I rolled over, kicking the bed sheets away. It could be the rogues. It could be the fey. It could be anyone. But I really didn’t want it to be Junnie.
My thoughts turned to Fannie then, betrayed by her own father. He had essentially disowned her, choosing my mother over her as his second, and then me after he’d all but driven her insane. Fannie had turned to council to protect them, a birthright, their kin, and council had betrayed them as well. When her bonds began to break, she thought Junnie and council had entrapped her, and she went for revenge. It had cost her life.
My thoughts floated in and out of those images, of Fannie razing the village that had been our prison, of the fires that burned my mother. It was hard to say when they morphed into dreams, but I could see my mother in a gown of azure and lilac, leaning forward to whisper secrets.
“It was the bond,” she said softly, “that was why my mother couldn’t leave him.”
“But–” I started, and her finger came up to silence me.
“It isn’t right, my Freya. I cannot let him destroy her family so he might lay claim to more land.”
And then she was burning. The flames licked at her white gown, beaded and lacy. Screams surrounded us, but I could hear her whispering, “Others will come. Others will come.” The flames engulfed her and I was suddenly under water, struggling for air. Others will come.
I jerked awake, damp with sweat and panting. I lay staring at the ceiling, one thought circling through my mind like a bird over prey. Others will come.
Damn Asher. The bastard had made an army of them, and they were going to come for me. One by one.
Chapter Eleven
Decision
Eventually, I accepted the fact that sleep would not be returning anytime soon, and dragged myself out of bed. I took a long bath before getting dressed, and let myself wince as I laced a corset around my ribcage. It was getting better, though, and I was able to take a few deep breaths before heading down to find the others.
I stepped into the hall and found Anvil leaning against the wall beside my room. I raised a brow.
“Only until we are certain,” he answered.
I nodded. “It won’t be long, I assure you.”
He smiled a fiendish grin and I reached up to clap him on the back as we made our way down the corridor.
We found Ruby, Steed, and Grey in the dining area. When we sat to join them, I realized they were eating lunch, and wondered exactly how long I’d slept.
After two servings of braised elk and cornmeal, I decided I could face what I was going to have to do. “Find Rhys and Rider, we’ll have a meeting as soon as everyone is gathered.”
I excused myself and headed for Chevelle’s study. He was standing near the back wall, staring out the window. The silver dagger lay on his desk.
He turned and saw my focus.
“It is an alloy.”
I lost all awareness of my intention. “Alloy?”
He nodded grimly. “Yes.”
“So...”
“So we have no idea the kind of threats we’ll be dealing with. This and the ice–” he stopped when a note of anger slipped into his voice. Waited. And then, “We will be fighting blind.”
If I’d had any notion he’d forgiven Asher in his demise, it was gone. I was beginning to build on my own resentments as well. Even in death, I wasn’t free from him.
Chevelle stared at me for a long moment. And then I realized I’d forgotten my purpose. “Oh. I’ve called a meeting.”
He nodded and began to walk toward the door, but as he neared me, he saw there was more.
“I wanted to see you first,” I explained.
His gaze fell to the hand fisted at my side, lingered, and then returned to meet mine.
“You trust me.”
It wasn’t a question, so he didn’t answer. He simply waited for me to go on.
I didn’t.
He came closer, reached down to take my fist in his hand, and loosened the fingers. I understood the gesture was meant to ease me, to let me know I could relax and just tell him, but it didn’t have that effect. I fought the flush but forgot to mask my expression.
He moved even closer and released my hand so nothing stood between us but a few inches of air. I dropped all emotion from my face.
Chevelle’s jaw tightened in response. “Do you know the one thing I enjoyed?” he asked, his hand reaching up to cup my cheek.
I could only manage a quiet, “What?”
His thumb brushed my lip and the flush returned, despite my best efforts. “You couldn’t hide it,” he whispered.
I took a deep breath, reining it in as the memories rolled over me. Every look, every touch. “Well,” I said, working for a steady tone, “you weren’t doing so well yourself.”
A sexy smile took over his face. “Still, it was…” his eyes fell to my lips, slowly tracing their line, “...satisfying.”
That was it. I’d finally made a good decision and I was going to cave after one touch from him. One word.
Ruby cleared her throat from the doorway.