Rose nodded in agreement, her fingers once again playing with the edge of her pouch.
“Good. Keep going, Horace. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover,” Rissa instructed, gesturing to the map.
We spent the next couple of hours reviewing the wings, theorizing what sections would be most likely to contain anything of importance, and charting a plan for Rose to follow that would keep her safe and away from prying eyes.
As time went on, Rose became a bit more relaxed in our presence, even grinning once at a ridiculous joke Chaz tossed out. But there was still an apprehension around her. The constant picking at her shirt or pouch, the tight features, the withdrawn eyes. Something that seemed…reserved. She was a puzzle I couldn’t quite figure out. First, the blazing, powerful, brutal Alchemist from the forest. One who wasn’t afraid to use her magic to its full extent. Then the frightened, timid woman who needed shielding from some unseen threat. A woman bold enough to follow the most powerful man in the empire on awhimdown an unknown corridor, unafraid to curse me in my own home and attack me with broken ribs. She was capable, there was no denying that. But I couldn’t reconcile that with the woman who looked as if she felt uncomfortable in her own skin.
The task that faced her was daunting. I couldn’t blame her for any hesitations or fear. But part of me knew there was more to it than that. After what she’d said to me yesterday, about blaming my father for what happened in her past, I understood her distrust. I knew my father would never order an innocent man’s death, but hers was still killed. She was still fatherless. And my claiming her ignorance on the matter wouldn’t change that.
I scrubbed a hand over the rough stubble on my chin, replaying that conversation from when I’d healed her ribs. I grudginglyrealized my sister had been right about the way I treated her, and my defensive words had been a mistake.
No wonder she stole my horse.
The clock on our mantle struck eleven, and Rissa decided we had enough of a plan going forward to get us through the second trial and hopefully yield results from Rose’s search. When Rissa asked if Rose would stay for lunch, she shook her head and said she wanted to spend time with her family.
“Well then,” my sister said, turning to give me a look that spoke of trouble. “I’m sure my brother would be happy to take you home.”
Rose grimaced, that crease at her forehead deepening with dislike. “I think I can manage.”
I gritted my teeth. How did this girl manage to get so under my skin with a single look? My guilt and understanding from a moment ago seemed so fragile in the face of her disdain. “Horace can give her a ride to the palace just fine,” I countered.
“Can’t,” Horace said. “Rissa asked me to stay behind for something.”
“Of course she did,” I said under my breath.
“It’s not safe for you to travel alone, Rose,” Rissa pointed out. “Plus, if I recall correctly,youdon’t have a horse here.”
“Fates,” Rose grumbled, cursing. “Fine. Let’s go, monkey boy.”
Chaz spat out his water, spraying Lark across the face. “Monkey boy?”
Whirling to the door, I pulled it open, muttering, “I hate all of you,” as I walked outside.
As she strode past me and to Nightshade, Rose flicked her braid over her shoulder and said, “Better stay on my good side, or I’m tossing you off his back.”
28
Rose
Just when I was beginning to think I liked Rissa, she went and pulled something like this.
One horse.
I supposed this was what I deserved for taking him on a littledetourwithout permission.
My back was straight as a rod as we trotted north to the palace, my legs clenched tightly around Nightshade to keep me from moving back into Leo’s chest. I was still sore from yesterday, and my muscles screamed at me to release my ironclad hold, but something about this man put me on edge. He had a sort of broody arrogance—different from Nox’s confidence or Callum’s cockiness. Even only being with him a few times, I could see he believed he wasalwaysright.Hethought he should be the one to carry out this mission, not me. He brushed off my memory of my father’s death, simply because he didn’t think I was right. He instantly assumed I had the wrong hall when pointing it out on the map.
His lack of faith in me itched at my skin. It made me want to prove him wrong.
A strong hand came to rest on my thigh, the stubble at his chin brushing the top of my ear as he leaned forward and said, “You need to relax. You’re spooking Nightshade.”
His breath so close to me sent goosebumps along my neck and down my arm. I swallowed, willing my legs to relax around the stallion. The tight coils unwound slowly, and my back pressed into Leo’s solid chest as Nightshade stepped into a dip in the road.
That same hand moved from my leg to my stomach, keeping me from being jostled. The warmth of his skin seeped through the thin fabric of my shirt. How had it felt so cold on my ribs yesterday? Now, it was like a searing ember, indicative of our mutual animosity. I saw the way he looked at me when his sister told him to take me to the palace. He didn’t want to be in this position any more than I did.
“So,” he said gruffly, “you know why I was hiding when we ran into each other at the palace yesterday morning. But I still don’t know what you were running from.”
“Is that a question?”
