Page 40 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)

CHAPTER FORTY

Ellery

“I’m sure Ivan feels safer now that you’re watching over him,” I murmured.

“I’m sure he does too, milady.”

With deft movements, he released one of my hands and turned to lock my arm through his before clasping my hand. I gawked at our intertwined fingers before recovering my more neutral expression.

His hand felt wrong in mine. It was too hot and clammy, and the joints of his knuckles ground against mine in a way they never did with Ryker’s.

When I gave a subtle tug of my hand, his fingers constricted on mine. My teeth clamped together, and despite my determination to remain docile, my eyes flew up to his, and I glowered at him.

Thankfully, he was too intent on surveying the farmland to notice my slip. “I see you’ve finished harvesting,” he remarked. “Did you have a good year?”

“We did. Ivan will be happy with it; half the crops are going to him.”

Maybe he’d lose interest in the farm, and therefore me, if he realized we were no longer profitable. However, this revelation didn’t faze him at all.

“I know,” he admitted.

It was such a personal thing for him to know, but apparently Ivan didn’t agree.

“While I wish I were only here for the absolute pleasure of your company, I’m not,” Gaius said. “I’m also here on business. Ivan has sent me to collect the carisle you owe him.”

The hair on my nape rose as he continued smiling at me. Who smiled at someone like that while telling them they were here to take away what they’d worked so hard for?

Ryker had told me that he believed Gaius was much like his father and liked to play with his victims before devouring them; I was growing increasingly certain he was right. If he considered me a mouse to play with, he’d learn this mouse had massive claws, teeth… and lightning.

“Of course,” I murmured. “I had planned to deliver it to him tomorrow; we just sent our last bundle of wheat to Nottingshire.”

“No need for you to do that. This is part of my new responsibilities, after all.”

I seriously doubted the captain of the king’s guard normally did this, but I was sure Gaius jumped at the opportunity once he learned it would bring him back here.

“Normally, I would delegate this responsibility to someone else,” he continued, “but I couldn’t miss this opportunity to see you again.”

When he stroked my hand with his thumb, I instinctively jerked on it again as nausea rolled through my stomach. If he kept this up, I would vomit on his boots.

“I appreciate you coming to visit again,” I lied smoothly. “I have the money inside. Please, excuse me.”

“I’ll come with you.”

Everything in me rebelled against this idea. I hated having him in my home, examining my things, and sizing up how much it was all worth, and I definitely didn’t want to be inside with him, locked away from the rest of the world.

If I killed him, they’d hunt me afterward, but if he didn’t let go of my hand and back off , I was ready for that to happen. They’d come here looking for him, but if I burned his body afterward, they wouldn’t know I’d electrocuted him.

They’d hunt me as a killer but not as the lightning bearer. I pondered this as Gaius continued to fondle my hand.

It was disturbing how much my thought processes had changed over the past few months. At one time, I never would have considered killing and burning a body to cover it up; now, I was pondering what to use as an accelerant.

“It would be best if you waited outside,” I told him. “You know how gossip spreads.”

He glanced around before focusing on me again. “There’s no one here to see or talk about anything.”

I kept smiling as I concluded that straw might be the best way to get the fire burning fast. “You’re right, of course.”

I tried to tug my hand free again, but he kept my arm clamped against his side and my fingers entwined in his as we walked toward my front porch.

Dread filled me with every step toward my home’s closed door and gloomy interior.