Page 172

“Come in,” I called, hoping it was the servant who had been checking in hourly. Perhaps with my normal order of ale, I’d get food this time. That might save me some pain later.

Instead of the servant, however, Caelo appeared. When he saw me, he frowned and poked his head into the hallway.

“Water and breadonly,” he said to someone—the oldservant, most likely. “And don’t bring him more ale. No matter what he threatens. I’ll fight him if necessary. Judging by the state of him, I’d easily win.”

A soft‘eep’sounded from the hallway and then footsteps as the servant left.

Caelo entered my room, bright blue eyes taking me in with concern.

“You scared my servant away.” I frowned. “I want more ale.”

“No more than your face probably scared them.” Caelo snorted. “You look awful. The last thing you need is more ale.”

Fists tightening, I stalked over to a chair by the fire, which I had not had the will to light, and slumped down. The chair creaked under my weight, old but well-made and sturdy.

“You yelled at Lord Riis last night,” Caelo said and joined me.

“What did you hear?” My eyes narrowed. I hadn’t considered that anyone would overhear me railing against Lord Riis after he told me his secret. My mother’s secret.

Now my secret.

“General sounds of anger. The door has a muffling enchantment on it, but we knew there was yelling. And he left before anyone could question him today. Care to tell me why?”

“Why did you speak with Neve?” I asked, deflecting.

He snorted. “You’ve been watching her the whole time, haven’t you?”

I didn’t answer.

Caelo snorted. “She asked about you.”

My gaze lifted from where it had dropped to the floor. “She did?”

“Yes.” Caelo sat forward and stared me in the eyes. “You should go talk to her.”

“She’s a Falk, Caelo.”

“Most everyone in the Tower heard. And yet,you’rethe only one avoiding her. Avoiding all of us.”

“I’m not avoiding everyone. I let you in here, didn’t I?”

“I didn’t give you a chance to deny me.”

“Good thing too. You’re quite obnoxious.”

“That’s why you love me.”

A single laugh tripped out of my lips, surprising even me.

“There we go!” Caelo said with a grin. “You need to come out of this funk.”

“You say that like it’s easy to learn that the female you’re married to is a Falk—a member of the house that my own house exterminated like rats. An enemy.”

“To whom, though?” Caelo arched an eyebrow.

“What?”

“Whose enemy is she?”