Page 17 of Untamed

Cosme walked through the portal with an easy gait, as if he did this every day, which he likely did. He strode across from me and paced behind Gonzalo and his two Dotado friends. “What did I miss?”

“She’s about to share what happened last night.” Zichri pulled two stools from the kitchen and walked around the open portal with Cosme’s sitting room visible on the other side.

Minerva gave us a sad smile through the portal. A light burned along her neck, and she vanished. I flinched, but Jaime didn’t blink twice and neither did Zichri, Cosme, or any of the other fellows in the room. How would I expose her if they all trusted her? How would all these men respond to her betrayal?

Cosme perched on the stool beside Zichri like the king of the muddy boots because, of course, his boots were leaving trails of dirt.

Jaime retrieved a tray of empanadas from the kitchen and set it on a table between the fellows. He kissed my cheek in greeting, his lips leaving warmth with me, his nearness a very welcome balm. He gestured for me to take the couch seat next to him, and I did. Everyone’s attention followed me with expectation. They stuffed their mouths with empanadas and snuck questions in between bites.

I told them every last detail, including every word Minerva said. Part of me wished I hadn’t exposed her; but judging by their lack of response, I shouldn’t have felt too badly.

“So, was the fellow more fit around the shoulders?” Gonzalo puffed out his chest and sucked in his gut.

“I think so.” I cracked my knuckle.

“What designs were on his doublet?” Zichri leaned forward on his stool. “Was it more like a mountain horizon or a triple moon?”

“Ehhh…I didn’t see those details, and it was very dark in the passageway.” I smoothed my yellow dress over my lap, straining to grasp the adrenaline-filled memory. The details screaming through my mind weren’t exactly helpful.Imagine if I told him my heart had pounded hard enough to open a hole in my chest and the shadows were dark, really dark.I smacked my tongue and decided now was the time to lay out my concerns. “What about the fact that this fellow was insisting Minerva take him to Pedroz?”

Zichri raked his fingers through his cropped hair. “That could be either of my brothers.”

“Well, shouldn’t you ask Minerva about these details?” My voice grew louder. “She’s the one being threatened by your brother, and she obviously knows more than she’s saying.”

Zichri started, “Yes, but she won’t say.”

“So, why do we all trust her again?” I met Jaime’s handsome face and then looked past him to Blas. No objection resided in their wide-open eyes. Then Gonzalo gave me a giant nod, affirming I hadn’t been crazy in asking the mountain-sized question they all were avoiding. Cosme’s two friends turned their stony expressions toward Cosme, as if they couldn’t think for themselves. Cosme’s stare could have burned me with its intensity.

“She’s not our enemy.” Cosme’s nose flared with barely contained anger. “If you knew her story, you’d understand that there’s more going on here.”

“Cosme.” I tried to steady my voice because I had seen his tongue become caustic many times over. He meant well and strove to be honorable, but he also had passion pumping through his veins. “You’re absolutely right. I don’t know her story, and I heard the man threaten her lady—whatever that means.”

“My sister.” Zichri’s tone came out flat. “Minerva is my sister’s ward.”

I gulped, understanding my need to tiptoe around making accusations. Both princes had an attachment to this girl. “It just seems like Minerva has warring allegiances.”

The air went still as everyone held their breath. Would Cosme batter me like a bull hitting its target, or would he be levelheaded?

“You said it better than I could.” Cosme got to his feet and adjusted his tunic. “I asked her what was wrong before wecame here, and she said she’s forbidden from talking about her problem.”

“Forbidden?” Blas’s astonishment echoed up the walls. “Come on, that sounds ridiculous. I should start using that one.”

Gonzalo laughed. “I don’t think even that could shut Blas’s trap.”

Jaime covered his mouth though his cheeks twitched.

Zichri held out his palms to calm the laughter, but it only served to increase the volume.

“Enough of your teasing.” Cosme strode around the couches and pointed toward the exit. “You all can say whatever you’d like about Minerva, but she’s not a liar. Let’s find out who threatened her last night.”

“What does he mean?” I clutched Jaime’s strong arm.

Zichri got to his feet. “I can’t go, but don’t worry, I brought a horse. The country estate’s not too bad a ride.”

“Where am I going?” I whispered to Jaime, but my words got lost in the shuffle of the men rising to their feet.

“Don’t worry, Laude.” Jaime intertwined his fingers with mine and pulled me along to Cosme’s side. “We’ll be with you.”

“Where are we going?” I screeched.

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