Page 32 of A Taste For Lies (The Apex Kingdom #1)

Chapter 32

TARAN

A lora. The name shoots through me like wildfire injected into my veins. My heart pounds so hard, it’s a wonder the others can’t hear it. And alongside each quickening beat, her name rings in my ears. Alora, Alora, Alora…

The Lynx— Alora —sways, and I automatically shift my arm to encircle her waist, propping her body against mine.

“Did she faint?” Carter asks, guilt shadowing his eyes.

“She did not,” Alora replies, but her voice is tense and small trembles shake her body.

Maeve snorts. “She’s a professional guild thief. The best in Shanterra. Of course she didn’t faint.” I shoot my cousin a grateful look, but her attention is hyper-focused on the girl in my arms. “Lady Thorne and I need to be getting back to our chambers if we’re to have any hope of making it there unnoticed.” Maeve’s tone is purposefully unconcerned, as if Carter hasn’t just dropped a massive bomb that changes almost everything.

“I’ll walk you back,” I respond immediately.

“You most certainly will not,” Maeve counters. “If we escape tonight without scandal from your rash decisions, it will be a minor miracle. No, the thief and I will walk back through the ballroom together. ”

A low growl rumbles through my chest. “She can barely stand.”

“She is right here,” Alora interjects, pushing out of my half-embrace. “I’m fi—”

My eyes begin to shift. “If you try to say you’re fine, so help me—”

“Alright, I’m not fine. Far from it. I don’t know what to think or how to feel right now. But I want to be alone, and the very last thing I want is to blow my cover.” And fear, real fear flickers across her face. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen it. Sure, she’s been anxious around me, occasionally intimidated. But it was always cut by that calculating, devious mind, seeking to turn anything and everything to her advantage. Never this naked panic.

“Shall we?” Maeve holds out one slender arm, and to my surprise, Alora hooks hers through it. “Wait,” Maeve interjects. “Take off Taran’s coat first.”

Before my stoneclaw can object—which it wants to, emphatically—Alora slides the coat off and hands it back to me without meeting my gaze. I reach for her hand, but she pulls back quickly, already turning away with Maeve. Astrid opens the ballroom door and disappears through it behind them. I take a measure of comfort that the formidable guardian will be at their side, though there’s little risk of anything worse than gossip in their path.

“Gods.” Carter groans, rubbing his temples. “That was brutal.”

My gaze is still trained on the ballroom doors. “I feel as if I’ve hardly processed it. They left in such a hurry.”

Carter winces. “I think the wildcat preferred to be with another human after that news.” His eyes widen. “I mean, a human. Faunera, this is confusing.”

“I don’t detect a hint of her creature or her power. But…”

“But?” he prompts.

“There’s always been this undercurrent of wild to her scent. I’m not sure how else to describe it.” I shrug.

He stares out at the dark night beyond the terrace. “Do you think the entry was really about her? That her name is Alora? She never confirmed.”

I know it is. “Yes, I do. You saw her reaction when you said the name.” Not to mention my own .

My friend’s attention swings back to me. “How do you feel about that?”

“What do you mean?”

He snorts. “What do I mean? I mean, how do you feel about the fact that the Lynx is also an Apex and therefore not a forbidden human?” His voice drops, and he growls out what I assume is meant to be an impression of me, “‘Get over there and don’t let anyone talk to her, or I’ll kill them.’”

I stiffen. “In truth, I’m conflicted. A part of me is incredibly relieved that maybe there’s an explanation for why my creature has been so…possessive around her. Maybe it has something to do with her creature being buried and wanting to pull it to the surface.”

Carter gives me a skeptical look. “Perhaps. And the other part?”

I sigh. “Even if she discovers her creature again and truly becomes an Apex, does that mean there are fewer obstacles in our path? She’s not really an Elite. When she’s done with this job, she’ll need to leave the city or face the wrath of the guild. She might be better off as a human, able to return to her life in Shanterra as a guild member. Nothing to hide.” My stoneclaw seethes beneath my skin at the thought. I catch my friend’s gaze. “Would you choose to be Apex? If you had the choice to remain human?”

He cocks his head. “It’s hard to even consider. I can’t imagine giving up the connection with my gryphon for anything. It’s an essential part of who I am.”

I nod. “She doesn’t know what that feels like. All she knows is that if anyone discovers she’s an Apex, she’ll lose her freedom overnight.” And for a bold thief used to making her own way in the world, that would feel like the biggest loss of all. Of course she panicked.

“Still, she might be willing.” One side of Carter’s mouth pulls up as he gives me a pointed look. “If there was a prize to be had.”

“I’m no prize. Apex aren’t allowed relationships, remember? This changes nothing.”

He grins. “Who said anything about a relationship? ”

I level him a hard look, but he’s already shifted back into his typical teasing nature. “Now that we know she’s Apex, maybe I have a shot. What do you—ahhhh!”

I leap for him, arms raised, canines extended, but come up with only air. He’s jumped using his power and is now behind me and doubled over with laughter. I snarl half-heartedly.

“Relax, Prince. I’m not going to take your girl. Though I could, just so you know. My powers of seduction know no bounds.”

I reach for him, and he reappears behind me once again. I spin around, frustrated. “She’s not—” I was about to say she’s not mine, but I can’t force myself to form the words.

Carter’s laughter dies out. “I’ve never seen you like this.”

“I’ve never felt like this,” I admit.

“What does it feel like?” he asks, and if I didn’t know any better, I would almost describe his tone as vulnerable.

“Like I’m being pulled to her by something beyond my control. Something I can’t see, something I can’t fight. Like I would destroy anyone who even thought about hurting her. Including myself, if I was the one who was going to hurt her.”

He clasps my shoulder. “You won’t, Tare.”

I shake my head. “You don’t know that.” A shudder ripples through me. “It’s happened before.”

My friend’s eyes darken at the memory. “Never again.”

“Never again,” I vow.