Page 40 of Ashes of Betrayal

“And are you forbidden from crossing back?”

“No,” she replied, a groove etching between her brows. “Except that she’s highly suspicious of me now.” She halted then, her hazel eyes narrowing. “Why? Are you suggesting I do?”

“It might be for the best.”

They stared at each other a long moment, and Cailean marked the way her jaw tightened. Frowning, he braced himself to be argued with. He’d known she wouldn’t let this go easily.

But to his irritation, she didn’t even answer him. Instead, Bree glanced right, her body stiffening.

Something—or someone—had caught her eye.

Do I know him?

The man was playing ‘Liar’ with a woman a few yards away—each taking turns to shake two dice in a cup and then guess if their opponent was lying to them about the result.

He looked to be of middling age, although he carried his years well, and had umber-colored skin and black hair that curled tightly against his scalp. Leathers covered his lean frame, and when he smiled at the pale-skinned woman with greying tawny hair who sat opposite, he revealed straight, even teeth.

Bree’s pulse quickened. The woman was a stranger to her, yet the man definitely reminded her of someone.

Moments passed, and sensing her looking at him, the man glanced Bree’s way. Their gazes met, and his dark eyes narrowed.

Bree shifted her attention back to her trencher, her heart pounding.

Iron bite her, shedidrecognize him.

“What is it?”

Bree looked up, meeting Cailean’s veiled blue eyes once more.

Her belly clenched then. He wanted rid of her. The garlic sausage and bread she’d eaten churned, nausea following. She’d known this conversation was looming.

Swallowing, she did her best to ignore the sense of impending doom. They’d have to finish their talk later. Right now, she had to speak to someone else.

Without another word to her husband, Bree picked up her cup of ale once more and rose from the table. Then, ignoring his scowl, she moved across to where the couple were now laughing together and slid onto the bench seat next to the woman.

“Sorry for the intrusion.”

Their laughter cut off, and the woman’s moss-green eyes narrowed. “Can we help you?”

“I hope so.”

Bree flashed the woman an apologetic smile before fixing the man with a level look. “It’s been a long while … Flynn.”

The man stiffened. His reaction was subtle, and he hurriedly masked it, but it was enough.

Aye, it was him.

“You’re looking well,” she murmured. “Living amongst the Marav clearly suits you.”

“You’ve mistaken me for someone else,” he replied coldly, his brows knitting together. “My name’s Lycan.”

Holding his gaze, Bree shifted her glamor, just a little, so that her face altered. For a heartbeat or two, she let him see her real features and her golden eyes with their slitted pupils.

Alarm rippled across Flynn’s face. “Iron,” he whispered as Bree let her Marav glamor settle once more.

Aye, he’d recognized her too.

“I knew Mor would catch up with me one day.” His throat bobbed then, while beside Bree, his female companion had gone still. “How long have you been hunting me?”