Page 20 of The Blood that Binds Us

I’d rather light myself on fire.“That would be great.”

I slip my hand into his, and we hurry from the castle’s grand ballroom and head outside to the courtyard. A gust of wind whips through the keep, gooseflesh blooming along my arms. Bennett shrugs out of his jacket and drapes it across my shoulders. Normally, I’d refuse it, but the wind’s unforgiving bite has me clutching his jacket closed around my body.

“Thank you. So how long have you known His Grace?” I ask.

“Since we were kids,” he says, one side of his mouth raising as if remembering their boyish faces in his mind. “My father served Ephraim since before I was born. Sin and I used to entertain ourselves together while our fathers worked. Once we were old enough and expected to participate in the meetings, we still found ways to sneak around and goof off, but we got better at hiding it. Neither of our fathers were particularly fond of us playing when there were decisions to be made and wars to plan. But, once we were old enough that our opinions began carrying weight, there wasn’t much time for play anymore.”

“It’s hard to imagine such fine men were once boys.” I shoot a sidelong glance in his direction. “Sin says your family manages trade?”

“My father is the director of trade and overseas alliance. It’s all quite boring, really.”

We round the corner of the castle, heading down the east side which I hadn’t seen before tonight. The dark contours of the Spiritwood trees stretch across the eastern perimeter, their shadows promising illusions of shelter and safety, though nothing within this keep is safe. Not sincehelearned what I am. Under different circumstances, I would love to venture beyond the tree line and explore what herbs and flowers bloom within. Not everything grows in Autumnhelm, but being a little farther north, some of the more reclusive plants may thrive here. Though even if I collected some, I doubt I’m making it back home to dry and pestle them into seasonings.

“I hope Legion hasn’t been stirring up too much of a problem for you and your father.” I watch his expression carefully, but if the mention of the rebellion fazes him at all, it doesn’t show on his face.

“Legion is nothing more than a nuisance. Hardly a problem.”

“I’ve heard reports of people going missing. Legion soldiers raiding homes and forcing them to fight against the kingdom. Promising horrid things if they refuse. Have you heard anything about that?” I latch my collective onto his and am almost surprised to find it entirely mundane.

“I’ve heard the rumors, yes. But honestly, if there are people with wills weak enough to be persuaded to fight for Legion, threat or no threat, they deserve what’s waiting for them.”

Fire licks at my heart, and I resist the urge to send him spiraling face first into the ground. “If they are out there threatening to kill these peoples’ families if they refuse to fight with them, I can’t exactly fault them for protecting their own. Legion soldiers are vicious. You don’t think this should be a priority for the kingdom?”

“The kingdom is slowly cutting them down, battle by battle. They’re hidden in the woods all around Aegidale, never settling in one place for long. It isn’t efficient for Sin to send soldiers out to hunt them down when they’re scattered everywhere, and risk leaving the castle with fewer numbers in the process. Not when they’re dumb enough to keep showing up and throwing corpses at the front gates. They’ll run out of supplies eventually. They can keep recruiting by force, but they can’t intimidate the banks out of their coin.”

I keep my face expressionless as I hold his collective with my own, scanning it as he speaks. No ounce of care for those lost to the rebellion, no flicker of deceit as he mentions Legion’s inevitable downfall. Bennett Langston isn’t manipulating the kingdom, but I certainly wouldn’t deem him trustworthy.

I feign a yawn and shrug out of his jacket, handing it back to him. “I must have had one glass of wine too many—I’ve grown quite tired.”I can’t stand to look at your face one more second.

He punches his arms back into his jacket. “I’d love to see you again, Lady Wren.”

“I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be staying with His Grace.”

Bennett clearly doesn’t have information on the whereabouts of my family, and even if he did, I don’t think it’s possible for him to care any less about them. He’s not the rat Sin’s looking to trap, though I don’t doubt Bennett is vermin, nonetheless.

“Please, I implore you. Meet me in the market tomorrow evening before sundown. I know these events are supposed to be free of political chatter, but it always seems to find its way inside them. Let’s get to know each other on neutral ground, away from the whispers of war and alliances.”

“I’m not sure…” I say, trailing off as I rack my brain for an excuse.If I’m being honest, I’d rather take the heel of my shoe to my eyeball than spend another minute with you.

“Please. Tomorrow evening. Market center. If you don’t show, I’ll take the hint. Just think about it.” He raises his hands and steps back in an attempt to show he isn’t trying to force me.

“I’ll think on it, my Lord.”Go to Hell.“I should be getting back inside.” My knees dip in a quick curtsy, and I turn to leave.

“Wren,” he calls after me. “I sure hope you come.”

I brush my chin over my shoulder but don’t stop walking. “Goodnight, Mr. Langston.”

My soiled clothing clings to my rain-slicked skin. My hair, likely resembling a goldfinch’s nest, drips down my face, and I don’t bother shoving the wet strands from my eyes. What’s the point? There is nothing to see. Nothing to feel.

I am nothing.

A whisper pulls at my ear, and I roll my head towards the sound. Two sky blue eyes lock on mine from within the tree line. Cosmina! She makes a circling motion with her hand, silently asking if anyone else is nearby. I shake my head. Remaining crouched, she creeps towards me, and not even the leaves dare to crunch under her feet. She breaks my binding with magic, and I slip my wrists out, rejoicing in the instant relief as the toxic metal falls from my hands. Cosmina hoists me to my feet and drapes my arm over her shoulder.

“Quickly now,” she urges, steering me towards the thicker part of the woods. I plant my feet.

“Ileana,” I mumble.

“What?”

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