“She’s mentioned me?”
“She’s light on the details but yes, on occasion,” he admitted, tilting his head side to side. The motion crinkled and flexed the tattoos peeking from just under his shirt collar. “She also felt terrible when you went missing from Last Light and spilled all the beans to me.”
Curiosity crept through me. I swallowed my most recent bite. “Details like what?”
His eyes flicked up from the apple he was carving. “She said she feels sad for you.”
“Sad? Why would she feel sad for me?” My voice lifted as if I wanted to convince him there was nothing to feel sorry about when it came to me.
Shaw closed his knife and leaned back. “I thought you two were friends. Maybe you should ask her yourself.”
He offered me more freshly cut apple slices. I accepted and studied him, but his face was as rough as the stone around us and was completely unreadable. If he knew more, he hid it well.
Instead of wondering what he could have learned through ale-impaired confessions or pillow talk, I decided to make him an offer.
“My name isn't Lyra, it's Reyva,” I admitted.
“Reyva, huh? Yeah. I see it. I like Lyra better, but I see it.” He shrugged. “Just Reyva? No family name?”
“Bergmont,” I said, opting for my maiden name. My married name was never really mine anyway.
“Nice to meet you, Reyva Bergmont.” Shaw’s locs fell forward as he tilted his head in a seated bow. “So, now I know your real name. But I’m curious, who are you? To him?” He nodded toward the upper floor of the manor.
I nearly choked on an apple slice. “To Dom—I mean, Commander Thorne?”
“Mmm.” He raised his dark brows playfully.
“Nothing likethat,” I insisted.
“It never is, love.” He winked and clearly didn’t believe me. I didn’t believe me. My twiddling thumbs had never been more interesting.
“He’s…” I struggled to answer. Who was Dommik to me? The question hung like the air on a humid summer’s day.
“He’ssomeoneto you,” Shaw prompted.
I didn’t deny it. My lips pressed into a firm line as if to hold in my admission that yes, infuriating as he was, as conflicted as I felt about all he’d done since we met, yes, he was special to me. I did feel for him. But I didn’t know how to describe it. Not as clearly as Dommik had, anyway.
I bristled in my silence and Shaw read me like every thought was written on Dommik’s clothes I still wore. “Sounds complicated.”
A short laugh escaped me. “You have no idea.”
Our jovial exchange immediately shifted when we heard voices above us, muffled by the stone and wooden floorboards. Shaw stood, shielding me with his body as the voices approached.
“You’re clear, soldier,” Dommik called down the stairs. He wasn’t alone.
Shaw went up first, and I followed closely behind. Dommik was more shadow than man at the top of the stairs and my heart fluttered at the sight of him.
The entryway was host to a handful of vampire and Day Guard soldiers in their respective uniforms. They parted so a man in a familiar crown could stride through the entrance.
“My jewel! By the Four, I was so worried about you.” Rhazien swept me into his arms and spun me, sending dust into a swirl around us.
“You’re here,” I said softly.
“I’m here. I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner.” Rhazien mistook my feeble salutation as worry that mirrored his own.
I found myself trapped in his embrace. Over Rhazien’s shoulder, I glanced at Shaw, whose gaze ricocheted between myself, his commander, and the regent. His discerning brown eyes were putting together the pieces of our complicated puzzle.
“You must be exhausted.” Rhazien guided me out of the fallen manor. “What are you wearing? Let’s get you home.”
