Page 186 of Unrivaled
CHAPTERSIXTY-SIX
CHAY
The axe forgets.The tree remembers.
—Southern saying
26thDay of Autumn’s Son Moon,
Age of the Locways, Year 272
La’Angi Keep
Audrey was safe in her tower, hopefully asleep.I stood at Kadan’s window overlooking the garden.I couldn’t see the bay.Even if I could, I didn’t know if I could make out Elnyta’s sails in the darkness.
“You must have one very happy, but very tired, lady,” Callum said, with a sigh.
“First time for everything,” Kadan drawled.
I didn’t laugh.I didn’t begrudge him the joke, but there wasn’t space for levity now.
In mere days, the Duke might be dead.
“I’m sorry, friend,” Kadan said.“I didn’t mean to poke a bruise.”
I shrugged it off.“I’m in a foul mood.It’s not your fault.I ought to go.”
“Why?”Callum asked.“The only person she needed defending from is now beyond the city walls by a good distance.”
I shrugged again, waving it away.I didn’t care about Luca.Neither did she.That was his loss.“I’m poor company.”I left it at that.They didn’t need my worries.They had plenty of their own.
“Well, I’m rich company,” Kadan assured me.“I’ll cover the costs tonight.Pull up a seat, old friend.We won’t see you again for far too long.”
Possibly ever.It was always the risk.“What’re they going to do if Audrey won’t have Luca?”I asked Kadan.
His lips turned downward in an exaggeratedly unsure expression, then he picked up his walking stick and used it to shove a chair toward me.“Before the tourney, I think they’d’ve laughed at the idea she’d refuse.Now…” He looked at me.“They’re going to ask if we’rereallysure she can’t be convinced.”
I took the cordial Callum poured me.“I don’t recommend asking her for a few years.”
Kadan grinned.“Noted.Well, that’s not anabsolutely not ever.”
“It’s a ‘she’ll probably gut you if you even ask right now,’” I corrected, settling back into the chair.“Later, youmightsurvive the question.”
Kadan’s brows rose.“That bad?”
“It can’t have beenthatbad,” Callum sighed.“I saw the scratches on his back, Chay.”
So had I.That hadn’t been her style when we’d been together.“She can get dick whenever she wants it,” I told him, wanting an end to the conversation.“Don’t you go making it cheap, too.What he said was vile.Considering how hard she’d worked to be able to trust him, I don’t think he’ll ever have the same relationship with her again.”I didn’t tell them he’d damn near killed Isolde.I hated that it wouldn’t have changed anything for them.
Callum cocked his head to one side and exchanged a long look with Kadan.Callum’s expression was thoughtful, Kadan’s serene.“Does she know you love her?”Callum asked me.
“Don’t needle him,” Kadan sighed.“I want him to stay.”
“Sorry,” Callum said.“It wasn’t supposed to be…Ididn’t know.”
I took a mouthful of the cordial.“She knew I did.We were in it pretty deep,” I admitted, feeling sick.“I told her about Luca.About the rebellion.”
Kadan’s cup stilled halfway to his mouth.The momentary pause was covered quickly, but Callum wasn’t half as subtle, sitting up quickly and spilling a few drops of the sweet cordial on the floor.“Youwhat?”
