Page 51 of A Reign of Storm and Madness

I dive across the room at the sight of the small short sword. There’s a larger broadsword leaning against the bed, nearly hidden by the folds of the sheets, but I know I won’t be able to take it with me—plus I’ve never been much good at longer ranged weapons. The short sword isn’t a dagger but it will do better than nothing at all. I grab it and thank whatever luck I might still have that it’s attached to a belt and sheath. Wrapping the leather at my waist and tying it off before I flip the tunic over it to hide its presence, I hear the telltale click of the lock and whirl around.

My hand goes to the hilt of the short sword but doesn’t go any further as my little spider friend crawls out of the lock’s hole. I send my thoughts to the little creature and sigh in relief as their proud emotions flood my mind.

“Thank you,” I whisper to the little thing as I pick it up and set it on a nearby table. “If I ever come back, I’ll be sure to leave out some good bugs for you to eat.”

The spider lifts its front two fuzzy little legs as if it’s responding and even with my shredded emotions, I can’t help but smile. The smile is short-lived, though, as I turn back to my only route of exit. I press my ear to the door for a quick beat, listening hard to the other side for any sign that the brothers are out there in the shared spaces. A moment passes, but there’s nothing except silence.

I decide to take my chances, carefully twisting the knob of the door and holding it until I ease it open and away from the frame. Peering out into the shared living area, I glance from the large arching windows to the door that leads out into the corridor. There’s only one way out of this tower unless I feel like scaling and I’d really rather that not be my current option.

The short sword is a problem because it feels conspicuous but I didn’t feel safe without a weapon before Rahela attacked me again—I certainly feel even less safe now. I hold my breath and creep out of the room, my feet slipping along the hardwood floors with practiced steps. I move towards the door that leads out into the stairwell and perform the same thing I had previously, checking the lock, twisting the knob completely, and easing it open to look out into the hall.

My heart nearly jumps out of my throat when I see a shadow cross the wall.

No, no, no, I plead silently. Not now.

Ruen appears at the top of the staircase, the shadows under his eyes seeming deeper than they had hours before—had it been hours? It couldn’t have been longer than that. I glance back over my shoulder. The sun has definitely set now outside the windows across from where I stand. My fingers tremble lightly and I slowly blow out a breath and open the door wider, stepping out into the hall.

Ruen freezes when he sees me. His eyes move over me from head to toe, no doubt noting whose clothes I’m wearing. When his gaze gets to mine, it’s hard to read whatever he might be thinking. For a long moment, he doesn’t say anything and then, as if he’s far too exhausted to do much of anything else, he exhales a breath and moves the rest of the way up the stairs, not stopping until he’s standing in front of me.

“If you’re going to run, just tell me right now,” he says.

“Why? Planning on locking me up?” Like Theos had?

His nose wrinkles and his pupils dilate for a moment before he curses. “Are you fucking serious?” His midnight eyes narrow on me as he glares.

I blink and realize what he’s referring to. I hadn’t bathed after Theos and I had … well, after what had happened, and there was only so much cleaning with a cloth could erase.

I hold up a hand before Ruen can launch into a scolding, well aware that I’m acting contrary to how a normal Terra would at this moment, especially to him. “Believe me,” I tell him. “I already regret it and I can assure you that I have no plans to ever let it happen again.” He stares at me, that vein in his jaw bulging again. I shrug. “I just want to leave before he gets back.”

Ruen’s brow eases slightly and he tips his head, staring down at me as if he’s trying to read my thoughts. I’m confident by now that none of them have that ability, so I wait imitating patience for him to release me. Finally, he shakes his head and steps out of the way.

“He and Kalix are reporting to Dolos,” Ruen says as I take that first step towards the staircase, pausing as Dolos’ name leaves his lips.

Cold dread swallows my insides.

“They’re explaining to Dolos how Rahela attacked Theos and Kalix stepped in,” he continues. “Her absence would have otherwise been noted.”

I turn back to face him. “They’re taking the fall?” Numbness spreads through my limbs, down into my fingertips as my brow furrows. Theos had just fucked me to get information out of me—that much was clear—so why would he take the fall for me now, after I refused to give it to him? Why had he watched me after I’d pretended to fall asleep for that matter?

Ruen’s gaze moves over me, from my face to my body and back again. In that one quick glance, though, I feel thoroughly scrutinized. As if he knows everything that just transpired between Theos and me and not just the sex. I press my lips together and force my expression to ease as I wait for his response.

“We are taking the fall, Kiera,” Ruen states, clarifying. “Darkhavens do not let one fall without the rest. Technically, Kalix did kill her. We’re just keeping your involvement quiet. Any more problems from you and I fear what will happen to the other Terra—even if Dolos has seemed to lose interest in you, I never trust that the Gods ever truly stop watching for long.”

“I’m sorry.” Despite how terribly things have gone between us, I mean the words. “I was just trying to defend myself.” As I had been taught because no one would ever do it for me. Except for them. Because they are defending me, now, I realize. They’re stepping between me and the Gods to ensure that my attacking a Mortal God, even if she had attacked me first, never comes to light.

The last vestiges of the instinctive fear and apprehension that had flooded my body slowly dissipate as does the tension. It releases and my shoulders sag slightly.

Eyes strong with the current of the midnight sky peer back at me, assessing. “Just … don’t run, Kiera.” Ruen blows out a breath. “It would make my job far harder than I care for it to be. I only came back to inform you of the story we’ve decided to run with as well as some evidence that will help our case.”

“Evidence?” What kind of evidence could they possibly have had for something that had occurred only hours ago?

“We’re going with Rahela attacking Theos because she’s been obsessed with him for a while.”

“Why?” Theos was attractive, that much was obvious, but what woman would go as far as she had—or as far as they’re trying to make it look like she went—just for a man?

“I’m sure you’ve noticed that Theos makes sport of going after females he shouldn’t.” I stiffen at what I assume is an unintentional insult but say nothing. “Rahela’s mother is not exactly fond of our father. She was forbidden from playing with anyone of Azai’s line. Theos took that as a challenge and when he abandoned her, she felt betrayed.”

Because she had been, I think darkly. Fucking Theos. It’s hard to feel bad for her, though, since she had tried to kill me first.

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