I wasn’t sure how I’d gotten blood on myself. I couldn’t remember being close enough. I scrubbed at it, thinking of the stares I’d received on the way back to my room. Everyone had been watching. It had happened so fast, I wasn’t sure how, but they had all found a window to lean out, a doorway to peek around, some way to watch. I hadn’t wanted to leave the others to clean up the mess, but I couldn’t stay when I’d realized the size of our audience.
I knew they would take care of it. They would honor those of our people who were killed before we arrived. They would report to me who had been taken and I would pay tribute to them, show my respect to their families. And Ruby would spike that damned Vandrell’s head.
I stopped scrubbing. My skin was raw.
I dressed in clean pants and a loose tunic and returned to my room. I heard a shuffle outside, but didn’t go to check who was on duty. I stared out the window, into the empty darkness of night, and then closed my eyes, searching for the wolves. I hadn’t felt them since I’d returned from our journey. They must have left while I slept.
I wondered where they were. I wondered if they knew about Junnie. I wondered what I was supposed to do with all this power, why they’d brought Rhys and Rider, whether they’d known about Asher, why the rogues chose today to attack, and who else wanted me dead. I wondered when I’d get some sleep.
Late the next morning, a light knock sounded at my door. I was already awake, but my voice was still hoarse when I answered. “Yes?”
Ruby poked her head in.
“You’re knocking now?” I asked.
She pushed the door open and shrugged. “I brought you some bread.”
She sat it on the table by the door, whether because she could tell I wasn’t interested or because it had only been an excuse to see me I wasn’t sure.
“I stood the pike by the gate,” she said. “For our guests.”
A flicker of concern that I’d given Ruby too much authority edged out my other worries for a moment, but when I looked up at her, it appeared she’d simply done what she thought I’d have wanted. I nodded. “I suppose that’s for the best. I’m sure they’ve all heard by now.”
“The others are still hunting down the clan leaders for tonight,” she offered.
“So you are my guard.”
She nodded. “And Grey.” She paused, looked a little guilty, and added, “And Rhys.”
“When Chevelle returns, please let him know I’d like to speak with him.”
She rolled her jaw, but kept her lips tight.
“What?”
“I...”
“Ruby,” I demanded.
Her face twisted into a grimace. “I don’t know,” she started, “but I think he’s looking for Stryder.”
“Alone?”
She lifted a shoulder. “It isn’t as if he can’t handle it.”
And he’d left me here with no fewer than three guards. I swung my legs off the bed to stand. “How long has he been gone?”
“Too long for you to stop him.”
“Then that’s how it will be,” I said. She was burning to ask, but I ignored her. “Let’s get dressed, shall we?”
Chapter Twelve
Second
The rest of the day was a blur. I’d chosen a form-fitting costume, black and leather. A short cape for freedom of movement, clasped at the shoulders with pewter adorned with the crest of my line. I wore a cuff on my left wrist, but my right was bare. Ruby had painted the hawk and intricate runes there, just above the base of my palm. I was outfitted for a special kind of battle, and my opponent awaited.
I stepped forward, leaving the two watchmen at my private entrance to the hall. The room was silent as I took my place before them, Anvil at my left in all his regalia. The walls had been covered with dark silks and standards, all bearing the crest. The room was smaller than the banquet hall, windowless, and I couldn’t help but feel closed in. The torches and candles flared brighter, and I wondered if Ruby could tell what I was feeling. Hard to say, she did have a flair for the dramatic after all. I scanned the room, it appeared they’d been able to locate representatives for most of the clans. My guard was in place, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at Chevelle. What I was about to do...
But no, it had to be done. There was no other I would name.
“I have called this congress…” I heard myself droning the words but I could only focus on the crowd. They had already formed opinions of Chevelle; they had heard the rumors. Some of them had even been here when I had publicly denied him as Asher sought to arrange a marriage. And now, what I was going to do would be like openly denying him again.
Permanently.
A second was backup, there to step in when the lord fell. They could never be in a union, because one who was bound would likely die themselves if they lost that connection. If I chose Chevelle, if I named him my second, it would be like announcing we would never be bound. Otherwise, it would only be for appearances, for he would not live long after my death.
“... and call you to order as I name my second.”
As I made it through the lengthy speech, my eyes finally fell on Chevelle, across the long table. It would be as we always stood at these ludicrous functions now, opposite ends, never side by side.