Page 92 of Unrivaled
She caught my gaze, and the sheen of tears in her eyes made the rage that slept in the bottom of my heart come alive with a snarl.I held it close.
One day, I wouldn’t.
The Butcher’s meaty neck would feel so good beneath my hands.
“Plans are good, and strategy is important.”Behind her, I noticed Thomas staring at me in reproach and resisted the urge to spit at him.“So is joy and celebrating when things are goingright.If people are looking for weapons to use, they’ll find them.Balance strategy and tactics, Audrey.Let yourself be present.”
She nodded, sniffing.“I know,” she said.“I know.It’s just…”
Happiness was dangerous.Because the next step of the cycle was coming.
She tucked her hand into the crook of my elbow and fell in step beside me.Her feet were heavier than usual against the stone, her body closer to mine than I was used to.The contact made the rage writhe inside of me, but I kept it leashed.
There were no new words I could offer her that would show her the importance of the concepts I’d attempted to communicate.Tomorrow, we’d ride and she could bend her bow as she attuned to her horse.I’d hold the lessons for another day.The horizon had looked clear.The weather would be good for it.
As we rounded a corner I spotted a hooded figure lurking in the shadows near her door.He’d snuffed the light.
Audrey stiffened beside me.Chay and Thomas stepped in front of her.
I recognized the cut of his boots, the shape of his shoulders, the ink-stains on his hands.
Rage had me by the throat as Luca lowered his hood, his big grey eyes so soft and sweet and full of secrets.It was too easy to trade the Butcher’s throat for his in my mind.His wouldn’t be meaty.He’d claw at me, his eyes bugging.He’d beg.He’d promise.
He’d lie.
Audrey pushed past Chay and Thomas, grabbing him by the arm to propel him toward her door.“What are you doing?”she hissed.“Someone will see you!”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR
CHAY
The King has generously donated a sum of ten thousand gold pieces to further research into security spells.While you’re figuring out the Mindlocks, though, make sure no one gets too much information.We don’t need anyone leaping to conclusions.—in a letter from High Magelord, Bearer of All, Gautier the First, to the First Guidelord, Luis
6thDay of Summer’s Wife Moon,
Age of the Locways, Year 272
La’Angi Keep
Isat in front of the hearth, staring at the blackened stones.The tiny piles of ash that remained even after it’d been thoroughly swept out.Whoever had laid it hadn’t thought it would sit for so long, of that I was sure.They’d’ve taken more time, made the pile of logs and kindling prettier.They’d’ve hidden those pieces of coal nestled in there, and put scented pine rather than the plain, dried wood.
Behind me, they were talking about the faire.Luca approved the contracts for sale she’d sent out, the discounts she’d offered.Something about contract dates coinciding with the next faire.Maximizing profit, minimizing work.
She was pacing.Her eyes were bright.The ideas that tumbled from her lips sometimes got jumbled in her excitement.One of her candles had already drowned in its own wax, it had burned so low.
He met her energy.Clapping at her genius, making noises of admiration I’d never heard from him: raw, half-shocked, half-amazed groans of joy and quick, short expulsions of laughter.
Isolde had retired.Thomas had, too.They hated him.They didn’t respect him.Not as a threat to Audrey’s safety.
I’dtoldher.
I had to trust the information was rolling about in her mind, as it seemed like everything did.Except me.
“I think you might be the best thing that’s happened to this town,” I heard him say, wonder in his words.
“It’s a city,” she responded.Then, “Oh, Luca, I’m sorry—that was a metaphor, wasn’t it?”
His laugh was friendly.“It was, and it was unfair of me to use it when the candles burn low and we’re deep in this plan.I do like how you’ve got food vendors grouped together with seats nearby.Are you sure one central location is best, though?Not two or three hubs?”
