I blinked at him before laughing; I stifled my wince when the movement jarred my wound.“I don’t think you could have gotten any bigger.”
“Things are going to get ugly.”
“I know.What became of Gaius?”
His eyes instantly turned black, and lightning fired through them.I was used to seeing displays of his power, but I’d never seen the transition happen so fast.Even before he spoke, the fury emanating from him told me that Gaius lived.
“I didn’t get the chance to kill him.”
“It will happen.”
“Oh, yes, it will.”
I lowered my hand and leaned my back against his chest.His arms encircled me as he rested his chin on my shoulder.
“You have to be more careful in the woods,” he said.“Once my father has everything under his control and the realm has settled down again, he’ll be relentless in his hunt for us.”
“The woods will protect us like they have the gargoyles.”
“Is that what you think the forest is doing?”
“I can’t know for sure, but it seems that way.”
“Maybe the forest is helping to keep them imprisoned,” he suggested.
“Then why would the trees reveal them to us?”
“Maybe they’re afraid we’ll accidentally set them free and were trying to warn us.”
It was a possibility, but I wasn’t sure there was any way we’d ever learn the truth of it.
“How about some music?”Callan suggested.“It feels like a night for songs.”
The more ale they consumed and the more the injured started to wake, the less awkward they felt about celebrating Ivan’s death.I wasn’t about to begrudge them their joy.
“It’s a night for a celebration!”someone else shouted.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX
Ellery
It felta little weird to celebrate someone’s death, especially while Mr.Fletcher was still healing, but I didn’t voice my concerns.Things had been so hard lately; it was good to hear so much laughter.
Callan retrieved his lute, and soon his haunting music filled the air.Some men grabbed the newly arrived women and swung them into dances.I was sure they were the happiest, as men greatly outnumbered women in the camp.
“If we’re going to make so much noise, we need more guards on duty,” Tucker said as he walked away from the large fire and past us.“I’ll take care of it.”
“I don’t make noise,” Callan stopped singing to call after him.“I bring beauty to the masses.”
Tucker lifted an eyebrow as Ianto finished another tankard of ale and rose.He sauntered away before returning with a drink for me.“You deserve to celebrate too.”
I took the wooden container from him and gripped it in both hands.“I’m not the one who got us off that field or away from Gaius.”
“Yes, you are,” Scarlet said.“With help from me, of course.”
I lifted my drink to her.“Of course.I never would have succeeded in anything without my partner in crime.”
“And what about me?”Ryker murmured in my ear.
