A playful smile tugs at my lips. “Let the makeover montage begin.”
Ten
Kane and Briggs move Lord and Lady Ashwood’s bodies, gently lowering them against the base of a pine tree. The breeze softens around us, and with the light trill of birdsong and dappled sunlight filtering down through the canopy, the ambassador of Cups and his wife seem almost at peace.
Kane and Briggs take turns placing pine boughs over the bodies. My eyes burn, and I look up at the swaying branches and blink back my tears. I didn’t know them, but my lungs constrict, tightening with a sorrow I’m only now acknowledging.
The three of us stand together, still as statues around the makeshift memorial, the silence between us heavy with shared sadness. Briggs steps forward, his voice breaking the quiet. “I’ve worked in Lord Ashwood’s stables since I was a boy. He was always kind to me. It was an honor to serve them.”
Next to me, Kane’s words of acknowledgmentvibrate through the air, and I feel my lips move, though I’m too lost in my thoughts to know exactly what I say.
While Briggs returns to the carriage, tends to the horses, and reattaches the trunk of belongings, Shadow, Kane, and I pick our way through the forest back to the stone cottage. Shadow clomps along the carpet of ferns and pine cones, twigs snapping beneath her hooves, and Kane guides the mare with an expert hand, ensuring the garments and jewels we took from Lord and Lady Ashwood’s trunk remain secure on top of her saddle.
We don’t have far to go to get back to the cottage. With every step from the grave site, a bit of the weight anchored to my chest and shoulders falls away until I feel almost like myself again.
“Thank you. For what you did back there.”
“It’s my duty to protect the people of Towerfall, no matter which kingdom they call home,” Kane says, matter-of-fact.
“I do appreciate that you keep saving me, but I mean what you did for Briggs. What you did for Lord and Lady Ashwood. It was nice.”
“It was the right thing to do.”
“You really are like a knight in shining armor. You seem all broody and bad on the outside, but that’s just to hide your gooey center. I bet your friends would say that you’re the nicest, most dependable of all the warriors.”
“I don’t have friends. Not anymore.” Shadow nickers and shakes her head, her silky black mane swatting him in the cheek. “Except for Shadow here.”
“That can’t be true. I feel like you’re totally—”
“Fawn, do not make the mistake of thinking you can trust anyone within the kingdom.”
His abruptness stings, and I fall silent, the words hanging heavily between us. I can’t help but wonder what’s behind those walls, what keeps him so guarded.
No, Hannah, you don’t care. He’s off-limits for anything more than a good time. Remember that.
“You have to admit,” I say, distracting myself from wanting to rescue a man who is no doubt another terrible mistake, “not listening to you was a really good idea.”
“I suppose Fate does work in mysterious ways.”
“Fate? I don’t think Fate would like being looped in with highwaymen and murder.” I scoff. “But, if Fate does have anything to do with our current situation, it’s about time she did something. To say she owes me considering the absolute bullshit I’ve had to deal with on the relationship front is an understatement.”
“Ah, it seems our Hannah is unlucky in love,” he says, smoothing his hand down Shadow’s sleek black neck.
“Is it that obvious?” I grumble. At this point, my heart has been bruised too many times to count, and I can only blame myself for the choices I keep making.
“When it comes to matters of the heart, not everyone is as skilled as I am.”
“Matters of the heart? Okay, Casanova.” I snort, rolling my eyes. “Saying you don’t want to catch feelings isn’t a skill. It’s typical.”
“Casanova…” He nods, clearly glossing over the fact that being a guy more interested in sex than a relationship makes him just like everyone else. “Another weeping asshole like your Chad.”
The mention of Chad makes my stomach clench. “Two things.” I hold up my hand to tick each point off on my fingers. “One: I do not need or want a man. I’min my independent expansion era, thank you very much. And two: Chad isn’t mine. Turns out, he never was. And it’s not the first time I’ve had to face those facts.” The last part slips out, and I try to cover the admission with a change of subject. “On a different note, I’m pretty sure I’ll have to quit my job.” I bite the inside of my cheek. Of course, I would choose the second-worst thing to talk about. “Or maybe the silver lining of being magickally dropped into a different realm is the fact that I’ll get fired for randomly disappearing. I’m sure it’ll make Stephanie’s job a lot easier.”
“Stephanie?” Kane’s brow lifts with a question.
“Think of her as another flavor of Chad.”
Snot speckles the ground as Shadow sneezes, punctuating my point.
