Page 93 of Fragile Oath

Of course, there was a charm in its place. It was a dragon, carved from silver with sapphire eyes, its wings spread out protectively.

I picked up the delicate chain, taking a deep breath as I clasped it around my wrist.

The familiar weight was comforting and…right, like a missing piece of myself finally snapping back into place after years of being fractured.

It was one step closer to putting this nightmare behind me for good.

ChapterForty

DAVIN

If the moodwas tense the night before, I wasn’t quite sure what to call it tonight.

Another man was dead. Another day had passed without finding the murderer. There was a restless and expectant energy in the air, the courtiers having once again made their side known based on where they sat at the massive dining table.

News had already spread about Edgar, and now Bennet, and the lairds and ladies alike were making their displeasure known about the fact that we hadn’t yet apprehended the culprit. Which wasn’t hypocritical at all, considering that just a week ago they had accused us of making up Galina’s entire kidnapping.

Closest to my family were those who still supported us, while MacBay and the other leading members of the Assembly took their stand at the opposite end of the table, along with Lady Shaw, of course.

Her narrowed gaze followed us all the way to our seats — where I was more than a little surprised to find the youngest MacBay. Gracie had taken the spot between Avani and Gallagher, and she appeared perfectly content to be there.

She smiled up at us, sniffling apologetically as Malishka drew closer. Still, despite her allergy and her father’s clear disapproval of her association, she stayed seated, greeting both myself and Galina as we took our seats between the twins.

“Lady Gracie,” I greeted back casually, lifting my wine glass toward her before taking a sip while she easily slipped back into her conversation with Avani.

Gwyn leaned over after a moment.

“Without Fiona’s shadow looming over her, Gracie almost seems like herself again,” she whispered so that only I could hear.

I couldn’t disagree. She was more relaxed tonight than she had been in ages — more like she had been before everything between our families went to hell. I hoped this meant she was done avoiding me and finally willing to answer my questions.

It would be nice to know that we still had one ally among the MacBays. One friend.

When the meal was finished and servants ushered in dessert trays, the dining hall was once again filled with the smell of pumpkin. Galina stiffened at my side until the cloche was removed from her small plate, revealing a pear crisp instead of the maple pumpkin pies the rest of us were being served.

She glanced over at me, her expression softening into something like relief.

“You know, your story also led to a few other interesting developments,” I added after a moment.

After speaking with Galina about the pumpkins, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. More specifically, about the fact that it could be the best lead we had found so far.

Already, my spies were gathering information on the vendors who had attended the festival, three of whom grew pumpkins. My men were ready and waiting for the signal to pull them in for questioning.

Galina watched me carefully, and I could tell that she was following that line of thought.

“You have a lead?” she asked quietly, and I nodded.

“Three.”

Her expression mirrored my own, her relief just as palpable.

If we were right about this, it meant we were one step closer to finding the Viper and ending their reign of terror, once and for all.

* * *

After Gracie satby us at dinner, I finally saw my chance to talk to her again. Knowing our history, though, I didn’t want to just traipse to her rooms without explaining it to Galina first.

“Gwyn mentioned that she told you I think Gracie has some information that could help us,” I began once we made it back to her room. “I want to try to talk to her tonight.”

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