“No, just busy and tired.” She focused on sieving the crushed herbs for the digestive tonic to make sure there were no stems or stones before she brewed them.
“You’re a bad liar.”
Idabel sighed and set down her sieve. “I’m not upset, only surprised you took another apprentice. And maybe a little hurt that you went behind my back to contact the guild. We could have talked and changed the schedule. I know I haven’t been here as much as usual lately, but you don’t have to push me out!”
Betje snorted. “Who said anything about pushing you out? You’re the one who’s—” She broke off, shaking her head. “I just thought we could use more help. Frida’s a lovely girl and she’s had a hard time finding anyone to take her. They’re still a bunch of old goats like they were back when you were looking to apprentice.”
Idabel narrowed her eyes. She had a sneaking suspicion that Betje had thought better of finishing her sentence and changed the course of the conversation. “I’m the one who’swhat?”
“Nothing,” Betje said too quickly. “I’d better go show Frida how to record sales. I hear her chatting with Lady Lockwood about the new hair powder I made yesterday, and you know how she is about hair powder. She has to have every scent. That’s why I make so many of them!”
“Betonyne Bullens, did you See something about me?”
“No?”
Idabel groaned. “Now you have to tell me!”
“It’s nothing you don’t know,” Betje sniffed. “You have new priorities, that’s all. Deserved ones. This shop is my husband and my child all in one, but you have one of each in addition to this place. So of course, I must prepare for a future in which you may not be able to assist me as much as you do now.” She gave Idabel’s midsection a pointed look.
Idabel’s face flushed at the implication. “I assisted you plenty when I carried Loïc. There must be something else you’re not telling me.”
“Hm. Nothing I can remember. All will be well. That’s all I can tell you.” Betje shrugged and sailed out of work room.
She was definitely lying. But whatever she’d Seen, she wasn’t willing to share, so it couldn’t have been that bad.
Idabel finished the rest of the morning’s orders, plus a fresh batch of tonic, and decided to go home early. Betje would survive without her for an afternoon. The amazing Frida was here, after all.
“I’ll take the deliveries on the way home,” she called, tucking them into a basket. She dropped off the packages with their grateful recipients, left a fresh batch of tonic at the Nadir’s office for Rikard, and made her way home, where she curled up in the nest under Brandt’s watchful stone eyes and took a much-needed nap.
The transformation from stone to flesh always made Idabel’s breath catch. Brandt’s eyes found hers immediately as life flooded back into his features, his stony face softening with awareness.
“You actually rested.” His approval warmed through their bond. “Good. You’ve escaped punishment tonight.”
“What if I want it anyway?” She tried for innocence, though heat crept up her neck.
He stretched his wings one at a time, shaking off the dust. “I think you’ll be happy with my rewards instead.”
The promise in his voice made her pulse quicken. She’d already started mentally planning their evening: Loïc would practice what he’d learned in his lessons, they’d share dinner together like the family they were becoming, then after their son slept...
“I need to dress formally.” Brandt strode to his armor chest and opened it, surveying the contents. “Late last night, the Zenith requested my presence at tonight’s Council meeting.”
The warmth in her chest cooled. “What does the Council want with you?”
“They’re holding a Lament for the Sixth Watch.” He pulled out his engraved spaulders and the matching chest plate and bracers.
“Oh.” She watched him dress in his finest armor, each intricately worked piece transforming him from her mate into a shining commander that she barely recognized. “Should I come with you? Do you need me there?”
“No.” His tone was definitive. “Mother will accompany me. She knows the mourning protocols, the politics. I can manage without—” He caught himself and pinched off the connection of their bond, but she knew what he was leaving out.Without you. Without the traitor whose blood doomed them all.
“Of course. I’ll need to pick up Loïc, anyway, if Ghantal is going with you.” She kept her voice light, though something viciously sharp lodged beneath her ribs. “You’ll do fine on your own. You’ve come so far.”
And hecouldmanage on his own, especially now that some justice had soothed his rage. Two moons ago, he couldn’t have gone anywhere without her presence to ground him. Now he stood tall, scarred but steadier, ready to face the Tower elite alone. She was proud of him even though it stung a little to be left out.
“It’s just a few hours.” He crossed to her, cupping her face. “I’ll return before midnight.”
He let down his mind wall, and through the bond came his genuine regret mixed with something else. Relief? That she wouldn’t be hurt by cutting words and cold shoulders.
He was right. Her presence would complicate things. It would always be this way in the Tower.
