Page 33 of Veil of Night & Flames

But, of course, I have to tell him the truth.

“There was a price,” I say, looking at my hands in my lap rather than him. “The wolves—the same ones that killed Whistler—they almost killed Chase.”

Mr. Griffin’s body goes rigid, as if he already knows the arc of this story.

“There was a cure. Adric’s blood.”

“And a price,” Chase says, his voice hard.

I nod.

“What does this vial mean?”

I reach up without thinking and cup the vial in my hand. “I guess, well, I mean, it’s just…” I take another breath and force the words out. “I’m his fiancée.”

He turns to Chase.

“Yes.” That’s all Chase says, but it carries both pain and, I think, fear.

I see the debate play out over Mr. Griffin’s features, but I can’t parse out what he’s thinking. I’m starting to worry that he’s going to kick me out of the training room when he surprises me by pulling me close.

“You are a brave woman, Cora Lyte.” He shudders. “But knowing you, I would expect nothing less.”

I just shrug and wiggle away from him.

Mr. Griffin puts his hand on my shoulder. “We won’t speak of it now.”

“Thank you,” I whisper.

I glance at Chase, but his expression is as flat as a mask and entirely unreadable. I know that look. He still can’t stand that I made the deal with Adric—even though that deal saved his life.

I look away as Mr. Griffin pats my shoulder as if giving me strength. Clearly, he thinks the betrothal is a horrible, horrible thing. But I don’t. It saved Chase’s life, and for that, I would have paid any price.

All true. But at the same time, I was agreeing to the demands of an Adric I thought I knew. Last night, though…

That execution—well, that was a different Adric altogether. A colder, brutal man who sentenced men to die, but didn’t have the balls to do the deed himself.

And now, I’m that man’s fiancée.

I look down, forcing the thoughts out of my head. I’d had no choice, and I know it. I would have paid any price to save Chase. And last night gave me more insight into the king who essentially owns me. Information is power, right? So I guess right now, I’m pretty damn powerful.

I force myself to shake off the thoughts. “What about here? What’s happened since we left?”

“Have you spoken with Tia?”

“Why?” I hear the edge in my voice. “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine,” He smiles a little, clearly understanding my fear. “But she and Riley found something.” He looks between Chase and me. “Something disturbing near the Widow Maker. But I will let her tell you.”

I start to say that I overheard some of that when I was here with Adric, then shift gears. I never told Chase about that little trip, and now isn’t the time to fess up. Instead, I say, “I’m glad she told Riley what’s going on. Was Riley’s mind completely blown?”

Mr. Griffin chuckles. “Hardly. Turns out Riley knew some of it even before Tia brought her into the fold. They’ve spent so much time down here poring over material that I may have to start charging them rent.”

I glance at Chase, the need to see Tia almost like a physical ache.

“I know,” he says, then looks at Mr. Griffin. “Hamilton Hall is our next stop.”

“She’ll hate you for waking her up this early,” Mr. Griffin says. “But I imagine she’ll forgive you soon enough. Go,” he adds. “You can take me through every step of your time in the Nightmare Realm later. Moment by moment. Who knows what we might find in your words that will be useful?”