Page 34 of Unrivaled
I felt like I’d given her keys to turn locks in places she didn’t even realize were doors.
“To the lady,” Thomas said, raising his cup.
“By the Son, that woman deserves a toast,” Kaelson said, raising his cup.
It was a smart toast—one I wouldn’t refuse.I lifted my cup, but I didn’t drink.
“It’s to her health, lad,” Kaelson said, giving me a nudge.
“It wouldn’t be for mine,” I sent back, setting the cup down.“You can say what you need to say without me having a skin full.”
“Told you,” Thomas muttered, and drank again.
Kaelson sighed, leaning forwards.“We aren’t really schemers, Tom and I.We don’t think that way.Honest as the day is long.”
“I know.”I looked at them, so damned worried.“I know.I know it’s risky, and I know it’s dangerous.If it helps at all, it started when I was sure we were both dead.”
“I figured,” Kaelson said, sadly.“You’re a good man, Chay, and she’s a damned good woman.But she can’t be your woman.”
A small part of me, the part of me that’d worn other boys’ shoes until my feet grew too big, the part of me that’d waited around for scraps of affection, resented the shit out of that.
It would be too easy to believe.
“She’s her own person,” I said, keeping my voice relaxed.
“She is, that,” Kaelson agreed, heartily.“And she’s the Duke’s daughter.”
Irritation crawled under my skin.“I don’t want the two of you to waste your time here,” I said on a shrug.“So I’ll be as honest as you.She and I have talked about it.She knows the risks.I’ll do all I can to minimize them, but if you’re hoping to chase me off, I don’t scare easy.I’m not running from the Butcher.Now, Idoplan to be smarter.”I nodded to Thomas, because I knew it was important to him.“We’ve been lax.We aren’t used to sneaking about, either.As far as scary stories and warnings, though, you can put it aside.I understand.”
“I don’t think you do,” Thomas said, the words a monotone.“I don’t thinkshedoes.”
I looked down into the liquid in my cup.I’d hoped to avoid the veteran re-traumatizing himself to try to terrify me into subservience, but this wasn’t going well.
I pulled out what I had.“My great-grandfather was Charles the Shieldbreaker, First General of Barloc,” I told them both, honestly.“He ran his family like an army camp, I hear.His children were despots.My father was a madman.”It wasn’t true.He’d just been a man.He’d had friends, people who thought he was excellent company, plenty of folks who’d vouch for him.But it was easier to progress the story.“I reallydoknow.”
“Your count, did he ever tell you what happened with he and Arabella?”Kaelson asked me.“They were to be wed.She rode his horses.”
The mention of Darrius caught my attention.I hesitated, not wanting to feed into the situation, but curious.“He didn’t.I do know what happened to Arabella, though.I’m aware the Duke killed her.”
I thought they’d withdraw at that much honesty.No onespoke of Arabella.I’d heard her name once my entire time in La’Angi, from the Duke’s own mouth, when he’d been threatening us.
But neither of them batted a lash.
It was then I realized how deep we were going tonight.
“What about his brother?”Kaelson asked quietly.“Does Count Darrius mention him?”
“Darrius doesn’t have a brother.”He’d been married once, had one child, and lived a happy life surrounded by the family he’d built for himself from dear friends.He said it was all he’d ever wanted and more.
“He did,” Kaelson said.“Caydan was a few years younger than him, wasn’t he, Tom?”
“Believe so,” Tom said, in that monotone.“Twice the archer, they said, but half the rider.”
“Figured that was a euphemism myself,” Kaelson put in, and topped off Thomas’ drink.He hadn’t touched his.
I would’ve heard if Darrius had a brother, especially if he’d been lost to the Duke.It’d be easy to check.Old, official records would be kept in the depths of the library.Audrey would be able to put her hands on it easily.
“The Count and the Lady Arabella, they got on very well.Verywell.They’d go riding for days on end.He spent as much time here as he spent there.His younger brother, he often stayed.He was helping with the horses Darrius had left with Arabella, caring for them while Darrius was in ’Ban, doing the things a fancy heir has to do.”
