Page 59 of Insolence
“Oh.” My voice comes too thin, too meek. “What’s her name?”
The prioress’ brown eyes flick briefly to the floor. Dread coils in my gut.
“You’ve already been told that acolytes and the betrothed won’t mingle much going forward. Well, after tonight, that is.”
“It’s just… I-I’m sure you understand my concern.”
Deirdre huffs another sigh, this one sharper, before turning aside. “Careful, Itissa.” She takes only a few steps before stopping to deliver her next words over her shoulder: “I understand that you only saw what you did because you were out past lights out. What happened was never meant for your eyes. And I’ve come to the end of my patience trying to explain something that’s none of your concern to begin with.”
Her silken voice sends goosebumps clamoring over me while I wait for whatever comes next.
“With a promising stint as acolyte ahead of you, it’d be a pity to make a reputation out of being atroublemaker…”
…And you’ve seen what happens to them.She doesn’t need to put voice to the rest of it. The unspoken threat hangs in the air between us.
Something halfway between fear and fury cleaves through my chest. Distant harp music and the low din of polite conversation drift in from the atrium while I watch her retreat down the hallway.
No sooner is she clear of it than Ailen appears in her place. The grip of her cane flashes between gnarled fingers. Mouth screwed up, eyebrows bunched forward, she spits, “Deirdre’s more diplomatic than I’m going to be. Next time I tell you to butt out, you butt out. Fail to heed me and you’ll be meeting the business end ofthis.” She raises the cane, shaking the bulky brass grip in front of my nose.
I gasp, my vision narrowing on it. The heavy handle curves down sharply in front and flares up behind where her palm would rest. One good swing with that thing would break bone. My pulse thunders in my ears while I watch her turn and limp back the way she came, her keyring jingling.
Where the prioress is sly and calculating, Ailen’s approach is that of a battering ram.
I spin around when she’s out of sight, my fists balled, ready to howl with frustration. Two swift strides take me to the refectory door, which I fling open and slam shut behind me.
Throwing my back against it, I let loose an angryroarinto the great, deserted room. Tears sting my eyes. Overwhelmingly close to panic, I squeeze them shut.
Afterward, the silence rings. I’m abruptly aware that I’m panting. My thoughts race, and I’mthrobbingbetween my legs, the ever-present hunger raking its claws through me from that nonsense Sadrie started but couldn’t properly finish.
“Bad night?”
Gods!Eyes flying open, I jump and clutch my chest.
At first all I can make out is a shadow-draped figure sitting at the far end of a table to one side of the room. The flash of silver jewelry catches my attention as she lifts a mug to her mouth.
That’s when I register her long raven hair, now braided neatly from the crown of her head.Oh, for shit’s sake.
Chapter 17
Elodie
Encountering her when I’m not expecting it is always a shock to my system. And that’s when she’snotscreaming into what she apparently thinks is an empty room.
It’s her regal beauty. Her slightly-too-broad forehead and the way her chin and nose taper to delicate points. Those blue spinel eyes nearly stop my heart whenever they land on me.
Her dark hair, such a deep brown it’s nearly black, is normally impeccably styled. Tonight it’s tousled and frizzy, giving her a feral edge that aligns with the agitation in her aura.
“Bad night?” I ask.
Her hand flies to her sternum, her breath catching in her throat. The very next second she clocks that it’s me. Her expression shifts to one of unconcealed fury.
“Sorry.” I sip my tea. “Shouldn’t have said anything.”
“And then what?” she snaps. “Dive under the table and hide until I go away?”
Aggravation flares, reassuring in its familiarity. I set my mug down and regard her. “Are you angry with me, Tiss?”
“So youarespeaking to me today. It’s a miracle,” she scoffs, her hand dropping to smack the top of her thigh. Eyes blazing, aura flaring crimson, she flounces toward me.
