Page 92 of Only Cold Depths
I yanked my stormsword off my belt. “Get inside! Find cover! Go! Now!”
Beatrice bobbed her head, picked up her long skirt, and headed toward the nearest door. I sucked in a breath and started running.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
KYRION
AfterVesperheadedtoAsterin’s workshop, I prowled through the Collier estate, once again checking on the guards and making sure everything was as it was supposed to be. I eavesdropped on some servants and learned that Aldrich, Verona, Asterin, Beatrice, and Wendell had gone to the mineral exchange to discuss more specifics about a potential alliance between House Collier and House Zimmer.
Beatrice and Wendell being that close to Vesper worried me, so I checked on her through the bond, but a familiar hum of happiness surged back to me. Vesper was working on some project, and the Zimmers didn’t seem to be bothering her, so I didn’t send a thought to her. After everything that had happened last night, I was glad she had found some peace.
I just wished I could do the same.
Talking about my mother had dredged up even more old memories, and my dreams had been filled with images of my younger self shouting at Desdemona. Even when I was unconscious, I couldn’t escape that shameful moment.
I wanted to know if Siya had any news about Esmina or Pollux, so I went to the training ring. Siya, Rigel, and the other Hammers were sparring again, this time with long spears, and they had a new audience member. Zane was leaning a shoulder against the castle wall, checking messages on his tablet.
I stopped beside him and crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re still here.”
“I can hear the wordunfortunatelyon the end of that sentence,” Zane chirped, scrolling through more screens. “Really, Kyrion, do youhaveto be so dour? So doom and gloomallthe time? You’re like a storm cloud, always raining on my parade. It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining, and we are at a fabulous estate. What more could you want?”
“You on a spaceship back to the Imperium. Or at the bottom of one of the mountain chasms, never to be seen or heard from again. I’m not particular.”
My tablet buzzed, distracting me from Zane, and I pulled it out. Vesper was back on the estate. Good. I’d sensed her arrival through the bond, but I still appreciated the message.
“Is that my dear sister?” Zane asked.
I ignored his prying gaze and slid the tablet back into my pocket.
Ding!
A shrill chime erupted from Zane’s tablet, making him grimace. I leaned forward just like Zane had so I could see the sender. Callus Holloway. Of course.
“Keeping an eye on Vesper and me for your boss?” I asked in a snide tone.
Zane shoved his tablet into his pocket. “Some of us don’t have the luxury of throwing caution to the wind and running away from our responsibilities.”
“If I didn’t know better, I would say you were jealous.”
“I’m absolutelyjealous.” Zane spat out the words. “Do you know what a gigantic bloodymessyou’ve left behind? The awkward, dangerous position you’ve put me in? All because you had to go and fall in love with my sister.”
I stepped toward him, my chest inches away from his. “The position I’ve putyouin? What about the position you’ve putVesperin? All you’ve done the last few weeks is brag about how you’re going to drag us back to Corios.”
Zane huffed. “You should know by now that I don’t mean half the things I say on the gossipcasts.”
“And yet you say them anyway. Why is that?”
“You wouldn’t understand,” he muttered.
“Try me.”
Zane opened his mouth, but Siya stepped over to us, a spear propped up on her shoulder. “Would you boys care to settle your differences in the training ring?”
“I would love to, but I doubt Kyrion has the guts for it.” Zane held his hand up beside his mouth as though he was about to reveal a secret to Siya. “The great Kyrion Caldaren doesn’t like it when I kick his ass.”
“You haveneverkicked my ass.”
Zane tapped his index finger on his nose. “You’re forgetting how thoroughly I broke your nose during the marriage mart last night.”
