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“And that was all that mattered to you. Not that my father had a family, people who cared about him.”
“According to you, he left behind only a bastard daughter and his latest whore who found a new bed partner within twenty-four hours.” His voice was purposefully cold and mocking.
“You filthy prick.”
“He broke the seals. If Asher loose is a threat, the Triad reunited would shake the world to its knees.”
“I wouldn’t know,” she countered. “I don’t know anything except what you’ve told me. You could be making this all up. Asher could be a lie, like everything else.”
“I never lied to you, Ellery. Not once.” He just hadn’t told her everything. That was entirely different. That was necessary.
“No. You just neglected to tell me you’d murdered my father and his men in cold blood.”
He hated this. Hated the loathing in her eyes, the disgust in her voice. But he wouldn’t deny her accusations. Let her think the worst of him. It made what he had to do easier.
“It was a battle,” he said. “Casualties happen. Coruna, Talavera, Badajoz. Those men might have died a thousand different places.”
“But they didn’t, did they? They died at the chapel in San Salas. How can I be sure I’m not next?”
She struck the rawest nerve. He slammed the side of his fist into the wall, the plaster crumbling beneath his temper. “I kill for a purpose.”
“Your purpose, Conor. Not mine.” She wheeled away from him. Crossed the room.
“I’ll try my luck on my own. I’ve survived this long.”
He’d succeeded too well. He’d meant to put distance between them. He never intended for her to leave. The woman was a bundle of courage, foolishness, and stubborn independence. It’s what he admired about her. And what would get her killed. “Asher will find you. The Keun Marow will track you.”
She threw his greatcoat over her, buttoned it. “Why? Why bother with me? I no longer own the reliquary.”
He swung his legs off the bed. Fought to stand. “He doesn’t know that.”
“I’ll disappear. I can do that easily enough. London. Newcastle. Edinburgh. There are a million places a woman alone can vanish.”
Events were spinning out of control. It was time to rein her in. “You haven’t any money,” he pointed out with smug relish.
She laughed and with a choreographed flick of her wrist revealed the pearl. “Haven’t I?” She opened the door. Glancing back, her blue eyes blazed with fury. “Nos dha, Mr. Bligh. And may it be a sleep of the damned.”
Chapter Twelve
What a fool she’d been. What a complete fool. She’d known. That made it even worse. She’d known since their conversations in the cottage that Conor had played a part in her father’s death. The things he’d said. The things he hadn’t. But she’d pushed aside the questions, ignored the doubts. She’d wanted to believe in him. And why? Because she was tired of being lonely. Because he’d kissed her. Because every time he looked at her, she felt a strength and a power that had nothing to do with magic.
What a pathetic mess she was.
An icy wind rushed down the street, sending last year’s leaves flying. Shutters slammed on their hinges and the branches above her creaked and scraped. She jogged up the street, hugging the shadows. Footsteps echoed behind her. Wishing she still carried Conor’s dagger, she backed herself against the closest building as two very human men rounded the corner and disappeared up the street. Letting out the breath she didn’t know she’d been holding, she started walking, more quickly now. This track led south, toward the toll road. From there, she could choose any direction, any destination.
As she neared the edge of the village, the houses lay farther apart, separated by copses of scrubby trees and long fields of rocky pasture. She kept to the verge as the road sank between high earth walls topped by bramble hedges. But with each step, the air thickened like smoke. Her lungs burned as she fought to breathe, and she sank to the ground. It’s the only thing that saved her.
“Your kinsman’s led us a dance.” The voice didn’t sound human, more like the crackle of crunching leaves, the sough of the wind. “But he’s mine. Tonight.”
She crushed herself back into the underbrush, but the words floated above. The conversation took place in the copse on the other side of the hedge.
“It’s a risk bringing them here,” came the reply. “Too many people. Too much at stake should they be seen.”
“’Tis not your place to guide my steps. Only to ease my way. Remember that.” Ellery flinched at the venom concentrated in that dry, raspy voice.
“I’ve gotten you this far, haven’t I?”
“The bargain’s not complete until Bligh is dealt with and the reliquary is mine.”
