Page 68 of Research with Rivals
Maybe my hackles rising hadn’t been metaphorical.
As much as the knot in my chest loosened at her approach, a different feeling I wasn’t quite sure what to do with threatened to double me over. Evelyn laughed freely as they approached. Had she ever been that relaxed with me?
It’s not what you think.But what did I think it was? More importantly, what did he think I thought it was? Now my head was pounding, but I had no time to tie myself further into knots when they met us at the blanket.
“Ambrose, Lord Arctos, glad you could join us. Shall we sit?” The Vesten Point gestured toward the picnic.
Us?What had I missed in less than an hour? Wasn’t it only last night I’d been contemplating if Evelyn and I could be anus?
Evelyn moved with a fluidity I hadn’t seen since she’d prowled toward me in veil cat form. Dark strands fell from her braid, and her shoulders lacked their usual tension. She looked more relaxed than I’d seen her in ages, and I wanted to know what had caused it.
I guessed I didn’t have to wonder. Carter’s languid movements effused ease. He might have been the most powerful Vesten on the continent, but he certainly didn’t act like it. Maybe that was what unshakeable confidence did to you. He knew no one could hurt him, so he went through life without concern. It was the exact opposite of the way I approached things. Worrydictated my every move. I tried to think differently, tried not to let fear of what could happen control my actions, but maybe that wasn’t enough. Maybe that carefree attitude would be better for Evelyn.
“Ambrose?” My name from Evelyn’s lips snapped my attention to her dark brown eyes. It was clear from her tone that this wasn’t the first time she’d said it. She offered me a dish from the basket. It looked like bread and some kind of vegetable dip. “Did you want some?”
Absently, I took the dish and placed the food on the plate in front of me. Lord Arctos and Carter seemed to be in a heated discussion. I took their moment of distraction to whisper to Evelyn, “Do you need one of the candies?”
She looked a little startled but immediately relaxed. “I can do it without them now, but thank you.”
Evelyn was a quick study. “I shouldn’t be surprised that you mastered this within days when it takes most Vesten weeks or months to learn.”
I loved that her cheeks pinkened at that statement.
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Since I mastered those so quickly, I’d love to hear what comes next in these lessons.”
“What are you two talking about?” Lord Arctos interrupted.
Evelyn’s eyes widened with panic, and I knew she didn’t want to air the fact that she hadn’t been taught basic Vesten magic in front of the Vesten Point and god of our court.
I improvised. “Evelyn and I had an idea.”
She stiffened but didn’t stop me. Carter turned, and his gold-green eyes flashed. “Do tell.”
“Well, we discussed anchors after our conversation in your study. We wondered about the Vesten coin and whether it could have served as an anchor for the creation of the Vesten. It was said to?—”
Carter glared at Lord Arctos.
“What is it?” Evelyn asked.
“The coin was…” Carter started, and shot another angry look at the god. Then cleared his throat and tried again. “It was given at the creation of the Vesten, and even uniquely tied to the magic that was shared. It would have fit your definition of an anchor perfectly.” He raised a glass of wine to his lips.
“Was?” Evelyn said. “Wouldhave?”
It wasn’t a good sign that the Vesten Point spoke about the coin in the past tense.
“Yes, unfortunately, the coin was destroyed. We needed it for something else. Something more important than this project. Its magic was well spent, but I’m afraid it can’t be spent again. I’m sorry if that’s what you came here to test. Lord Arctos was very aware of this. He could have told you in Sandrin.”
I tilted my head, considering. It didn’t surprise me that Lord Arctos was playing his own game in this mess. I wasn’t bothered by it. He was direct in his misdirections. Mostly, I wanted to know what had been so important that it required the sacrifice of the Vesten coin, but I knew better than to ask.
Evelyn didn’t. “What did you use it for? It might have been the only anchor.”
“As of this moment, it’s classified. Maybe I’ll tell you some day,” Carter replied.
Lord Arctos’s attention traveled between Evelyn and Carter, a satisfied smirk curling his lip.
Maybe he’d tell her? When what? When she was his historian? Or worse, his consort?
Where did that come from?
