Page 44 of The Raven Queen

“Callon knows the best food in this city,” I admitted, shrugging my shoulder. “If you’re hungry, I’d take his word for it.”

Licking her lips, Del nodded primly and excused herself from the table to follow Callon to the counter, where Lyra already stood sipping on her ale.

Across from me, Garath seemed unsettled, and it was easy to imagine he very rarely brought Del into the city, knowing how dangerous it was for her, even if she didn’t.

“If it’s Callon you’re worried about, don’t be,” I assured him. “I trust him with my life, and Lyra will be happy to keep him in check if he forgets himself.”

That seemed to put the man at ease, though only slightly. He was more to Del than her personal guard. That much was obvious. The way she looked at him and stayed close—the way it seemed it was a chore for him to take his eyes off of her—proved he was far more than hired muscle to her.

“How is she really doing?” I asked, realizing if anyone knew what Del had been through the past ten years and how it affected her, this man would.

Garath’s amber eyes met mine, lingering for a moment before they shifted back to Del on the other side of the room. “After you killed her husband, you mean?” he said.

“The man who was choking the life from her?” I replied in kind with equal sharpness. “Yes, but not just since that.”

Garath’s jaw clenched, and his hard gaze softened slightly. I saw regret in his eyes, though I wasn’t sure why. Just like I saw anger in them too.

He cared for Del; that was painfully clear. I could easily assume Garath would have stopped Alastor from tormenting Del if he could, but hands tied or not, it was hard not to hold a slight grudge against him as I considered how long Del had lived like that.

Or maybe I begrudged Garath for taking care of Del and Liam when it should have been me. It was hard to tell which feeling was dominant, resentment or envy.

“She has sacrificed much over the years,” Garath finally said. “To keep her secrets and her son safe. She is overjoyed that Alastor is dead, as are most at the castle. But the weight of her burden is not gone.” Garath turned his untouched mug of ale around on the table. “I begged and pleaded with her not to marry him, but...”

“At least now, we have one less danger to worry about,” I said.

“We?”

I raised my eyebrows. “You think I would leave now?”

Garath’s head tilted slightly. “I thought you had a village to get back to in the desert lands?”

I smirked at that.A village.How quaint that sounded.“I do,” I admitted. “But I have a son now, too. And I won’t abandon him again. And I especially won’t leave until I know he is safe—until I know they both are.”

Lyra set a full pitcher of ale and an extra tankard for me on the table, her understanding gaze locking with mine. I nodded with gratitude. When she turned for the bar again, I glanced back at Del. She was smiling as Callon gestured wildly, regaling her with one adventure or another.

A smile.My chest ached at the sight. It had been so long since I’d seen that smile. I’d forgotten how mesmerizing it was.

Swallowing thickly, I turned back around to find Garath watching me. With the gravity of everything unknown and unspoken hanging between us, I poured myself a mugful of ale. After the decade I’d had, and the knot of nerves in my gut knowing I would finally meet Liam tomorrow, I figured another drink couldn’t hurt.

The longer Garath watched me, though, the more I realized what he probably saw. Half sober and with damp hair hanging in my face, I was a mess. I’d give him that, but that wasn’t all he saw. “You think I am reckless and dangerous.”

“Aren’t you?”

I huffed with amusement. “Not so much anymore. At least, I try not to be. I have people that rely on me—manypeople. Besides, I can’t afford any more death on my conscience.” I took a gulp of ale and rested my elbow on the table. “Whatever Del has told you—whatever you know...” I shook my head. “That’s not who I am now. I haven’t been that person in a very long time.”

“Things would have been much different for her had you shown up at the solstice celebration.”

I leaned back in my chair with a heavy exhale, wondering if the guy had any idea how guilty I already felt for staying away for so long.

Before my hackles could rise to bristling, Garath continued. “Despite all that’s happened, and despite all that Del and Liam have been through, I can’t say your coming back before now would’ve been for the better.”

The crease in my brow deepened.

“Del and Liam would have left with you,” Garath explained. “And then what? There are more dangers out there than we realized.” This time, Garath stared at his warm ale as if he might actually take a drink, as if it pained him to admit such a thing. “Maylar, the traitor we think is behind this prophecy business,” he said, spinning the mug around again instead. “We thought we were rid of him, but now—” The skin around his eyes tensed. “If she had left with you, she would have been far easier for him to get to. And after the queen tried to have him killed, I have no doubt he would have exacted his revenge, however possible. He’s likely been planning it for years.” Garath glanced toward our companions at the bar, his eyes softening when they landed on Del.

“And now the queen is gone,” I mused and mulled his words over and over. Callon’s laughter met my ears, and I hoped they would keep Del over there a little while longer. “About Maylar,” I started, and Garath’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He touched his index finger to his lips, suggesting silence on this topic.

---