Page 83 of A Deception of Courts

“But what if they are not that?” Gyah added quickly. “Dreams, nightmares, terrors. We all know them well, but never do they repeat. Our minds don’t work like that. Nor do they make their victim look like an exhausted sack of shit, as our dear Robin does.”

I flicked my ladle at her, splattering her dark leathers with droplets of stew. “Watch it.”

Gyah raised her hands at her sides and gasped. “No, please,” she mocked. “Not the spoon.”

“Would you two stop.” Althea laughed, echoing my chortle. She threaded her arm around Gyah’s waist and held her. Seeing them so close warmed me from the inside out.

“I’m serious about this,” Gyah said, frowning as she plucked a lump of what I hoped to be overcooked venison from her dark braid. “I think this is more than just dreams.”

My blood ran cold in my veins, sending a strange wave of numbness down my arms. “What are you suggesting?”

“This is speculation, but Jesibel could be doing this to you. By choice, or not.”

Althea’s brows furrowed. “You think she’s a–”

“Dream walker,” Gyah interjected. “Yes, I do. Robin said Jesibel was originally from the Icethorn Court. Dream walking was a rare ability but one only privy to those Icethorn natives. It’s possible she has those abilities just as Althea has with the flame and Robin’s little icicle fingers.”

Althea leaned in, hiding her smirk at Gyah’s description of my powers. “It’s certainly possible.”

They both seemed pleased with Gyah’s suggestion, but I felt nothing but dread. If that was Jesibel, then she was truly warning me. It wasn’t some dream conjured from my worries about her safety and condition. She truly was broken and weak. Her body was no stranger to pain from the marks, blood and bruises.

Worst of all, she had seen everything. Jesibel had torn through my memories, devouring information about the Nephilim and our whereabouts.

Ourplans.

Dread pierced me, deep to the marrow.

“This has to stop…” I started but quickly lost my words. My mind raced for a way to prove that Gyah was wrong. What it meant if she was right was terrifying. “Jesibel shouldn’t have access to her powers. The iron cuff around her neck should stop her abilities. Unless…”

“Unless it has been taken off her,” Gyah finished for me, working out what was worrying me. “Fuck, this isn’t good, is it?”

“No.” Heat cracked from Althea’s skin. “If what you are saying it right, that means Jesibel is being used as…”

“Bait.” My heart fought its way into my throat, attempting to block the word but failing. “Aldrick is using Jesibel as bait. He knows seeing her like that will make me want to save her. She has even told me not to trust them… I didn’t know who she was speaking of, but it must be Aldrick. She is – has been – warning me not to fall for it.”

“And are you?” Althea said, eyes drinking me in. “I know you, Robin. Regardless of the meaning behind Jesibel’s dream walking, I don’t think for a second that you will give up on her.”

A gust of wind screamed through the double doors as they were thrown open. Our heads snapped toward the noise to see Kayne standing between them as he searched the room. I knew who he was searching for.

He raised his hand, sleeves rolled to his elbow, exposing a sea of freckles across his slender arm. Duncan lifted his chin as though he sensed eyes on him. He beckoned Kayne to him with a smile.

“I won’t give up on her,” I replied, watching as Kayne sauntered toward Duncan. I hadn’t told Duncan about my interaction with Kayne those nights ago. Althea hadn’t brought it up, either. “Which is why we need to do exactly as Aldrick wants us to do.”

Althea cocked a hand on her hip and rested on it. “Falling straight into his web does not sound like the smartest of ideas.”

“No,” I said, forcing my stare from Kayne as his hand lingered far too long on Duncan’s shoulder. “No, we make himthinkwe are falling for it when, in fact, we do the complete opposite. News from Oakstorm and Cedarfall has been quiet on the Aldrick front. He hasn’t acted since he took Elmdew. Every morning we wake up expecting news of his next move, and nothing. He is waiting for something… I just haven’t worked it out yet.”

“The last time he had that lost look in his eyes, he was planning a prison break,” Althea muttered to Gyah as they both regarded me.

I dropped the ladle into the pot, not caring for the warm liquid that splashed up my arm. “We can’t sit around waiting anymore. I can’t.”

“And you suggest we…”

“I need to find Rafaela.” I wiped my hands down my trousers and sidestepped around the pot with the goal of getting outside. “Can you get Duncan and… Kayne? We all need to be ready to discuss the next steps. Together.”

“So, the King of the Icethorn Court has learned the importance of teamwork,” Gyah jibed. “Well, Iamimpressed.”

“I live to please.” I faked a bow and rushed out of the town hall, leaving Althea and Gyah to finish service. Before I met the cold air of the street outside, I turned back to find Duncan staring at me. His eyes were alight with a question, and I hoped the look I gave him in return promised that I would give him answers soon. And I would. But first, I needed Rafaela’s acceptance. Although I already knew, given the chance of destroying Aldrick for his part in Gabrial’s death, she’d jump at the opportunity.

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