I almost missed the days when I’d loved no one other than Shay. When my heart had been my own, impervious to hurt.
They argued and debated for a little longer, and discussed where to house the defecting Dawn Army soldiers. Who would fund their upkeep? What to do about civilians, the other Barons, the fucking West of Ebrus who were starving?
I didn’t want this to be my life, but what could I do?
Finally, the meeting was over. We were all restricted to Taeme’s home, because while they trusted their people, it was better to avoid temptation, and there were too many strangers in Hamor to be entirely sure we wouldn’t be stuffed in a bag and dragged back to Fortaare.
Having a bed was nice, but I missed the simplicity of being on the road. Well, minus the assassins.
Avalon wrapped her arm around my waist, holding me tightly to her side. I wanted to pick her up in my arms, find the nearest bedroom, and hide away with her until the world had righted itself. Tilting her head up for a kiss—an irresistible request—she brushed her lips across mine. “You’re inside your head again, my Ice Prince.”
“There are better things I’d like to be inside, my little dirt scrabbler,” I whispered back, and she laughed.
Zier looked over his shoulder at us, his focus intense. I guess he hadn’t been there for the beginning; that might have sounded offensive if you didn’t know our history. I wouldn’t have her any other way.
“Love you,” I murmured into her hair.
“Not as much as I love you,” she whispered back.
“You guys are gross,” Shay called from where she waited beside the door of Hayle’s living quarters. “Honestly, how do you not just choke on that much testosterone, Ninth? The stench of it just wafts down the hallway.”
I gave her a stern look, but then I turned Avalon, dipping her backwards and kissing her until she was pliant in my arms. I devoured the little gasps that fell from her lips. Shay made an exaggerated gagging noise, and I smiled as I lifted Avalon back upright.
One of the Twelfth Line girls stuck their head around the doorway. “I think it’s actually kind of sweet. And a little hot. Would it be inappropriate to put it in the memory bank for a later time?”
Avalon flushed red. “Extremely inappropriate, Viana.”
“Prude.”
They’d moved Shay, Lucio, and Avalon’s Twelfth Line friends into the main house, so they couldn’t be used as a lure. I watchedPolus and Link for any sign they might be thinking about abandoning their high-and-mighty morals for a quick buck, but they seemed as at ease now as they’d always been.
Viana stepped into the hall, grabbing Avalon’s hand. “You know what you need? A girls’ day. You’ve been cooped up with too much cock for far too long. Taeme, we’re stealing your room for the day.” She tugged Avalon toward Taeme’s sitting room, pointing at Shay. “Come on. I want to know all the juicy gossip, and that can’t happen when the subjects are standing there broodingly.”
Shay threw me a helpless look, but she still went. The door closed firmly, and we all just stared at it for a pitifully long amount of time.
“Billiards?” Hayle finally suggested, and I saw the way the Twelfth Line guys lingered by the door. I envied the Twelfth Line for their loyalty to each other. Hayle clapped Link on the shoulder. “They’ll be safe in there, but I’ll get someone to keep guard.”
Putting his fingers to his lips, he whistled loudly. I wasn’t surprised to see his hounds appear, but Epsy appearing with a milk moustache was a little bit of a surprise. I hadn’t realized Avalon’s little stolt was so well trained.
After a silent conversation with the three of them, Epsy wiggled under the tiny gap beneath the door. It should have been impossible, but I was beginning to believe that stolts were actually made of liquid, not fur and bone. Alucius scratched at the door, until it opened and she was admitted. I guess she counted toward the girls’ day, technically.
“I’ll get the kitchens to send them up something for lunch,” Hayle muttered, mostly to himself. He’d been like this since Rewill; he hated Avalon being out of sight, and I understood. I sometimes caught him rereadingA Future History of Ebrus,going over the part where he’d failed to protect her. Where we’dallfailed to protect her.
I put my hand on his back. “She’ll be fine. Alucius is inside, Braxus is outside, and we are all beneath the roof of the safest place in Ebrus. She’s safe,” I told him softly, and he forced a smile for me. “Plus, Shay is powerful enough to snap any person in half, should they threaten them.”
He sighed and nodded, leading us down the hallway until we reached a dark room with a wall of books, large leather couches, and a billiards table. There was a bar in the corner, and Hayle swaggered toward it.
I racked the balls, while Polus picked up a billiards cue. “You know, this thing you have going on might seem unusual to your Lines, but it’s the norm out in the Twelfth Line.” He lined up the white ball and cracked it down the green felt. “Just know, if you don’t show Avalon the proper respect, we don’t care how powerful you are—we’ll slit your throat in your sleep.” He stood with a smile, sinking a brown ball.
Link took the cue from him and looked at me expectantly. I leaned over and took my shot, the ball falling just short of the hole. “I appreciate your protectiveness.”
“We all do,” Hayle added. “She deserves to know that she has options. I wouldn’t want her to stay just because she felt like she had nowhere else to go.” He waited for Link to have a turn, then bent to sink two balls in opposite holes.
Show-off.
Hayle continued. “But I have questions about the whole group relationship thing.”
Polus smiled. “We thought you might.”
