeness melt away.She was on her feet when I reached her, wrapping her arms around me.
When I buried my face in her hair, I could smell the Butcher’s study on her.Whatever scent he wore clung still.I couldn’t help but tighten my arms around her and crush her to my chest.
She shook.Her fingertips, so strong and nimble, scrabbled for purchase in my tabard and I wanted nothing more than to strip our clothes off so I could hold her, skin to skin, so I could feel the fibers of her muscles slowly loosen as she relaxed into me.
“Everythinghas gone wrong,” she said, despair in the words.“I don’t know how to use this clause Brian found, we don’t have any pigeons that can take a message to La’Rea so I’ll need to find a rider, Riordan’s mother is writing to my father to ask for Riordan to marry me, and my soup hadgristlein it.”
I smoothed a hand over her hair, cradling her head close to the curve of my neck.She’d got a lot out in a single breath.My lady, she was efficient.There were a lot of things she needed to do.An unfair amount, really.But it all would be there still after we’d stolen some moments.Grateful for these stolen moments, I held her close, hoping she’d join me in my calm.
She shook her head again, a violentno.I wished I could ask her what thoughts interrupted our time together and how I could end them.But I had no domain in her mind.At least, none that she didn’t give me.
Some of the tension had started to ebb.As she softened against me, she fitted better against my chest.I breathed in deeply, lifting her with the expansion of my ribs, hoping she felt some of the contentment I did.
Over top of her head and from the corner of my eye I saw a flicker of movement far too late to do anything to extract myself from her grasp.
I’d left the door open.
The relief that rushed through me when I saw it was only Thomas was short-lived, because beside him was a steely-haired, tired-looking Kaelson.
There was no explaining to do, no lies that would carry any weight.I refused to let go of the woman in my arms for their proprietary.So, my cheek still on top of Audrey’s head, I kept on holding her.
The veterans veered off.Blocking the corridor, no doubt.I closed my eyes and knew I should care.
If word trickled into the keep that the lady, who had fast become their hero by lifting the plague, filling their bellies, and warming their feet, was in my arms…
She shuddered and the smell of her father crept up into my nostrils once more.The odds of him embracing me as a son-by-law seemed relatively low.I pressed my lips to her hair, knowing I was complicating her life.She knew the risks we ran better than any of us.And here she was, still.
“I don’t think I can do this today,” she said, eventually, separating from me, her eyes on the parchment.“No, I think Ican,but I don’t think Ishould.”
Until she looked up at me, as if unsure, I didn’t realize it wasn’t a statement of fact but a request for validation.“I don’t think you should either,” I agreed.She drew away from me, bracing herself, visibly attempting to gather her thoughts.The process went on for a significantly longer time than usual.Her shoulders were tightening again, her body curling down in stress.As gently as I could, I offered, “Mayhap some time with Storm would be productive now?”
She hesitated, her eyes dipping down to the parchment spread around her in an unusually haphazard fashion.“There are other things I should be doing.”
Thoseother thingshad waited during the plague.“Will a few hours delay make a world of difference?”I asked her, hoping I wasn’t pushing too hard.
“No.”She let out a long sigh that wasn’t as resigned as it was distressed.“No, but the list will have grown by then.How can I keep on top of it if it’s allowed to grow unchecked?”
I considered crumpling up that parchment, pulling her into my arms, and making her forget the whole list.
“You’ll be more efficient when you’re rested,” I said instead.
“You’re right.”She let out a long breath.“I don’t think I can deal with Riordan’s mother again, Chay.I might break her nose too so they’re a matching pair.”
I grinned at her joke.“If the remaining family wants to be involved, I’d be your champion.”
