Page 56 of Fragile Oath

“Surely this is overkill,” I muttered, pushing open my doors.

But they weren’t here for me.

A familiar head of crimson curls peeked out from over an armchair near the fire. The small sofa was occupied by Gwyn and Gallagher, but truthfully I was far more relieved to see the only politically inclined cousin I had.

Avani stood at the sound of the door, crossing the distance to me and enveloping me in a hug that I returned with a spin, squeezing her a little tighter than I normally would have. She hadn’t left Chridhe since she lost Mac, but she was here, now, for me.

“When did you arrive?” I asked, suspecting it was recent if the faint smell of horses that clung to her hair was any indication.

“Just this afternoon, along with the world’s most odious Duke.”

“Ah, so dear Mikhail has arrived.” I had to remind myself that it wasn’t him Galina had been afraid of, only his choice of husband for her.

But he was still an utter arseworm.

He was probably thrilled at this turn of events, given his feelings about our entire family, and Lochlannians in general. Did Galina go to him, arranging for her way home as soon as she gave her statement? She had definitely hesitated when I told her she could do what she wished. Did she have any idea what she wanted? Was it only the rest of us she kept in the dark?

“Unfortunately,” Avani broke into my thoughts. “I do hope his niece doesn’t take after him, though the twins seem to have conflicting opinions on that.”

I glanced at the siblings in question. Gwyn was taking advantage of the excessive spread Blaine must have brought up. He always went overboard when I was gone. She shrugged unapologetically at me before shoving one of the white-chocolate-covered cranberry-and-orange pastries into her mouth.

Gallagher shot her a look before turning to me. “Don’t let her act like she doesn’t care. She checked Galina’s rooms with me herself, and set up the guards.”

“Only so Dav didn’t spiral again,” she said, wiping the granules of sugar crust from her gown.

A muscle clenched in my jaw, though I couldn’t deny feeling better knowing they had taken care of those things.

“They’re both heavily biased,” I said to Avani, sinking into my only remaining chair and helping myself to some of my favorite pastries – or I would have, if Gwyn hadn’t already eaten them all.

“Obviously. Which of course, is not a problem you would share.” Avani reclaimed her chair, lifting up a furry little gray-and-white sphere in the process.

“New friend?” I asked, pointedly ignoring her remark and forestalling any further conversation about Galina. I didn’t want to talk about her when I finally had some space.

Avani took my cue with ease.

“He was injured,” she said, tracing the dark stripes behind the creature's ears.

“Was he injured, or was he just too portly to walk?” I asked in a mild tone.

Truthfully, I wondered if Avani had just needed a companion more than the animal needed her help.

She made a face of mock offense.

“Albert doesn’t appreciate your insinuations.” She cradled the creature to her chest and, in spite of my day, in spite of everything, I felt a small smile creep onto my lips.

This was familiar, Avani with a rescued animal. After Mac had died, it was almost like she had stopped existing. She had barely left her rooms and stopped talking to everyone, animals included.

But now she was here, with little…Albert, apparently.

“What exactly is Albert?” Gwyn asked, tilting her head to examine the creature, who was nibbling obliviously on a fig Avani had given him.

Avani paused, squaring her shoulders defensively and refusing to meet any of our eyes.

“A flying squirrel,” she finally answered.

There was a pointed silence, thick with the skepticism she had clearly anticipated. It was Gallagher who valiantly cleared his throat to ask aloud what we had all been wondering.

“But…canhe fly? Physically, I mean,” he clarified.

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