Page 2 of Veil of Web and Ruin

Stifling a sigh, I keep a hand over the coat’s pocket as the last thing I want is to drop any of the vials. Thankfully, I don’t worry about being pickpocketed the way I frequently was when we first arrived here. We’re under Rula’s protection now, and only a fool would mess with her.

Speaking of fools…

As if I have summoned him with my thoughts, Tella pushes off a wall to snag me by my sleeve.

‘Hey there, pretty flower,’ he greets me, and my spine crawls.

I grit my teeth.

One of Rula’s enforcers, I should be safe from him, safedueto him.

But there is nothing safe about Tella. I’ve seen the glint in his eye as he looks at me; worse, I’ve seen it when he looks at Kay.

‘Tella,’ I say stiffly. ‘I’m on my way to Rula.’

‘Are you now?’ he replies carelessly as he reaches out to stroke my unnaturally white-blonde hair.

It was once a deep brunette, but when the priestess stripped me of my magic, the colour fled from every strand. It was the same for Kay and my parents. Now all and sundry can see and know my shame, just from the shade of hair flowing down my back. Stripped. Outcast.

Word of others who have suffered the same fate and wear the same shame-coloured shade has reached us in the slums, but I’ve personally yet to see another marked like me.

‘Hard to believe you were once a lady, isn’t it, Kultavaris?’ Tella’s voice lingers on the vowels of my surname, and he twines dirty fingers around the strands I wish I’d braided this morning.

My heart hammers as my fists clench at my side, but I keep the fury within.

Behind him, I can see Frell and Jack, which means if I slam my knee into Tella’s groin the way I long to, they’ll be on me in a heartbeat.

And it’s not like I have a weapon. My strength has faded due to a lack of food and nutrients, and it’s been a long time since I practised fighting.

I regret it now. Regret not keeping up with the training.

I can still throw a dagger straight, but I had to sell my last throwing knife six weeks ago, when the hunger got too much. Which means there are only two things I can do: grit my teeth and let Tella keep playing with my hair.

Better me than Kay.

‘When are you going to let me come calling, Rose?’ he asks with a wink that makes my stomach turn.

‘I’m too busy,’ I say as mildly as I can manage. I wish to hell I hadn’t sold that blade. It’s foolish to have no defence. ‘Rula has me brewing potions every moment of the day.’

His hand trails down from my hair to stroke my neck lightly. ‘You’d better find time, Rose. Or I’ll be making it for you. You and your little sister.’

Bile burns my throat, but somehow I fight against every urge and manage to conjure up a false smile. ‘Soon,’ I tell him. ‘Soon.’

My mind whirs in panic. Tella has officially shifted from annoyance to threat – and specifically a threat to Kay – and that means he has to be eliminated.

It’s time to begin brewing a potion that doesn’t heal, but harms, in case he does come knocking.

He’s arrogant and careless, so I know he would take a drink from me without thinking twice. And it would be the last thing he does. Because when he’s passed out, I could smother him, choke him,something.His would be the first life I’d ever take. But it would be worth it. Anything for Kay.

‘We’re late,’ Jack grunts, eyes flicking over me with the tiniest hint of compassion.

He’s one of the few good ones, but I’m careful to keep the gratitude out of my eyes or Tella will take issue with us both.

Tella’s eyes flick to the shadow cast by the monolith stone at the heart of the High Hold. He grimaces, seeing Jack’s right.

‘Until next time, little flower.’ He blows me a kiss and winks yet again as I suppress a shudder.

Finally alone, I pick up my pace until the black market finally comes into view. The market is not sanctioned by the king, yet I have no doubt a tithe is paid to him, or else his maroon-draped knights and their bonded dire wolves would be here in an instant, ripping us all into bloody shreds.