Her eyes were filled with anger as she met her mother’s and it was all she could do to keep herself under control. There was never any question in her mind of betraying Fallon or the Trateri. It might have been better to play her mother’s game—whatever that might be—but Shea wouldn’t dishonor herself or the people she called hers in that manner.
Her mother had always been the diplomat in the family, Shea and her father lacking the patience to play the game. Shea believed in acting in good faith. You treat me right; I treat you right. Pretending to be something you’re not to get what you want, fit her just as well as a beast skin would, which was to say not at all.
“We’re very glad to hear you say that, daughter,” her father said from behind her.
Lainey’s smile was humorless as Shea started, twisting to see Fallon and her father standing in the open door. Her father’s posture was relaxed as he leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed, looking at the two of them with a fond expression.
Fallon’s eyes blazed at Shea, an emotion in them as fierce as a raging wildfire and as deep as a mountain’s roots.
“That makes this a lot easier on everyone,” her father continued when Shea didn’t respond.
She watched both her parents with a suspicious gaze, noting the lack of concern in her mother’s posture at having essentially been caught red handed plotting against a warlord who could very easily throw her over the stone railing at her back.
Realization skated through her. It was a test. This entire thing had been set up by her parents to gauge the depth of her loyalty to her warlord and his people.
She clenched her jaw, frustration coursing through her. She should have known. This was exactly the sort of thing her mother was known for and that her father was only too happy to enable. Poke and prod a person until you exposed their raw insides, their secrets on display for everyone to see.
Fallon joined her, one hand coming up to massage the tight muscles at the base of her neck. “Your father had some interesting things to share while you and your mother were talking.”
Shea just bet he did.
“Have we passed your little test?” Shea asked with a tone sharp enough to bite.
“Very much so,” her mother agreed in that mild voice that made Shea want to snap.
“So happy to be of service,” Shea said with an icy smile.
Fallon’s hand gave a warning squeeze before dropping away. “They suspect dissension in their ranks. There’s a definite tie between it and the beasts’ movements.”
“I’d say tonight more than confirms it,” Shea said, not particularly surprised.
When her father gave her an interested look, she elaborated, “Someone knew exactly when to close the tunnel’s exit. They waited until I was right under it, knowing I’d be trapped by the ballyhoo. The only way to have known that, was to be working with our mystery man who appeared to have some control of the ballyhoo.”
“I’m equally interested in finding out how they knew about those tunnels,” her mother said.
“Aren’t they common knowledge among your people?” Fallon rumbled, his brows lowered.
“Not those tunnels,” Shea said in a sour voice. “That’s why I chose them.”
“Very few people know they exist,” Shea’s mother agreed as her father perched against the stone next to her. He pulled out a small whittling knife and began working the palm-sized piece of wood in his hand.
“Shea only knows about them because of my work and the fact that she felt an incessant need to explore even as a little girl,” her mother said, a note of fondness infiltrating her voice.
“And her friends,” her father said in a quiet murmur.
Lainey nodded. “That’s right. They would have been her faithful companions.”
“Who?” Fallon asked in an interested tone, his eyes shifting to Shea.
She frowned in thought. “Reece, Ellie, and Griffin, are the three that come to mind.” Noticing the look on Fallon’s face, Shea said, “It’s not Reece.”
His sigh was heavy and put out. “I’d have to agree with you there. He’s the only reason we knew where to look for you. Had he not insisted on being a pain in the ass, you would have just disappeared.”
Shea frowned at him. “I wouldn’t go that far. Things hadn’t gotten that dire yet. I’d already dealt the ballyhoo a severe blow. You just sped things up a bit.”
He gave her a sardonic look, both eyebrows climbing. “You forget the creature’s co-conspirator. He very well could have been waiting in case you got past the ballyhoo.”
A good point, but one Shea wasn’t willing to concede.
