“You don’t know anything,” Victoria said with a sneer. “That bitch stole everything from him. He had to go because of what she’d done.”
“Shea didn’t steal anything,” Reece argued, his face flushed with anger. “No one can influence the final test. He was a lazy fool who tried to coast along using someone else’s work. It bit him in the ass in the end. He got what he deserved.”
“Reece,” Shea said, a snap in her voice.
Victoria’s face crumpled, emotion turning it ugly. “You don’t know anything.”
She shoved past without another word, the two pathfinders followed her after sharing a long look.
Shea waited until they were gone before rounding on her cousin. “Why’d you do that?”
He gave her a negligent shrug. “Someone had to put her in her place. She’s been advocating for your death for years.”
“Still, there was no need for that,” Shea argued.
“I beg to differ. Why are you so nice about it? The Shea I knew would have already eviscerated her with words by now.”
“She lost her only son,” Shea said in a soft voice. Was Victoria out of line? Yes. Had she let misplaced hate ruin her life? Again, yes. But, she’d also suffered a loss that neither Shea nor Reece could ever understand. It meant Shea cut her more slack than she would have otherwise.
“That’s not your fault. Stop taking responsibility for it.” Reece’s voice was irritated as he turned to join her at the stone wall of the battlements. “Your only sin was in surviving. The reasonable among us recognize that.”
Together, they looked out over the edge.
Reece leaned forward, his body relaxed and loose. “I’m surprised your shadow didn’t prevent that little scene.”
His tone wasn’t kind, letting Shea know exactly what he felt about Trenton’s presence.
“The telroi is more than capable of standing her own ground,” Trenton said, giving her cousin a look filled with dislike.
Reece grunted, ignoring her guard.
Shea decided to interfere before the two could descend into a full-blown argument. “What are you doing up here?”
“Looking for you.” He said it like that should have been obvious, and Shea had to fight to keep from whacking her cousin on the back of his head.
He was just so irritating sometimes.
“Why?” she asked through gritted teeth.
“I have to take some of the newbies out and wanted to see if you would like to go with me.” He straightened and turned his gaze on her. “You can even bring your shadow if you want.”
Shea gave him a considering look, examining the offer for hidden motivations. She could see none. “I’d like that.”
He nodded. “Meet me at the stables in an hour.”
“I’ll be there,” she said.
He gave Trenton one last derisive glare before turning and heading back the way he’d come.
Trenton stepped up to the spot Reece had vacated. “Is that wise? I’m not sure Fallon would like the idea of you going out there.”
Probably not, but then he did try to swaddle her in protective layers.
“You’ll be there,” Shea said. “And if it makes you feel better you can bring one of the other Anateri as well. Either way, it’s not dangerous. We’re just getting them used to reading the trail.”
Her cousin had something up his sleeve. This was a good way to find out what he was up to and whose side he was on.
She patted Trenton on the shoulder as she made her way back to the stairs that would lead into the Keep. “You’d better track down another we can take with us. I’m heading back to the room to grab my gear.”
