Sev stares at her for a long moment, and when it’s clear that she seriously expects him to parrot this information, he looks back at me, bemused. “Ah...the Lady Jory says that—”
“I heard her.”
Jory is still looking at him. “And you will tell your king that I expect Asher to have a warm bed as well. He will not be chained in a cold carriage all night.”
Again, there’s silence, and Sev inhales heavily. “Lady Jory also expects—”
“Sev.”
He lifts a shoulder in half a shrug, and they turn for the door. I expect her to look back, to say something equally taunting, but she doesn’t.
“Maybe a warm bath for him, too?” I call after her. “Some chocolates for his pillow?”
“That will do,” she calls back, just before they go through the door and into the tavern.
My fists are clenched the whole time.
What a great start to ouralliance.
But they’re gone, and I’m left in the snow with Garrett, our breath clouding in the night air. I’m painfully aware that my soldiers have witnessed her attitude toward me, and I’m sure they’re all havingthoughtsabout it.
Especially Garrett, who’s watching me expectantly.
“Not a word,” I say.
His lip quirks, but he’s silent.
I move toward the other carriage. I have no idea how the owners of this establishment will take to us bringing a prisoner inside. I wonder if Asher will be docile enough to bring along unchained. I consider his injuries, the way he favored his right side like his shoulder was dislocated.
But then I consider his vicious skill. The way he bested me, and then Nikko.
The way he’d surely risk everything to get Jory away from me.
The way he likely wants me dead.
“If Iweregoing to say something...” Garrett offers.
“Don’t.”
He laughs under his breath.
But I pause with my hand on the carriage door. It’s absolutely silent inside the carriage, and I wonder if Asher has fallen asleep.
So I look at Garrett. “All right,what?”
“Sometimes the fighting makes it better.” He pauses. “In the end.”
I scoff. “She hates me.”
He grins. “I know.”
I give him a look, then pull the door wide. For a second, I see nothing: just a pile of blankets and scraps of splintered wood. No Asher.
“Fuck.” I grab hold of the doorframe to lean in. I have no idea how he could have escaped without us noticing. “Fuck.”
But then a shadow moves and a fist comes out of nowhere to crack me in the face—followed by a kick to the chest.
I fall back, scrambling for weapons.
