Page 167 of Taken By Shadows

“My brother—”

“Hart has no business in this city, does he, Lord Kaedian?” Councillor Gossan was rigid as he waited.

Kaed shifted beside me. “Hart has been travelling the Corners. And I believe he intends to come to this great city. If he cannot find what it is he’s looking for elsewhere.”

The councillor readjusted his posture in his chair, the pallor of his skin paling even further. “What do you know? What does he seek that would lead him here?”

Kaed’s eyes flicked to me.

Before he could say more, I put my arm on Kaed’s and interjected. “It was lovely to finally meet you, Councillor,” I said with a smile before rounding on Kaed. “My lord, would you escort me for some air?”

With a sharp tug, we departed for the fresh air, Tymon following behind at a reasonable distance so as not to draw attention.

Once outside, I whirled on him. “Were you about to tell him? About what Hart’s looking for?” I said, possibly a bit too loud in the peaceful night air. “About me? About Varris? About the missing faebane sources? What else? Tymon’s mines and what they actually found?”

“Of course not,” Kaed said, folding his arms.

“It seemed like you were. I know you like him. But we don’t need to confirm other people’s suspicions tonight. Just our own.”

“Why do you assume I would deviate from the plan? You’re on edge.”

I was, but it had nothing to do with our information-gathering attempts. Anger had been simmering in me since Eryk’s visit to the garden door.

“You act impulsively.” I forced myself to look at him. “Aggressively. In your own interests. Always. So of course I’m worried you’ll act impulsively now. Not everything is a game.” My jaw tensed.

“Not tonight. Believe me on that.” Kaed paced, his steps quick and matching my heart rate.

“So, everything you did tonight was calculated? A move?”

“Are we still talking about Councillor Gossan?” Kaed glowered as he stopped in front of me.

The ring felt like a lead weight on my hand.

“Lower your voices.” Tymon appeared from nowhere.

He’d stepped into something and was no doubt regretting it. “It’s fine. Kaedian was just leaving to tell everyone what we’re looking for.”

“What has gotten into you?” he practically shouted.

With that, Tymon opened his palm wide, and another shimmering dome of light appeared around all three of us. The music spilling from the glasshouse was gone, voices went silent.

“Both of you”—Tymon looked between us—“need to sort this out. Another time. Either that, or I will place both of you in silence. Separately.”

Even if Tymon was right, I felt like a child being scolded and that didn’t make my irrationally irritated mood any better.

“Just play the game.” I spat my words at Kaed.

“I am. I don’t know what game you’re playing?”

“Me?” I shouted, taking full advantage of Tymon’s magic.

Tymon seemed to be hoping the earth would swallow him. But he didn’t remove the dome, as if he knew I needed this venting cage.

“You’re the one who is acting differently.”

“And you can’t say you exactly hate how I’m behaving.” His words were wicked. Knowing. He’d felt me react to his touch. He knew I wanted him.

But it felt different now. It meant something to me. I knew it would hurt to have him and then not.