Page 94 of Unrivaled
Why was such a smart woman acting so foolish?
I was tired and slow the next morning.She stood beside me, shoulders back and chest open, blade in one hand while a shield tilted down off her hips.Her expression fixed in a neutral mask as she waited for me to organize my thoughts.
Mirroring her stance, I took the easy route and copied her movements, showing her the next part of the sequence.
“You can’t trust him.”
The words escaped before I’d even thought about them.
She made a noise of annoyance.“Yes, Chay, I’m aware that I can’t trust men.Thank you for furthering my education on this topic.”
The barb went home, but along with the sting of her words I felt the painful burn of hope.Irritation was better than indifference.
“This isn’t about us,” I told her, letting my sword dip.“I’m not jealous of Luca, Audrey.I’m telling you this as your guard.”Her expression hardened, but I didn’t care.If that’s what I was, then so be it.“He’s got nogoodreason to be here.”
“He’s got business interests in the city and in the faire,” she said briskly.“He’s a major sponsor.I’ve no doubt that’s because he’s pledged his loyalty to me.I know marrying me would be a step up the social ladder for him, as it would for almost anyone.”She sheathed the weapon in a smooth, practiced motion.“We all of us have goals, Chay.I know what Luca’s goals are, and I know what yours are.I trust you know mine, too.I’ve a meeting with Bernadette in the kitchens.I’m going to get an early start on that.”
She’d turned her back on me, putting down her weapons.She hadn’t even worked up a sweat.What are you doing, Chay?
We had limited time until the Butcher arrived.She needed to be as prepared as I could make her.
Instead, I asked, “What are my goals?”
“As you said, to protect me,” she said, the words tired.“Same as everyone else.”
The weight of that accusation was crushing.If it was a weight she carried, I couldn’t tell.Her steps were light as she walked down the stairs, her head up.“I’m skipping out early this morning on training,” I heard her say.
“Are you?”Isolde asked, unimpressed.
“We could ride, after we break our fast.Go straight from…”
I let her words her words drift away.The rise and fall of her voice remained, comfortingly indistinct.
I could taste the cider on my tongue.I could hear Kaelson’s voice, in my head, rising and falling, the way his words would become more formal the darker the situation got.The way the tears would glitter on Thomas’ cheeks as he sat, silent.
If I was the same as everyone else, then she had no idea how much we were sacrificing for her.The thought brought me a bittersweet comfort.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE
AUDREY
Continue to target.Track Spring Flowers and Bloodmoon.Do not let them identify you.Sending Spiced Eggnog to replace you with information on new target.Full handover requested upon their arrival.—Nightingale to Wren in a coded missive
7thDay of Summer’s Wife Moon,
Age of the Locways, Year 272
La’Angi Keep
Luca got in the way.
It had always been true.It wasmoretrue now that I had so much to manage.Carving out time to get out into the orchard was hard, but the heady brew of hope and pride was making me feel queasy.Isolde was right.I needed to get out.
“They’re gorgeous,” I assured the two young tailors in front of me.I’d gone from Bernadette to Kaelson to Ettie and Thomas’ eldest, Sandra, sat awkwardly across the table from me in the mess hall, waiting for this chance meeting to wrap up so I could figure out what sort of tutors she’d need.
“They’re fashion from three years ago,” the more confident tailor told me.She clucked her tongue in disapproval.Her elaborately piled blonde hair was twined with purple and green ribbons.“But, as a basic concept…”
I wasn’t getting out of this without agreeing to dresses.I’d need plenty in a few moons, anyway.“Can I make a time to see you?Tomorrow?”I tried to remember what I had committed to and what I could move.The thought of Storm and the orchard made my head ache.I just wanted out for a little while.But I wasn’t going to get it.
