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“I have no secrets,” I said, my voice shaking. I felt like I was standing in front of a stranger, an enemy, not one of my oldest friends. I’d never seen Haleika anything less than bubbly and sweet, flirting with Galen or any other noble she fancied. But threatening me—blackmailing me? I’d never imagined this.
She scoffed. “Spoken like a true heir. If word gets out, if I find out anyone has been told about me, about us, I will expose you. Tristan will be the first. And I think you know what he’ll do.”
My heart hammered. I was going to be sick. “Nothing has ever—” My mouth was so dry it was hard to speak. “Nothing has ever happened between us. Nor will it.”
“Yes. And I can say the same,” she said, storming out the door.
THE SECOND SCROLL:
BLOOD DEBT
CHAPTER TEN
Noonewasmoresurprised than me when I woke the following morning at dawn and didn’t feel completely awful. It certainly said something of Rhyan’s methods. But as far as my mood went, that was an entirely different story. I was never happy to be awake before the sun, especially knowing I was going to be running again in a few short hours. But Haleika’s threat kept replaying in my mind over and over again. I debated telling Rhyan—he was the only person I could tell. But I couldn’t explain to him what had actually happened without breaking my promise to Haleika.
I decided as soon as he knocked on my door that I wouldn’t say a word. He was already aware of the threat against us, how seriously we were expected to take our kashonim. He knew the whispers that had been lying under the surface of everything we did, knew what Tani had said, and I had no doubts he suspected how jealous Tristan was.
But when I opened my door, I couldn’t help the relief I felt in just knowing he was near, nor the way I immediately felt safer in his presence. Nor could I help the smile spreading across my face as I caught the light in his green eyes.
“Sleep well, partner?” Rhyan asked, setting the carafe down, the warm, spicy scent already beginning to waft its way to me.
“Better than last night,” I said, inhaling the coffee. I glanced anxiously around, hearing the bells calling out the hour. Through my kitchen window, tiny blue lights lit up the morning sky as the ashvan took flight over the city.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Are you…?” I sucked in a breath, my stomach knotting.
The rumors have already started. They’ll reach Tristan soon. Or worse.Haleika’s words wouldn’t stop racing through my mind.
I tried again as Rhyan raised his good eyebrow questioningly. “Are you sure that you being here is, you know, safe?” I leaned back, my hands grasping the sink basin.
“Would you feel better if I brought you the official schedule?” he asked lightly. “I can tell you exactly who is outside, where they stand on the perimeter, and what time the guard changes.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do.” He opened a cupboard, pulling out two mugs and setting them onto my counter. “And, yes. If I thought for one second this would put you in danger or raise suspicions,” he gestured at himself in my kitchen, “I’d never step foot in here again.”
My heart sank so fast at that idea I nearly lost my hold and slipped back.
“Why don’t you sit on the couch? Relax for a moment while I pour your coffee, then we’ll train,” he said.
“In my apartment?” I asked, skeptical of what he had planned. The place was tiny. Not really set up for any sort of fighting or exercise sequence. Plus, I was pretty sure any noise we made would carry to the apartments below.
“You’ll see,” he said as I took a seat.
Hot steam swirled from the mugs as he grabbed them, heading to the coffee table.
I sat and brought my mug to my nose, the warmth of the cup in my hands welcome in the chilled morning. It smelled exactly like it had the day before, and when I took a sip, I closed my eyes in bliss. At least I had this to look forward to each day.
“I think I found a new location for us to train in,” he said. “Though I wouldn’t use it consistently. Mornings we’ll be here, evenings in the Katurium. But on our days off, can you meet me on Gryphon Island?”
“On the beach?” I asked.
“The caves behind the Guardian of Bamaria. I’ve ventured out there a few times, and it’s always been abandoned. The interior has a pretty flat surface, which would be good for practicing combat.”
I took another sip of my coffee. “I can fly there,” I said. “But Markan has been following me more closely lately. I don’t see how I’d meet you there without him or another escort realizing what I’m up to.”
Rhyan frowned. “I thought about that. There’s a few days on the schedule where I’ll be on duty all day.”
