Galen leaves his barely touched ale at the table and leads me outside to the inn across the street. Neither of us speak of Jeannette or Sorin as we tumble into our bedroom. It’s just as humble as I’d expect from a town of this stature. After several nights sleeping outdoors, I welcome the creaky bed and old curtains with open arms.
Shoutingfrom the hallway wakes me.
Rubbing at my eyes, they take their time adjusting to the dark. My hand runs over Galen’s side, and I tense when I’m greeted with nothing but cold sheets.
More shouting erupts and it’s loud enough to pull me from the bed. I quickly dress in my loose pants and black shirt and head for the door. Orange light from the lanterns on the walls pools at my feet as I crack the door open.
“I already told you, I’ve been given specific orders from the king.”
“I don’t give a damn what you’ve been given.” I recognize Galen’s voice. The angry lilts a testament to his rising temper. “I didn’t let you go, and it wasmewho made you that deal in the first place. The deal you fucked up.”
“I repaid my debt. I brought you the Dyrsjel and now King Roman?—”
“Years later and not without my help,” Galen snaps, and I realize now who he’s run into.
Cade.
I step into the hallway. Both men’s gaze land on me, so I straighten my dark tunic and rake my fingers through my hair. “Perhaps the hallway isn’t the best place to have this conversation?”
Galen frowns and shakes his head. My head tilts to the side as I study the scene before me more closely. It’s the middle of the night and the two of them are arguing in the hall. Cade, in common clothes, looks as though he’s just come from the pub.
But why is Galen fully dressed when I know for a fact he wasn’t wearing any clothes a mere hour ago?
What are you hiding from me?
“You let him go,” Galen snarls. “His penance for his mistakes haven’t been paid.”
“I didn’t let him go,” I whisper. “I put him on another proposition.” The hallway remains empty but anyone couldoccupy the rooms here and I’m not comfortable speaking much louder.
“What proposition?” Galen’s eyes flash, a muscle in his jaw flexing.
“Come back inside and we’ll discuss?—”
“No.” Galen takes a step closer to Cade, turning his back to me. “The king may have given you orders but as the handler of your fate, don’t forget it is me who you obey.” Galen moves forward and grips Cade’s collar tightly around his fingers. “Now get out of my sight.”
Cade glances at me quickly and I nod. It’s not worth fighting Galen on this. Not now, when he’s so angry. Cade disappears down the hall, and Galen and I return to our room. The silence is deafening as we climb into bed. My heart continues to hammer against the walls of my chest.
Galen’s body is rigid next to mine, so I turn away, his breathing audible through his nose. I can feel it in the way he turns toward me that he wishes to talk. Likely wants to know what I put Cade up to, but I’m not prepared to speak anymore tonight. “Tomorrow.” I promise him. “I’ll tell you everything tomorrow, but tonight can we please just rest.”
The bed creaks as he rolls away from me, a cold draft pooling between us.
“I love you, Roman.” I suck in a sharp breath, his words hitting me in the chest. “If it’s something I’m doing the last few weeks to make you forget, I’m sorry.” He rolls again, wrapping his arm around my middle. My stomach tenses as he kisses my cheek. “Get some sleep, we’ll talk tomorrow.”
As Galen’s breathing turns heavy, I have never felt more awake.
I think of the bruises on the Dyrsjel’s body, directly from his hand. I think of the women before her and the bloodied marks around their wrists where we shackled them.
WhereIshackled them.
I think of the village we visited today and the smoldering buildings of a town that once was. At the people who lost their lives merely because he was trying to prove a point.
I think of the starving people in the pub and the meager food I was given despite their rations. The generosity in the woman’s face and the pain when she spoke of Sorin.
All of this affliction and suffering at my hand. Atourhand.
Galen shifts behind me, and my stomach clenches again.
Please don’t wake up.
