Page 62 of With Wing And Claw

Fuck. ‘I’m doingfine.’

He threw her a look, eyebrows arched up.

‘I don’t need help,’ she weakly added – because shedidn’t, did she? She was strong. If she wasn’t strong, at least she had toseemstrong. And how was she to know he was even joining her with good intentions, this male who’d spent an entire lifetime studying bargains? Even if she made him vouch for his loyalty, he’d know all the tricks to render his word effectively meaningless, and then—

‘Ask me,’ he said, not even looking up as he chucked two books into his bag.

Oh.

One question left.

‘Are you …’ She cleared her throat, feeling infuriatingly young on his wobbling desk chair. ‘Are you planning to harm me or cause me trouble in any possible way?’

‘I’d rather tear off my own wings,’ he said, voice flat.

She parted her lips.

No words came out.

Out of nowhere, she felt shamefully close to crying.

Chapter 15

An hour was notnearly enough to get her thoughts back in line.

Which was a problem, because her thoughtshadto be in line – there was no facing the Crimson Court with a spinning mind and a stutter in her voice, not if she wanted to make it to the next sunrise. But Silas’s resolute wingbeats beside her did not help. Nor did the knowledge of what was waiting for her upon her return, the court she’d somehow have to protect from itself even as it clamoured for war and killed its own …

So that’s your plan for the place?

It itched, that question. It chafed.

Far too soon, the familiar maze of pointy spires rose on the horizon; minutes later, they were descending to the court itself, sprawled beneath them in red marble and gleaming gold. Silas’s expression never changed beside her, his hard-set jaw the only evidence of old memories returning – a whole life he’d led in the place until it all collapsed from one day to the next. She didn’t doubt he’d see the echoes of it in every hall and doorway.

‘Where did you use to have your rooms?’ she shouted against the wind, belatedly realising she should probably house him somewhere.

He scoffed. ‘Put me in the stables for all I care, as long as you don’t make me return to my old rooms.’

Fair enough.

‘My own tower, then.’ She swerved left, over the training grounds below – which were strangely empty, she noted with half a glance. Something to ask Nicanor about. ‘It has quite a few empty floors at the moment. I’m sure we can—’

Shouts reached her from the castle.

Or rather … achorusof shouting.

It was too far away to make out individual words, that faint racket in the distance. She could distinguish that unmistakable rhythmic cadence of a clamouring mob, though. The layered sound of dozens, if not hundreds of voices.

What in the world?

Some impromptu duel happening somewhere? But fights usually took place on the training fields, yet the courtyards below them were still suspiciously deserted. And at once, that odd but innocent fact took on an entirely different meaning – because if her warriors weren’tthere, training where they usually were …

Then what were the bastards doing?

‘Anything wrong?’ Silas asked sharply as she swivelled around mid-air.

‘Possibly.’ Hell take her. Three hours she’d been gone, after five days of blissful peace, andthiswas the moment the court decided to start stirring trouble again? ‘Don’t worry about it. I’ll look into it. See you in the eastern cliff tower in a bit – fifth floor.’

She shot away before he could object and try to follow her. Bad enough if the court was collapsing around her – he didn't need to know just how badly it was doing so. He'd probably turn back around and run for his life if he found out.

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