Page 7 of Court of Treachery

5

AEDON

Brand watched Harper bed down for the night, then his stern gaze flicked to Aedon, who stood brooding into the fire.

“A word.” It was not a request.

Face blank, Aedon followed him away from the others, but annoyance seethed under his skin. He knew that face.

“Stay away from her,” Brand growled.

Aedon scowled. “I beg your pardon?”

“Harper. Stay away from her. I can see a mile off the girl has an infatuation with you that you ought not encourage.”

Aedon drew back, then puffed out his chest with indignation. “Who says it’s any of your business?”

“The fact we all live together, for one.” Brand scowled at him.

“I can do, or not do, whatever I please.”

“Stay away from her,” he growled again. “I’ve seen it time and again with you. You let these casual romances throw themselves at you, then leave them broken-hearted because you’re too scared to open your heart again. Not Harper. She’s one of us now, and she needs us. I won’t have you breaking her, too, for she’ll be truly lost and alone then.”

“Well, I?—”

“Promise me.”

“I don’t reall?—”

Brand stooped to his level and shoved his face, bared teeth and all, toward Aedon’s. “Promise me.”

“I promise I won’t be irresponsible, if it’ll make you feel better.” Aedon recovered some of his customary swagger and rolled his eyes. “I didn’t know you were the sentimental type.” He dared to pat the giant Aerian atop his head of tangled hair.

Brand snapped his head back, away from Aedon’s reach, and glared at him. “It’s not a joke. I’m serious.”

Aedon glowered back at him. “If you’re so serious, sort out your own love life before preaching to me.”

The feathers on Brand’s wings flared. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean. You two must think we’re all blind. You need to take your fucking further into the woods if you think to keep it a secret, brother.” Aedon considered the Aerian a brother and the nomad a sister, for they had been through so much together that deeds bonded them deeper than blood. Whilst he judged neither of them for what they decided to do together, he didn’t need to hear it—nor be reminded of his own lacking love life.

“That’s none of your business. Don’t change the subject,elf. Keep your word.” Brand ruffled his wings, turned away, and strode back to camp.

Aedon watched him go but lingered in the shadows at the edge of camp. His attention fell upon Harper’s form, still wriggling in her cloak to try and find a comfy nook in which to sleep.

Her piercing grey eyes—that insolent, curious stare—swam before him. The determined set of her delicate jaw. He sighed. It had been a while, and he had missed the thrill of the chase.Surely it was harmless? Brand didn’t know what he was talking about.Bloody Aerian.Aedon pushed all doubt from his mind.

6

DIMITRI

Dimitri’s eyes snapped open. His bedroom was cool, dark, and silent—as always. But a tingle wormed its way down his spine. He lay immobile, holding his breath, opening all his senses to the world around him. What had awoken him?

Nothing seemed amiss, but tension coiled within him, the silent voice of instinct speaking. He slid from the smooth, silken sheets and stood, curling his bare toes in the thick fur of the pelt beneath his feet. The cool air chilled his bare torso, for he had only worn bed trousers that night. He padded toward the door, his feet silent across the ornate wood parquet, and pressed his ear to the wood.

Silence. Yet still, it niggled at him. He opened the door, preparing a barrage of magic, just in case, even as he berated himself for such silly fears in his own quarters.

“I can hear you, Lord Ellarian.”

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