Page 115 of Death of the Glass Angel
Swallowing, he steadied his feelings. “Shall we join them?”
Her eyes flicked back to him. “Do you play?”
Grinning, he pulled a deck from his pocket. “Darling, Ithought you’d never ask.”
29
Talon
Entia fooled us all. She seemed a an idealist, a sweet young woman who believed the world a kinder place than it truly was. She saw everything as her garden—something to nurture and grow. Then the world tore her truth to shreds.
-Excerpt from Alfaris’ private journal
Gemellus stepped into the carriage and made a noise of disgust as he slammed the door closed and took the seat opposite Des.
Talon studied him closely, his graceful movements and permanent frown. Beyond deciding the man had a great deal of confidence and experience, Talon couldn’t read him.
“I don’t get paid enough.” Gemellus smoothed down his vest. “To ride out here and be forced into a carriage again.”
“You aren’t excited to see a spirit trial?” Des teased.
“Oh, I’m just thrilled.”
Knitting her fingers on her lap, Des leaned forward, a devilish smile on her lips. Talon turned to say something but quickly fell silent. Her tights hugged her hips snugly, and the deep neckline of her kurta revealed a distracting amount of her skin.
“So, Gem.” Des began. “I don’t feel like you and I have talked in a while. Not that you ever talk about yourself.”
“Why would I?” Gemellus asked, flipping open a pocket watch and closing it again. Why did he have that if he could not see?
“You must have many stories to tell. About how you met Alfaris, for one.”
“It’s not all that interesting.” Gemellus continued fussing with the watch. Click, click.
“You’re old, aren’t you? You once told me you were twenty-five, but that was obviously a lie.”
“I’m wounded.” Gemellus feigned offense. “Are you saying I look old?”
“You must have a family.” Des pressed. “Do you write to them?”
“My only family is a brother who died long ago.”
Talon didn’t detect any signs of a lie on the man’s face or in his mannerisms. But for some reason, Des’s line of questioning was making him uncomfortable.
“A brother? You’ve never mentioned him.”
Gemellus sighed strenuously as though he were asked this question at every social function and had grown tired of answering. “I’d rather not talk about myself when a songbird is sizing me up like his next meal.”
Talon moved to speak, but Des interrupted.
“Forgive him,” she said softly. “He gets nervous around me.”
Talon’s mouth twitched. He wanted nothing more than to throw Des from the mountainside.
“Shall we move on to a productive topic?” Gemellus crossed his legs. “Was your little outing fruitful?”
“Yes,” Des admitted, glancing at Talon. “Heras is a controversial leader. Everyone seems to either hate her or love her.”
“She wants two things,” Talon said. “To reduce Altanbern’s dependence on the alliance, and to dissolve the old clan system.”
