Page 51 of Fortress of Ambrose
Yagrin found Nore white-knuckling a glass beside Drew Oralia. Drew was the child of Litze’s estranged sister, who resided in an isolated cottage at Begonia Terrace. Rumors were that Litze’s sister had a devious secret on Litze, and that’s why Drew was adopted to be heir. Others said Litze cannot have children. Yagrin had never met Drew, but he knew they reached out discreetly to the brotherhood more than a few times to get their mother some much-needed help. Drew was always dragged along into their mother’s antics and likely tired of it. What Yagrin didn’t understand was why Nore was so nervous next to them.
“Drew Oralia, pleased to meet you in person,” he said.
“You look like you could use a bath.” Drew sipped from their glass.
Yagrin forced himself to smile. “Nore, shall we?”
“She’s having a drink with me. What is he, your security?” They sneered.
“He’s my—” She looked at him.
“Date for the art gala tomorrow.” That would raise far fewer questions. He held out his arm to Nore. She roped hers around his. Her eyes looked as if they were about to pop out of her head.
“That’swhy you’re here,” they said to Nore. “If you want to bury your head in the sand, you’ve come to the right place. My aunt’s determined to behave as if nothing’s happening. As if the world falling apart is some great show, and she’s waiting for the final curtain to drop so she can applaud and go back to business as usual.” Drew scoffed. “It’s disgusting. Andnotsmart. But what do I know? I’m justher heir, with nothing todo until she croaks.” They tossed back their full glass. “Have fun, eh. I intend to.”
Someone who was a spitting image of Litze but at least a few decades older waved at Drew to come over.
“I think they’re trying to get your attention,” Nore said.
Drew told them goodbye and went in the opposite direction. There was a nasty family feud there Yagrin didn’t want any part of. He led Nore out of the reception on his arm as they waited for a concierge to take them to their rooms for the night.
When the coast was clear, she howled at him. “Date? Whatare you doing? Andwherewere you?”
He explained how after they’d separated, he decided to find Litze. And how her evasiveness was unsettling. How she might be working with Beaulah. Nore took her arm from around his. The warmth of her closeness leaving him felt like being ripped from underneath a blanket.
“We have to be here through the gala tomorrow, at least. It gives us time to snoop.”
“Figuring out our way around here is time-consuming.” She chewed her lip. “We’re going to have to rub elbows. Drew warmed up quickly. I’m hoping that means they’re an oversharer. Maybe they can help.” She tapped her cheek. “Every conversation is a canvas. Every new day is a bar of music waiting to be composed.”
He watched her, perplexed.
“If that’s the game, we have to play it. Otherwise, we’ll stick out. We have to blend in, playing our own roles.” She drummed her fingers on her leg. “Yes, this plan of yours to act like we are going to the gala as a couple is a good one, I think.”
Excellent. They were in agreement on a plan. Attend the gala as a pretend couple. Schmooze to learn more about the layout of the estate, find out what they could about an Ambrose relic being entrusted to the House.
“You do this thing with your lips when you’re thinking really hard,and”—he touched the skin between her brows—“you get a little divot here.”
She stilled at his touch. “You’re making fun of me.”
“No! I think you’re—” His heart stammered.
“Finish your thought.”
His stomach twisted. The words were there, jumbled around in his heart but clear in his head. He thought a lot of nice things about Nore. “It was nothing.”
“No, tell me. What do you think of me, Yagrin?” There was a glint of something in her eye; this was a real question she was asking. She genuinely wanted to know what he thought of her. His heart pumped faster.
His mouth was dry when he opened it. “I think you’re witty and feisty. I think you’re strong and that you carry more on your shoulders than you like to admit. I think you—” He swallowed. “You are the smartest person I’ve ever met in my entire life. I still don’t understand how your neck supports a brain so big.”
She chuckled, and it made him chuckle, too.
“There’s so much more I could say.”
She twisted her shirt. “Then say it.”
He swayed. “I think you’re exactly what the Order needs, but it’s too broken to recognize that. I think you are relentless and determined and loyal to your own values. And I think you want to be understood but have given up trying.”
She was closer to him somehow.
