‘Just somewhere we can get some hot food to take away for Ruben,’ I tell her as we pass yet another tavern.
‘Great. That narrows it down,’ she sasses.
I’m tempted to agree we should have made better plans – got some potential names from the landlady where we stayed, for instance – but it’s too late for that now. As I peer through the next open door, I spot a familiar face. His eyes are locked on the man in front of him, and it’s clear the future duke hasn’t noticed me.
‘Perfect.’ Caz lets out a sigh of relief. ‘Benny’s got a table. It means we can actually sit down and get a proper meal. All I got last night was a couple of dry, stale rolls.’
That Caz has barely eaten because she was trying to help me would normally fill me with a sense of guilt, but right now I’m too distracted, my focus solely on Benny and his companion.
I can only see one side of the man’s face, yet it’s notably lacking a feature: an eyebrow.
My gut coils as I recall what Ryne said the night before about the man with the star-shaped scar and one eyebrow. Surely Benny wouldn’t be stupid enough to meet the rebel out here in the freaking open, when Kyor is in the same bloody city? When he may very well be on the same bloody street?
‘Benny?’ My voice is low, almost a whisper, and yet he hears. His neck twists around so that he is facing me.
‘Rose? Rose!’ He’s on his feet, panic on his face, scanning the area behind me. ‘What are you doing here? Where’s Kyor?’
‘What am I doing here? What the fuck are you doing here? Like this. With him!’ I hiss, my heart hammering so hard I feel like I’m going to be sick. ‘Kyor is coming here.’
‘Here?’ Benny pales. ‘This tavern?’
‘No … maybe? I don’t know.’ I shake my head, wishing my thoughts would slow down. ‘But he knows Arle’s here. He knows he’s in the city. There are guards looking for him.’
The man is looking straight at me now, his star-shaped scar puckered across his cheek. There’s no denying who he is. Yet if he is nervous about the news that the guards are after him, he doesn’t show it.
‘I see my reputation precedes me. As does yours, gifted.’ He stretches out his hand as if he expects me to shake it. ‘Thank you for your concern. It’s good to know the prince is in the vicinity. I hear you two are close.’
His hand remains there, hovering between us, and I want nothing more than to slap it away. This man is the reason Zelle is dead. The reason that tens of people are dead. Yet before I get a chance to say as much, a crash of thunder shakes the entire building and I know – from the static in the air and the way my heart clenches like it’s been squeezed by an iron fist – exactly who is standing behind us.
Chapter 42
‘Tell me this is a dream, Thorn. Tell me this is just another fucking nightmare,’ his voice rumbles, far more menacing than the thunder growling above us.
I spin around, finding myself face to face with the man who, only hours ago, told me he loved me. Who held me in his arms and promised to protect me.
Yet now, there is nothing but hatred in his eyes as he drops everything in his hands to the floor, freeing them up to attack.
‘I d-didn’t,’ I stammer. ‘I didn’t know.’
‘You’re shaking the hand of the man who murdered Zelle,’ he growls darkly, nostrils flared. His hands open and close.
‘No … no, I promise you. I swear on Kay’s life. On—’ I manage to catch myself before my brother’s name trips off my tongue. ‘I swear. I’ve never met him before.’
He believes me, I see it in his eyes, but then they shift to my friend behind me.
‘You …’ The ice in Kyor’s gaze is all gone. Nothing but the promise of death fills his eyes as he looks at Benny.
Benny lifts his chin. ‘You’ve always known I’m no fan of your father.’
‘You’re the money,’ Kyor whispers.
I have less than a split second to act, and I use it. Before Kyor can take a breath, weeds grow out of the cracks between the flagstones, wrapping around his ankles and holding him locked in place.
I shove myself into his line of sight. ‘Look at me. Kyor, please? Just look at me,’ I beg.
Rage pulses through him. I can feel his power humming beneath mine, but to use it, he’d have to hurt me, so he hesitates.
‘Did you know?’ he asks, and his voice is terrifyingly quiet and even. ‘Did you know Benny was the one funding the rebellion?’
