Page 153 of Lana Pecherczyk
River angled protectively toward Blake. He pulled coins from his pocket and flipped them over his tattooed knuckles. She didn’t need the bond to sense his irritation. It seethed from his every pore. Eventually, he tossed the coins with deliberate force.
The sentinel caught them and then held them to the light until prisms sparkled and dispersed shards of rainbows. Her gaze lingered on River’s weapons, particularlyPeacemakerat his hip.
Blake’s pulse hammered as she watched them, half expecting battle to erupt.
“And the outsider?”
Attention shifted to Blake, who clutched the anatomy book against her chest.
“Obviously, she’s my Well-blessed mate.” River’s voice dropped dangerously low. He flicked his blue-marked wrist dismissively. “Or are you blind as well as stupid?”
Blake lifted her chin, allowing her marks to catch the sunlight. The sentinel’s eyes widened and instantly narrowed to slits.
“Proceed, Guardian.” She stepped aside with apparent reluctance.
With a grumbled insult tossed her way, River placed his hand on Blake’s back and guided her forward.
“What was that about?”
“Just reminding her who’s boss.” He stopped and slid his hand along Blake’s jaw until his fingers curled around her nape. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. Why?”
His gaze flicked to where his parents hovered nearby, worry tightening their faces. Blake hadn’t missed the uncomfortable silence when they’d emerged from the pond. River’s greeting had been arctic.
“As long as they don’t drug us again, I’ll be fine.”
“They’re in an early grave if they do.” His gaze never wavered from hers, deadly serious.
Blake released a tentative laugh. “I’m joking, River.”
“I’m not.”
She patted his hand. “Seriously, I’m fine.”
It seemed like he wanted to say more, but he inhaled deeply and nodded on the exhale. “Ash is meeting us at the Donna’s.”
She shifted her anatomy book to one hand and offered him the other, half expecting him to scoff about being too old for such gestures. But he laced his fingers through hers with a grateful smile.
“Will you join us for the evening feast?” Ravi asked him as they passed.
“Maybe.”
“The Corvus has called a general meeting afterward.” Talo’s words fell carefully. “We’ll save you seats.”
River acknowledged this with a distracted nod, already guiding Blake forward. “Let’s reach the Donna’s before the lines grow long.”
Blake tried to give them a friendly wave, but River dragged her forward with urgency. It didn’t take long for her to get distracted. Magic saturated the atmosphere, prickling her skin.
Too many wonders competed for her attention. Afternoon sun glimmered through shifting leaves. Black-winged silhouettes flew against the sun’s golden glare, their caws carrying messages across the gathering. Feathers floated downward and swirled with impossible colors. Families moved about, setting up temporary homes as they chattered, laughed, and argued with passion.
The energy was infectious. Blake’s cheeks hurt from grinning. This was crow territory in its purest form—the Great Murder—and she, a human, washere.
A nearby marketplace grew by the minute. New stalls, canopies, carts, wagons, and more arguments over which murder had certain territorial rights. Vendors hawked treasures gathered or stolen from every corner of Elphyne. A brawl nearly broke out when one crow accused another of stealing a jeweled shoe. Blake even recognized some objects from her era, preserved in glass casings and marked as antiques. Her fingers twitched to investigate.
Before conscious thought stopped her, she pulled away from River and stepped toward a stall displaying crystalline figurines. The vendor looked up with a bright smile until her gaze landed on Blake’s Well-blessed markings. She turned away, suddenly rearranging pieces.
“Blake.” River’s hand found her elbow. “Later.”
