Page 43 of Fragile Oath

He sighed. “The lass is safe. She’s drinking her coffee with Gal and Ruby.”

“Is everyone awake, then?” Another suspicion formed in the back of my mind about why I was so groggy, and I cursed. “I should have known not to trust them.”

“Ye really did need rest, lad,” Cray said, edging in next to my uncle.

“We only be looking out for you both and the girl.” Sai crept in as well, looking thoroughly repentant.

“Don’t lie to the kid,” Fia chimed in. Her features held none of Sai’s remorse. “We just like him less than the king.”

“Oh good, you’re here, too,” I muttered. “I’m glad we could all be here together this morning in my very small tent.”

“Did you sleep well?” she asked innocently.

I narrowed my eyes. “You would know.”

She shrugged, unbothered by being found out.

“Did you drug the others, too?” My tone was all false lightness. “Or was that honor reserved for my drink?”

Fia smirked. “No, they went to sleep when I told them to. You were the only one insisting on guarding your lover’s tent instead of getting some stars-damned rest.”

I threw my pillow in her general direction but only succeeded in hitting Cray when she ducked behind him.

“All right, ye numpties,” my uncle said, catching the pillow before it came sailing back toward me. “I need a moment alone with the lad.”

With a few grumbles and threats to withhold my breakfast, the three filed out, allowing me some breathing room with the king of Lochlann.

“How bad is it?” I asked, fumbling around for my clothes. It wasn’t hard to guess the answer if he had come himself.

“How bad is it that ye ran away when the whole blasted court suspects ye of murdering your own family, or how bad is it that ye aren’t there to defend yourself?” His brogue thickened with each word, a sure sign that he was upset.

“In my defense, I didn’t actually kill him,” I said, lacing my trousers.

Uncle Logan sighed, running a hand over his face and cropped beard.

“I know that, lad,” he said. “If ye’d have done it, ye never would have gotten caught.”

I grunted in acknowledgement, pulling my shirt over my head.

“But ye need to be there, finding out who did.”

“I’m not sure being there will make a difference,” I muttered, lacing up my shirt and running a hand through my hair. “I’m no closer to figuring out who the Viper was than we were a few months ago, unless you count the fact that we’ve effectively ruled out Tavish.”

He cursed under his breath.

“One thing at a time. At the very least, we need to get back to get the blame away from you.” Now that he had gotten his ire out of his system, he had already started to calm down, evidenced by his lightening brogue.

The trick with him, much like Avani, was to keep them talking until they no longer had the desire to yell. It was a coveted artform, passed down from my father to me.

“If you were in such a rush, why did you insist on making sure we stayed here until you caught up?” I asked, only being a little sarcastic.

“Because I dinna trust the lairds if I’m not there to intervene on your eejit behalf right now,” he said darkly.

On that auspicious note, we emerged from the tent to join the others for coffee. At least, that was my intention, until Uncle Logan called for the men to be prepared to leave.

Galina looked up, surprised either at the sheer volume of his booming voice or his proclamation. Gallagher, on the other hand, blew out a breath, not even bothering to hide his relief at escaping my uncle’s wrath. Which, of course, did not escape the king’s notice.

“We’ll be having words later,” he said, causing the corners of Gallagher’s mouth to pull down. “But for now, we need to get moving.”

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