Page 128 of Feathers of Ash and Hope

“Are you sure we’re speaking about the same guy? From what I know, he’s a cold, heartless bastard who fell in disgrace…”

I’m the one throwing up my hand this time.

“Don’t talk about him like that. I like him, so deal with it, and if I get hurt, it’s no one’s fault but my own.” I huff out a breath. “Also, while I love you like a brother, Joel, I do, you still don’t have the right to tell me how to live my life. So leave it. Okay?”

He huffs out a breath. “I still don’t like it,” he grumbles.

Tate

The momentI see the open window, I want to sag with relief.

She is fine.

Foley looks into my closet and even peers under my bed, visibly disappointed when he doesn’t find anyone. When he crosses to the window, I hold my breath, hoping Ara is already out of sight.

“Isn’t it a little early to sleep with an open window?” he asks.

“Is it? I think it’s perfectly fine, sir.”

“Remind me, where are you from again?” he asks, clearly fishing for information.

“North of here, sir.” He looks at me expectantly, but I’m not going to offer any more than that.

“Hmm, I see. Getting a lot of snow up there this time of the year, right?”

“Some areas do, sir.”

He grinds his teeth, inspecting the room like he could have missed something.

“Well, my information seems to have been wrong. I won’t keep you any longer. Tomorrow is a big day, after all.” He nods at me and strides to the door. He’s about to open it when he zeros in on the healing kit on my desk. I always keep an extra in my room in case Ara needs it.

It isn’t against the rules, but most keep their healing kits with their pack.

“Healing, hmm, such a precious gift. Where did you train?”

With the best fucking healers our country has to offer.

I spent a lot of time at the healing quarters of the palace after the attack, trying to work off some of my debt until my father had me banned.

“With the healer my family frequented, sir.”

“Hmm. Very well, maybe you should help out in the healing quarters now and then.”

“I will do that, sir.” I nod. “Good night, sir.”

“Good night, Centurion.” And then he’s gone.

Damn Foley to the mists and back.

Ara would still be in my bed if he hadn’t knocked.

Chapter

Thirty-Seven

TATE

Where is Ara?

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