Page 41 of Fortress of Ambrose
“I didn’t ask what you thought.” Willam does not take his eyes off Yani. He raises the gun again, and Jordan steps forward.
“Whatare you doing?” I say under my breath to Jordan.
“You’re trying to keep everyone safe here,” he says to Willam. “One of your allies just handed off your location. Questioning her more about Audubon and what else is going on out there could be useful.”
Willam turns the gun back on Jordan. “Maybe I wasn’t clear.”
Jordan swallows.
“Knox, what do you see?” Willam asks.
“We need her alive,” Jordan whispers when he returns to my side.
“Why?”I burn with irritation. Yani stiffens as Knox moves around her before focusing on her heart.
Yani struggles against her restraints. “What kind of magic is this?”
“Her heart is dark,” Knox says. “But it is broken. I don’t mind the boy’s suggestion.”
“Take her to the basement,” Willam orders. “Seal her in. She’s watched on a twenty-four. Fed on the twelves. The only reason she’s going inside is for information. Draguns, former or current, are not welcome here.”
Willam, Knox, and the others follow as Yani is led in.
Jordan exhales, and I see red. “You still love that trash?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Before Willam crosses the threshold, he says, “Jordan, there will be dinner shortly. Take some for yourself and to Yani. Question her thoroughly. I expect to hear everything you find.”
“Does this mean he can stay?” I ask.
“For dinner.” He and the others are inside as we trail behind them.
“You’re havingdinnerwith your ex. That’s fantastic.”
He smirks. “I think you might be cutest when you’re mad.”
Jordan and Yani have known each other since they were young. They grew up together, bonded by the trauma of being raised at Hartsboro. It’s not lost on me that she knew him in a way I never can.
“Quell, this is our chance to get more insight into Beaulah’s plans. We can’t forget she was working with the Dragunhead when the Sphere broke. Not to mention the Darkbearer attacks feel too coordinated to be random. We need to know who all we’re up against, what they’re planning, and how close they are to finding us. Don’t let trifle thoughts like jealousy divide us.”
My skin heats. How stupid I must look, acting jealous. That is not me. I won’t be that person. “I hope you know what you’re doing. Because that girl still wants you.” If he thinks she’s innocent, he’s naive.
He steps so close to me that when I breathe, the air is only him. Sandalwood and earth. Something sweet underneath, like vanilla or cashmere.
“I don’t care what she wants.”
A pang runs through me—a need to lean closer to him, to suffocate the space between us. To feel the promise of his words in an embrace.
“She is nothing to me anymore. I’m yours. Only yours. As far as I see, there was no one before you. There will be no one after.”
The tenderness in his expression warms the coldest parts of my heart.
“I don’t trust her. And we don’t have the full truth about why she came here. But I can handle Yani.”
My chest uncinches a little, and when Jordan unclasps his hands, I suck in a breath, thinking he might allow us a moment of something closer than this. But his hands slide into his pockets, and my fingers move to my chest. Despite what he says, he is nervous.
“Be on guard and in control in her presence.”
