Page 66 of Brighter Than Gold

“I know. Just, nothing has gone to plan. Not once.”

“Everyone is trying their hardest to make things right.”

“I know, I know they are. And I don’t want to seem ungrateful.”

Idona smiled gently at me. “You’re still standing, and that counts for a lot.”

I sniffed and wiped my face dry. “Did my friend Nyx make it back to the palace? Is that how you knew what happened at the inn?” I dared asking her.

“Yes, he did. With two women.”

I shuddered a relieved sob.

“He’s fine, they’re fine. They helped us find you.”

“If you’re going back to the palace, can you thank him? Can you thank him, and tell him I love him?”

“Of course, Reyah.”

I collected myself and sat on the edge of one of the beds.

“Would you like privacy?” Idona asked.

“Yes.”

“Are you all right, with this arrangement with Briggs? Just say the word—”

His name, it tasted sour now. “I am. Thank you.”

Idona gave me a conciliatory smile. “You are most welcome here. Don’t hesitate if you need anything.”

“Thank you, truly. For everything.”

Chapter14

Callan

Iwaited a long moment with my hand on the door to my shared room with Reyah. I had not planned on having this particular conversation with her. At least not tonight. But I owed her an explanation, I’d seen how it had affected her when Yates said what she had, which wasn’t untrue, but fucking ill-timed.

Shit. Going out with Lazio’s men had made me less nervous than facing Reyah right now.Get your shit together, Briggs, open the fucking door.

She sat on the bed, glassy eyed and looking up at me. Her lips pulled firmly down at either side. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I took a breath and knelt in front of her.

“Something you’d like to say, Callan?” she said, rather composed. Gods, just kill me on the spot.

“I’m sorry you had to find out that way.”

She took a deep breath and shook her head. “How? Why—Gods, I don’t even know what to say to you. I know I don’t deserve to feel cheated, but it would have been nice to know.”

“It’s not exactly the first thing I announce when I meet people. What should I have said? ‘I’ll be in charge of your safekeeping as we travel to the summer house, by the way, I sleep with men?’”

“Well, it’s fucking embarrassing for me! The way I’ve been throwing myself at you the last few days.”

“Reyah, are you forgetting that I engaged with you over and over again? You were chasing someone who wanted it. Clearly.”

“So you like women as well?”

An embarrassed chuckle escaped me. “No. Not until you came along. This whole thing has been a strange, confusing mess for me.”

---