Page 106 of Fragile Oath

The soldiers had done a cursory check of all of the rooms, but storms knew she had plenty of resources to hide. A shiver ran up my spine, and Malishka let out a low whine in sympathy.

A delicate voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“Davin said I might find you here.” Gracie’s expression was casually exasperated as she scanned the table full of books and my ink-stained fingers.

“Lady Galina, when was the last time you took a break?”

I looked at the clock, realizing the time. We’d arrived shortly before dawn, and it was well past afternoon teatime. As if on cue, my stomach growled.

She smiled. “That’s what I thought. I just had tea sent to my rooms. I thought you might join me?”

I glanced from her back to the table, very much not ready to walk away from my research so soon. I also had no burning desire to spend any time with Gracie, which wasn’t fair, I knew. Especially when she was clearly trying.

I bit back a sigh.

She was always trying. Helping with this investigation even though it had to be an awkward position for her, standing at Davin’s family’s side even when it put her at odds with her own family.

I couldn’t keep living in the past when she was trying to be a friend and an ally, not to mention a permanent fixture at the Lochlannian court. I’d have to get used to spending time with her someday. If Davin had told her where to find me, he must be thinking the same.

Storms, maybe the change of atmosphere would help me to think more clearly, and to remember some of the notes I’d made before.

“Tea sounds lovely,” I finally said, making an effort to inject some warmth into my tone.

Something like relief shone in her brown eyes, and I felt guilty all over again for making her feel unwelcome, especially after Davin’s remark that she didn’t have many close friends.

“I thought it might,” she said with a conspiratorial smile.

This time, I returned it.

After ripping a small bit of parchment from my notes, I scribbled a message for Davin, just in case he came looking for me, and placed it in the center of the table. Then, I pocketed my notes and the few scattered tins of poisonous plants Gal and I had been dissecting, leaving an instruction to the guard to let no one else in until I returned.

I followed Gracie out the door and down the hall toward the guest suites while she chatted about small things here and there. Ewan trailed behind us, since I still had a guard outside of my rooms, and Malisha walked at my side.

Once we made it to Gracie’s door, she hesitated, her fingers hovering just over the handle. Her expression turned apologetic.

“Apologies, but could Malishka,” she attempted the name, overly stressing the ‘k’ sound. “Stay in the hall? With my allergies, I’d rather not have her in my rooms.”

I glanced between her and the dog, recalling the way my companion made her sneeze. Already, her eyes were watering like she was on the verge of an allergic reaction.

Gracie apologized again, but I assured her it was fine, even though a small part of me balked at the idea. Malishka had become as constant to me as my own shadow, my silent protector.

But she wouldn’t be far, just on the other side of the door, and I couldn’t stay this afraid forever.

Ewan, however, seemed far less confident in the arrangement. His gaze flitted toward the door and back to me. “Lady MacBay, it would make me feel more comfortable if I could do a quick sweep of the room, with everything—”

Gracie’s eyes widened, and she swallowed hard before opening the door and cutting him off.

“Of course,” she said, quickly. “Please.”

She looked at me apologetically and there was a moment of stilted silence, both of us realizing that the Viper had been in these very rooms. That she had some association with Gracie, however unwilling on the latter’s part.

And with Fiona still missing, we couldn’t be too careful.

Ewan came back a few minutes later, offering me a quick, reassuring nod before taking up his position once again as guard, right outside the door.

“Enjoy your tea, milady,” he said. “I’ll take care of Malishka.”

“Sidet,” I ordered her, using one of the Socairan commands we had been working on before glancing up at Ewan.

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