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And here we are.
“You’re right.” I reach out and put a hand over hers. “This isn’t easy for anyone.”
For a moment, she’s frozen in place, and I worry that we’ve moved too far apart.
But then she turns her hand to clasp mine. “We’ll make it work,” she whispers.
I nod fiercely, pressing my fingers into hers.
Lochlan reappears beside the table. “Your chocolate cream, Miss Karri.” His bellicose eyes flash my way. “And yours, Miss Tessa.”
He’s mocking me, baiting me to snap at him. I don’t play. “Thank you for your kindness, Master Lochlan.”
I could say it primly, but I don’t. I say it honestly. Surprise registers in his expression, and he eases into the seat beside Karri. His jaw is tight, but he doesn’t say anything else.
“You’re suspicious,” I say quietly. “I know. I was, too. They have a lot to make up for.”
He studies me. “You trust them.”
I can’t tell if this is an accusation or a question, but I nod. “I do.”
“Why?” he says. “Why?You know what they’ve done.” He glancesat Karri. “You were both in the crowd when he was set to execute the eight of us.”
“You saw Consul Sallister,” I say. “You see how much power he has. He kept threatening to withhold Moonflower if Prince Corrick didn’t do as he said—”
“And that’s supposed to be reassuring?” he says. “That the king doesn’t have control of his consuls? He’sstillthreatening to withhold it. I heard what he said about supply issues and laborers. The king can make him work the fields, but he’s still one man.”
“You don’t understand. They won’t—it’s not—”
“No.” He half rises from his seat, leaning in against the table. “Youdon’t understand. This is life or death for us.” His eyes glare down at me. “They act like it’s a game. The elites think they can convince the fools in the Wilds to take evenlessmedicine than they were getting before.”
He’s looming over me, and I swallow. I don’t want to look away from him while he looks so threatening, but we’ve garnered more than a little attention. Whispers have erupted all around us. The pretty young lady in the fine clothing being dressed down by someone who’s probably never had more than a handful of coins in his life.
I’m sure most of them heard what he said, too.
“Lochlan,” Karri says quietly. “She’s my friend. Leave her alone.”
But she doesn’t contradict what he said.
Lochlan doesn’t move. His eyes don’t leave mine. “She might have been your friend before,” he says, “but you need to be careful now, Kar.”
I know they’re worried, but it’s hard to find any empathy when he’s standing over me like this. I don’t want to be afraid of him. If we were back in the palace, I wouldn’t be. But we’re here in a littleconfectioner’s shop, and I’m thinking of the moment he surged across the table at Consul Sallister.
“Why did you ask me to come here?” I say evenly. “If you didn’t want to talk?”
“Karri invited you,” he says. “I didn’t.”
“Then maybe you should let her talk to me,” I say, and my voice goes breathy. I can’t help it.
I see the moment my fear registers in his eyes, because he jerks back, his eyes wide. “You’re afraid of me?” he says. “You’re sharing a bed with the King’s Justice, and you’re afraid ofme?”
Karri grabs his wrist. “Lochlan.”
My cheeks are surely flaming now. “I’m not sharing anything,” I growl.
“This is why I can’t trust you,” he says, his voice very low. “Because I don’t trusthim. The prince is no fool. He convinced you that he was a rebel outlaw in the Wilds because it served his needs as the King’s Justice. And now, he’s figured out a way to give the people evenless, and he’s convinced you that it’s for the benefit of everyone.”
His eyes fill my vision, but I refuse to look away. “My medicine works,” I say. “It’s not a trick, Lochlan. You can watch me measure the elixirs yourself. I canshowyou.”
