Page 95 of House of Marionne

“I have it with me.”

“It’s incomplete, Yagrin.”

He swallowed. “Yes, ma’am.” Would she make him come to her right now? He bit down. He hated this, so much.

“And where are you now, pray tell?”

Red finally made it to him and curled under his arm, her fingers playing on his face, stroking the little hair he’d managed to grow there.

“I am . . .” He cupped her fingers, kissed them and pressed a finger to his mouth. She frowned. He put some distance between them.

“It doesn’t matter,” Mother said. “I expect both assignments done and soon. Quell’s done before she reaches Third Rite. I don’t care how hard she is to get to at that House. Am I understood?”

Red picked flowers and made funny faces at him. He bit back a smile. “Yes.”

“Do I amuse you, Yagrin?”

“No, ma’am. I’m a bit distracted.”

“Then undistract yourself!”

He turned his back and waved Red away firmly.

“There’s one other matter. The Tidwell Ball is coming up. I have some goods being moved, and I want my people there to oversee it. I’ll send the details securely.”

“Got it.”

“And Yagrin?”

“Yes, Mother?”

“You’re getting sloppy, people are starting to notice.”

The line went dead.

His chest squeezed.

“I thought I told you we don’t do phones out here.” Red pulled his Order-issued phone from his fingers and tossed it in the dirt. He stroked her face, then sighed.

“I have to go.”

“You just got here yesterday. You said you’d stay the whole week, while my parents are gone. Yags?”

“Work.”

“Your work,” she grumbled. “I hate your work. Have I ever told you that?”

He’d never told her a thing about his work, only that he was employed by a small family-owned business and because of that, when they needed him, he had to go. He kept Red far away from the truth, for her own safety. Unmarked weren’t welcomed in his world.

“I’m sorry. I have to go take care of a thing and then get all ready for a ball coming up.”

“A ball? That sounds fancy.” Her teeth tugged at her bottom lip and he kissed her again. Fancy on the surface, maybe. His work would happen in the shadows while the others danced and dined.

“Take me with you.”

“I can’t.”

“You can’t or you don’t want to?”

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