Page 22 of Ashborne Forged

“Not yet. I know them. They’ll needle me until I fucking snap.”

“Needle you? There’s no doubt you’ll snap, but it won’t be because of them. You’re going to get caught taking her against a stable wall or something—”

“I will not be taking my mate against a stable wall!” I snapped.

Gil scoffed. “How much do you want to bet?”

“I would bet any fucking amount, it’s not going to happen—”

“Gold coin it is. Now, what twisted part of your brain thinks you can take her back to the Keep, where she’s surrounded by men, and not end up killing someone? Because you wanted to kill me and all I did was accidentally look at her.”

My skin was starting to itch. My muscles tensing. “Look, give me some time to get my shit together. She’s agreed not to tell the brothers right away.”

“Oh no. Nuh uh. I am not letting you set a trap for every Furyknight who so much as smiles in her direction.”

“If you haven’t noticed, I’ve endured worse already. And I’m not setting a trap. I’m avoiding that.”

“Bullshit. I know you. You’re a cold bastard until something gets under your skin, and festers. You’re going to end up stabbing some dumb fuck who slaps her ass in the dining hall or something stupid. The rules are being loosened, Vos. The queen wants more women around. They’ll all be more relaxed with her than they were with Bren.”

An image of precisely that—Grace, walking away from the table at the dining hall in her leather glory, and some idiot laying a hand on her hip as she passed and pulling her close and—shit.

“See?!” Gil hissed.

I turned to tell him I could handle it—that they’d be worse if they knew. But our eyes caught and he shook his head.

“Vos, come on. You know how this ends.”

I did. It’s exactly what I was afraid of. But Gil didn’t k now my past. Not fully. He thought I was just quick to draw my blade.

I tore my attention away from him, to the dirt between my feet, shaking my head, my whole body recoiling at the idea of putting this out there where any dumb idiot could decide to voice an opinion. Or worse, tell Grace whatever stupid thing occurred to him.

The whole fucking world was spinning out of control, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t stop it.

I wanted to curse. I wanted to grab up Grace and fly away and never come back.

“I am not sharing her with them. They’ll never let me hear the end of it. Jhoare alone—”

“You’re an idiot,” Gil muttered.

“I don’t mind waiting. It would be nice to have some time to ourselves.” Grace’s voice was high and breathless, and so startling, we both jumped.

My heart thudded on my ribs, pounding until I felt my pulse in my skin.

There was so little light with the clouds blocking the moon, but the low light glistened on the raindrops clinging to Grace’s hair. Her cheeks were flushed pink, and her pretty blue eyes clouded with irritation. But to my relief, it was Gil she glared at with her arms folded. She looked adorably stern. “This is between me and Voski. You need to leave him alone.”

Gil gaped at her. “How the fuck did you do that?”

I was still shaking from the shock of her appearance, but I couldn’t help a smile when she looked at me, confused.

I didn’t know the answer. But suddenly, I brimmed with pride just as surely as I’d shaken with rage before. Because she was impossible. And incredible.

And mine.

7. False Orders

~ GRACE ~

Voski beckoned me to sit with him. My cheeks heated when he took my hand and pulled me down while Gil watched us. But I went willingly, surprised that he turned me and urged me to settle between his knees, my back to his chest, where he leaned against the tree.