Most of the others didn’t know.But Ryan did.Maybe that was why he’d always felt this need to test her.To break her open and see what made her tick.Even as he went out of his way to protect her.
I knew there was more to her.
Ryan was already considering how to factor this new information into his plans when a loud whistle interrupted his thoughts.
“Well, well, isn’t this an unexpected sight,” Pallas drawled, sauntering across the uneven surface of the hollow.
Careful not to disturb the roots covering him, since he had no wish to experience death via constriction, Ryan shifted his gaze to watch his brother’s approach.“You’re supposed to be monitoring the major Houses.”
Ryan wanted to be surprised that Pallas had disregarded his orders, but he wasn’t.Although a sensitive soul, Pallas was also contrary and rebellious.Even those who had his loyalty had to be careful lest he tear their throats out unexpectedly.
His unpredictability should have made him an undesirable chess piece.Instead, Ryan found that instability part of his charm.He particularly enjoyed the caution Pallas managed to inspire in their siblings.
Clad in armor and weaponry that gave him the appearance of a brute, Pallas had the build of a warrior and the mind of a tactician.
Looking highly amused, Pallas ran a gaze over Ryan.“Don’t you worry.Everything is under control.Ole Faithful is keeping an eye on the situation.He’ll notify me if there’s an issue, and I’ll be right there to pull his ass out of the fire.”
This was why Ryan had never considered discarding Pallas.For all his seeming carelessness, Pallas was meticulous in his own way.
Pallas squatted next to Ryan to get a better look at the roots.“What did you do to make Gussy so mad?”
“Don’t,” Ryan objected as the other Tuann extended a finger.
Heeding his warning, Pallas withdrew the finger he’d been about to poke the roots with and looked askance at Ryan.
“There was a misunderstanding,” Ryan said, answering Pallas’s earlier question.
Pallas’s eyebrow ticked upward.“That’s some misunderstanding.Gussy doesn’t typically like confrontation.If I hadn’t seen it for myself, I wouldn’t have thought her capable of something like this.”
“She is full of surprises,” Ryan acknowledged.
Pallas looked curious as he gave Ryan a sidelong look.“How did she get the drop on you anyway?You’re not usually so careless.”
“An oversight on my part.It won’t happen again.”
Now that Ryan knew the extent of Gus’s abilities, he’d take steps to ensure he didn’t fall prey to them.
“What are you doing?”Ryan asked as Pallas withdrew a dagger.
His brother gestured.“Getting you out of there.”
“I’d advise against harming any part of this tree.”
Ryan didn’t think either of them would like what would happen if Gus’s friend suffered so much as a nick due to their actions.
“What would you suggest then?”Pallas asked.
“Yourki.Inject it—gently—into the roots around me.”
It was just a theory, but based on what Ryan knew of Gus, he was fairly confident it would work.
Shaking his head and muttering under his breath, Pallas extended one hand and concentrated.The nest of roots trembled at the first brush of hiski.A second later, they retreated, sliding off Ryan with a speed that was astonishing.
“You were right,” Pallas drawled, looking impressed.
Ryan sat up, hiding his wince as muscles that had been forced to remain immobile for hours protested.“Give me your report.”
Pallas straightened to look around the hollow with curiosity, his gaze landing on the tangled ball of roots that hid Gus’s safe room before moving on.“Alexander is guiding representatives from House Kashori and Asanth to Titan as we speak.They should be here within the day.”
