He scanned the crowd, eyes sharp, before focusing on me again. “Do you know where Jessiah took me today?”
Keeping my expression neutral, I shrugged. “I don’t often wonder what you two idiots are up to.”
“He took me to The Golden City.”
Of its own accord, my spine straightened. Okay, that interested me. “What does he want with The Golden City? We haven’t been back there in years.”
He picked up his drink and took a slow sip, like he was trying to make this look like a casual drink at the bar, not a meeting regarding the movements of the commander of Scarlata’s army.
“He went to see Nathan. Jes was tense after meeting with Wolf this morning, and I get it. He just wants to help.”
My temper flared, heat spreading across my chest. “And what, exactly, did he want from Nathan?”
Laughter from the crowd wafted through the air, piercing the tension that surrounded us.
“He was asking Nathan for men, so he could travel to the eastern kingdoms and offer protection at the borders.”
Goddess fucking dammit.From my experience, Jessiah was a good little boy, a rule follower. This? It was the definition ofout of characterfor him. “You’re joking, right? You heard what Wolf said this morning. That’s absolutely not going to happen.”
Xavier frowned, his brows drawing together. “I agree. Which is why I’m telling you.”
Interesting. Jessiah’s lapdog was running around snitching on him?
Satisfaction crept through me at the thought. Jessiah really believed he had this whole kingdom wrapped around his little finger. He really thought he could… could what? Build a secret army using men from The Golden City and march to the eastern border, directly disobeying his brother’s orders?
“I don’t know why you’re coming to me with this,” I huffed. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m not in charge of anything here.”
“Jessiah listens to you.”
I laughed out loud at that one.
“I’m serious!” he pushed. “Sure, you two fight like a damn married couple, but you’re the only one who can talk sense into him.”
I took a gulp of my drink and set it on the bartop with a little too much force. “We both know that isn’t true.”
“It is true.” He leaned forward and put a hand on my arm. “Please, listen to me. Jessiah is… I don’t know. I’ve never seen him like this, Rum.” He heaved a sigh. “He’s always been loyal to Wolf, but this is different. There’s something going on with him. And if he goes through with this, I don’t think his brother will ever forgive him. Neither will Huntyr.”
Xavier was right on that account. Wolf and Huntyr valued loyalty over everything. If Jessiah—one of their most trusted advisors and the commander of Scarlata’s army—directly disobeyed their orders? Snuck around behind their backs? Built secret armies?
It would not go over well.
But…
“I’m still not sure why you think I’d care enough to try to stop him. Jessiah and I aren’t exactly friends. Why would I care if he gets into trouble with his brother?”
“It’s not just about Wolf and Jessiah. It’s about Huntyr too. The strife that would grow between them would gut her. And I know you care about her, somewhere deep down in that cold little heart of yours.”
His eyes dropped to my cleavage.
If he were anyone else, I might’ve been annoyed.
“You know it would break her. So this nonsense needs to be stopped before it goes anywhere. And you’re the only one who can talk sense into him.”
Ugh.There weren’t enough drinks in the world for this. In no alternate reality would Jessiah listen to me. Xavier might think Jessiah and I fought like a married couple—whatever the fuck that meant—but he was wrong. We fought like two people who didn’t like each other, respect each other, or even remotely care about each other.
We fought like two people who couldn’t care less.
But before I could tell Xavier how absolutely ridiculous his suggestion was, a large shadow loomed over us.
