Page 46 of A Deception of Courts

“The shifter looks like she wants to claw the skin from my face,” Kayne said out of the corner of his mouth, daringly glancing toward Gyah, who had her arm wrapped protectively around Althea.

I stood between him and Duncan, watching Gyah and Althea reunite. There wasn’t any point telling Kayne that he was wrong. Every time Gyah laid her golden eyes upon him, I sensed her desire to carve the skin from his body and devour it. Her intention was evident.

“Don’t worry about her,” I said. “She has better taste than the likes of you.”

Apparently my attempt at lightening the mood had failed. Kayne grunted, not bothering to offer me a reply. I clawed back the desire to tell him I was joking, because I hardly imagined that would’ve made a difference.

“Mate, the last time she saw you was on the better side of a Hunter’s cage,” Duncan added, leaning around me to give his friend a wink. “You can hardly blame her for wishing to eat you whole.”

“Explain the smile she gave you, then,” Kayne replied. “Last time I remembered, you were beside me outside that bloody cage.”

Duncan shrugged, looking rather pleased with himself. “Perhaps she’s an excellent judge of character.

“Believe me when I tell you this, Duncan.” My heart swelled in my chest as we drew closer to her. “Gyah’s smiling at you for an entirely different reason than you think. I wouldn’t think you are above the potential of a late-night snack.”

The fierce Eldrae was adorned in the deep, autumnal-coloured outfit of a Cedarfall guard. Her belt was decorated with the hilts of weapons, each one a story of her skill. Even beneath the sea of snow-covered pines, the breeze was confident enough to twist her burgundy cloak at her back, mimicking the wings that hid within her concealed Eldrae form. Snowfall covered her hair in silver stars before melting into nothingness. As more snowflakes fell upon her, Gyah’s skin glistened as though she was painted by jewels – until Althea gently caught them with her thumb and brushed them off.

I’d seen Althea focused before, like when she’d fought against a group of Hunters the first time I’d met her. But in the presence of Gyah, it was as if nothing else mattered to the Cedarfall princess other than the woman beside her.

“Interrupting anything?” I called out, feeling heat rise in my cheeks as they both settled their gazes on me.

“No,” Althea replied.

“Yes,” Gyah said in the same breath.

They both stood beyond a sharp-tipped tent, far larger than the others we passed. A village of them had been erected beneath the cover of Merrow Forest, which Althea had explained was only a short ride to Imeria Castle. Logically, she believed it would be our next destination, but I had yet to tell her that she was wrong.

Gyah released her passionate hold on Althea and threw her arms around me. “Come here you reckless fool.” Her powerful limbs squeezed me around the middle, forcing a laugh out of me. “It’s really good to see you in one piece, Robin. Although, between you and me, I can’t say the same for the two stragglers behind you.”

Although the way she said it suggested her words were only meant for me, Gyah made sure to raise her voice so Duncan and Kayne could hear.

“It’s good to see you too,” I replied, resting my chin on her shoulder as I returned her embrace. It was a surprise when tears prickled in my eyes, a stinging at the back of my throat almost choking me. “Sorry for the delay, although I’m sure you know all about it already.”

“Oh, I do.” Gyah pulled back as quickly as she had hugged me. Gone was her smile. Instead, she regarded me with a sudden snarl that made me think I’d said something wrong. There was no time to register as her fist pulled back and delivered a swift thud into my shoulder.

“Fuck,” I groaned. It hurt a lot, but even I knew she’d held back her full might. “What was that for!”

“Neverdo that again, Robin.” Gyah pointed a finger at me. Her tone oozed authority.

Duncan shifted a step closer, but I shot him a look which told him to stand down.

“You’re going to have to be a little clearer than that,” I replied, as pins and needles raced down my shoulder to the tips of my fingers.

“We are a team. We decide everything together. If you ever put me in a position to choose you or Althea again then I promise my fist will connect with your face the next time. Am I clear?”

I nodded, watching Gyah’s body tremble with tension. Her eyes looked heavy, her lips drawn with lines around them that had not been there the last I had seen her. “Is now the moment to say that I think your decision will always and only ever be Althea?”

“Shut up,” Gyah snapped, eyes narrowed. “Although, you’re not wrong. But still, shut up.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, massaging the ache out of my shoulder to no avail.

Althea slipped a hand into Gyah’s fist, preventing her from striking again. Upon contact of her soft touch, Gyah melted from her sudden fury into something more tepid. “You better be.”

“I am.”

“Do you know what, Robin, I hate nothing more than when people need to say sorry. It suggests they have something to be sorry for, which you, Robin, seem to do a lot. Leaving you that night was one of the hardest things I’ve done and I’ll never forgive you for making me choose.”

“Turned out okay in the end.” I looked around us, to the fey bustling through the crowds, carrying wooden bowls of food, dressed in fresh clothes. There was no denying the morale of the camp was light.

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