Page 93 of Godsbane
Behind him, Silas Wilson shakes hands with Cal before motioning for the rest of their crew to enter. The Topaz governor nods in my direction as he removes his hood.
“Good to see you, Ivy.”
“What are you doing here?” Cal’s stern voice severs our reunion, each of us directing our attention towards the doorway and the man in the Corinthian gray and gold cloak grasping the captain by the shoulders.
“Oh c’mon, brother. Surely you didn’t think we’d let you have all the fun.” Theo Murphy smiles slyly at me as he steps across the threshold. “Hey darling.”
A mess of blonde hair stomps through the door behind him, her rage-filled glare pointed directly at the youngest brother.
“We didn’t even make it out of the Bay of Jewels before this one started harassing me to let her off the boat,” Theo mocks.
“The only reason I got on that boat in the first place is because you told me that Ivy was on it, you liar!”
A mixture of relief, gratitude, and dread courses through me as my magic attempts to calm my erratically beating heart. My whole body trembles as tears build behind my eyes at the sight before me.
“I keep telling her that I only lied to save her life, but she doesn’t listen,” Theo says in exasperation.
“Quinn,” I breathe.
My best friend shoots another scathing look at Theo before turning her attention to me. “And you! I ought to kill you myself, Ivy Fellows.”
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that Quinn Bartlett would be standing in the doorway of our safe house in Amale. And she can chastise me all she wants, so long as I get to hear her voice. I step towards her, shaky palms face up in submission, a joyous smile plastered across my face.
“How are you here?” I ask with tear-filled eyes.
“Next time you’re in danger, don’t send a man to kidnap me from my bed.” Quinn closes the distance, pulling my quivering body into her warm embrace as she jokes where only I can hear. “At least not without a little warning.”
A giddy chuckle escapes my throat as I pull back to look into her blue eyes. They’re so full of light and life, a sobering reminder that her very presence here may extinguish that forever.
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
“We made a visit to The Royal Jewel and made some friends over a pint,” Theo explains. “Turns out, they cared an awful lot about you being alive. So, I, uh … well, I kinda snuck into Blondie’s house and …”
“Kidnapped me,” Quinn finishes. “But I would have come willingly, you know. You’re my best friend. If you think for one second that I would hesitate to come to your aid, you are sorely mistaken.”
“Quinn, you don’t know what you’re up against. This is bigger than anything we’ve faced before.”
My best friend has been by my side for every protest, every demonstration, every deed of activism that has so thoroughly earned me my nickname. We were harassed and berated, but Death never waited for us there.
Not like now.
Quinn isn’t a devout worshipper of the gods, but there’s no way she can know what I truly am—what we all are. She’d call usheretics and liars. She wouldn’t be here, wouldn’t risk her life for pretenders.
“I do. All of it, truly.” She takes my hands into hers before tipping her head towards Theo. “Lieutenant Kidnapper here filled us in.”
I don’t miss his scoff at the nickname that has undoubtedly been used more than once. This all makes no sense. If she …wait. What did she say?
“Us?” I ask curiously.
“You didn’t think I’d let her come alone, did you?”
Miles steps across the threshold, shoving past the hulking form that refuses to move to allow him easy entry. The room is silent except for Cal’s low, barely perceptible growl as Miles sweeps me off the floor and into his embrace. Everyone stiffens in anticipation of the captain’s next move as Miles whispers in my ear.
“My money was on irritating, butyou… oh, Ivy Fellows, you little devil. I’m going to need all the salacious details on him.”
He messes up my hair in brotherly affection as he sets me down on my feet, turning towards the group with his best courtier smile. “I hope you’re all hungry because we brought dinner.”
Kieran is the last to enter, arms loaded down with baskets. The smell of fresh baked bread and grilled fish fills the house. Everyone moves at once. Silas pulls plates from the crooked cupboards, Micah fills cups with a rich, honeyed wine, and Quinn hunts through drawers for forks.
