Page 145 of The Second Death of Locke
Sela sighed, but she didn’t maintain a frown for long. She sat between Grey and Kier on one of the plush sofas, kicking her feet up to rest on the edge of the little table. Grey accepted the wine from Eron and took a sip. “We can’t stay long,” she said sadly. “At any moment, any number of clerks or guards or attendants could burst in and demand my attention.”
“We get it,” Ola said, shifting her weight. She kept her right arm tucked tight to her chest, the shirt pinned just under her elbow. “You’re important.”
Grey winked at her. “But never too important foryou.”
Ola scoffed. “Tell that to your damn guard. I swear, I tried to come see you the other day, and that burly one with the eyebrows—”
“Rabbit?” Kier offered helpfully.
“What kind of fucking name is Rabbit?” Eron said.
“Nickname,” Kier explained. “Big as a tree? Curly hair?”
“Well, fuckingRabbittold me I didn’t have the clearances. The clearances! Gods alive, Grey, the fact that I was turned away by some brute calledRabbit.”
Grey sighed. “I’ll have a word,” she said, letting her head fall back on the cushions. Only months ago, the three of them had been her only guard, but she had forced them to take the six months of leave they’d been promised for delivering Sela. If they chose to return to her service after that time? Well, Kier would have space for them.
And if they chose to do anything else, go anywhere else? That was fine, too.
In the meantime, it made it easier for Grey to keep slipping her guard if they were strangers.
Brit was waggling their eyebrows at her; for her part, Grey was doing her level best to ignore the question in their eyes.
“Good. Because the next time I see your bunny, I can’t promise what my hand will do.”
“He’s not that bad,” Kier murmured. “And he keeps Grey safe.”
“Oh, shut up, Kier,” Ola sighed without heat.
“Eron?” Grey said, shifting her gaze. “Any grievances to air, while we’re here?”
“None at all,” Eron said primly. He was, Grey had discovered recently, spending a lot of time in the kitchens. She did not know if it had to do with the fact that he was now interested in the art of cooking, or because there was excellent food there at all hours.
“Brit?” she said, wincing.
The mage only looked at her, taking a long sip of their wine. “Oh,” they said, “you know. Feeling a little… burdened with anticipation.”
Grey raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps,” she said slowly, “that is something we can discuss tomorrow.” She had taken a risk, trusting Brit with a secret—she trusted Brit with a lot, but secrets were an entirely different territory—and she wasn’t going to let them ruin it now, mere minutes before she shared it with Kier.
They flashed her a bright smile. “Excellent news. I will be up at dawn waiting for your summons.”
Grey rubbed the bridge of her nose. On Sela’s other side, Kier looked a little confused, but he was smirking, as he always did when they didn’t feel so keenly the weight of their new roles.
“Weshouldgo, though,” Eron said sadly. “Yearna had some very pointed threats for me if we kept Sela away from her guard for too long.”
The others shuffled to prepare, pulling on jackets and finishing their wine. Kier moved to follow them out the door, but Grey grabbed his arm and held him back. “We’ll meet you there,” she said to Ola, who shot her a questioning glance. Brit only smiled; Ola shook her head and muttered something under her breath about other rabbits.
“What’s wrong?” Kier asked, moving to adjust one of the jewels that had shifted in Grey’s hair.
“Nothing. Just a surprise.”
He raised a brow, but did not ask for further clarification.
Grey pulled on her cloak and led him out. When she dismissed her guard, telling them to go to the feast without her, they protested. “I’m with the commander,” she said. “I will be fine.”
“Sir?” one of them said tentatively. He never unmade her decisions— but he did push for her safety.
Kier only shrugged. “Go on, then.” Grey couldn’t fight her wicked smile as they left.
