Page 76 of Kept to Kill
Del gave him a look but dropped the argument. ‘Does the girl’s disguise need any alteration?’ she asked instead.
‘No. It seems to fit just fine … what little there is of it.’
Del shrugged. ‘Does the girl object?’ She sounded surprised.
‘No, she said she will do what is expected.’
Del stood. ‘The unit from the Library will be here as soon as the sun rises over the rooftops. You’ll find Drake, Krase, and Vane loyal to the Army, but be cautious. They’ve been here since they were chosen from the camp children by Greygor. They were educated in the First Scholar’s Academy. They’re yours, but they’re his as well.’
Quin’s eyes narrowed at Del. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean, they’ll help you as is their duty as Brothers. Just don’t tell them anything you wouldn’t want getting back to Nixus.’
Quin shook his head. ‘He’s a fucking librarian.’
Del rolled her eyes back at him. ‘He’s not just a fucking librarian. The Scholar is a dangerous man, the true power in this city and in the north. He’s clever and sly, gets others to do his dirty work for him. And he has power over the unit here. Be cautious,’ she said. ‘Don’t get in Nixus’s way and he won’t get in yours, for now.’
Quin nodded. He didn’t have time to deal with yet more enemies at this moment. If the man wasn’t a threat to the Army, then he would leave him well enough alone. ‘Perhaps I should have that unit called back to the Army and replaced.’
Del made a face. ‘Such a change would draw the sort of attention to the Army that you do not need at the moment. My advice to you is to ensure that this unit understands your authority and sees you as a fair man. They are Brothers still, though they have been far removed from the Army for quite some time. They did their training and the Brothers’ trials in the camp after their education at the Academy was complete.’
‘I recall,’ said Quin. ‘It was one of Greygor’s ventures.’
‘That’s right,’ his aunt said. ‘He wanted Brothers in positions of power here. He was a shrewd man. Greygor knew that the Great Library is the true authority in Kitore, not the palace, whatever the king would have you believe. He takes veiled orders from Nixus as well.’
‘We saw the king last night.’
‘Indeed? What did that oaf have to say?’
‘Nothing you would care to hear, Aunt,’ he said in a dry tone.
Del huffed. ‘Probably,’ she agreed. ‘I’ll get you some tea.’
She rose and left him in the parlor alone. He looked out the window, making the most of the peace and quiet, for he knew it wouldn’t last long.
The air had the warmth of spring in it today, he thought as Del returned a moment later with a steaming mug identical to her own.
‘It’s a dark tea,’ she said. ‘Comes in on the ships from the Islands. You’ll like it.’
‘Are you all right up here, Del?’ he asked her, changing the subject. ‘As a caretaker, I mean. If you wanted, I could have you brought back down to the camp.’
Del ruffled his hair, something no one had done in a very long time. ‘No, no, my boy. I like it well enough. I’ve built my life here. The darkness that seeps through the city can’t last forever and, hopefully, I’ll survive it and live to see a better age. Now, one more bit of advice. Patch up your relationships with your unit. This weakness will not do for the Commander of the Dark Army. It does not lend credence to your position. Greygor’s unit hated him, and though they tried to keep it quiet, anyone who saw them together could tell their unit was split.’
Quin said nothing. He knew his aunt was correct. She left him again and he sat in his chair sipping his tea, thinking about how he was going to repair things. In truth, he didn’t know if he could after what had happened with Lily last night. He had been afraid that he would call a stop to the mission. He hated that he was sending her behind enemy lines, but there was no other way that he could see. And his loyalty to the Army came first. He hissed a curse when he remembered how his Brothers had looked at him … how Lily had.
He thought back to last night when he had held Lily in his arms. He hadn’t felt such peace in a very long time. He also hadn’t had a woman in a very long time. He adjusted himself as he began to harden, thinking of her hot, sweet cunt. The breathy moans she’d made as he had fucked her. He’d meant to go slow. He’d known it was her first time taking a cock. But she seemed so eager that he had not been able to stop himself from having her the way he had imagined; hard, rough; and she had enjoyed it if the noises she had made were anything to go by. The way she shook when she found her release had sent him over the edge as well.
He wished he could see her face as contented as it had been last night when she had lain in his arms, sated. But then he had had to ruin it by pretending that it had meant nothing to him. He swore under his breath once more.
He thought back to how she’d arrived in his room, a walking temptation he couldn’t deny. The last thing he’d expected was for her to come to him, to want him. It had been … he hardened further at the mere thought. And then afterwards when they’d talked. He couldn’t remember having spoken with a woman about his past ever. But then the others had arrived and it had shattered the little bubble just as he’d realized that he cared for her as much as he did his Brothers – though in a very different way.
How could he possibly make her do the things he was going to ask her to do? How could he be the Commander of the Dark Army if he cared about Lily enough to put her first? If he’d known, he would never have bound her to them in the first place. Never. He had to make her take the deal that he had offered, so he had made her think that she – what they’d done – meant nothing more to him than a dalliance with any woman would have.
Fuck!How could he unbind her? Logistically, he knew how to. There was a book for the Commanders that had these rituals in it back at the camp. He had to do it. Without her, he could mend the ties between his Brothers and they would be united and strong. She would leave and they would go back to their lives. That was how it had to be. It was indeed a mess, but he had to mend the bonds between his Brothers without Lily. He had to.
There was a knock at the door and he saw that the sun had reached the top of the houses. This would be the Brothers he’d called for.
‘Enter.’
