Page 55 of Fall of Ruin and Wrath

My eyes narrowed. “But you will, right?”

One shoulder lifted.

“I can ask him— ”

“Don’t do that.” Grady faced me.

“Why not?” I crossed my arms. “You’re good at that— ”

“I’m good at what I do now.”

“Yeah, but you actually enjoy working with iron and steel. It’s rare that someone is good at something they enjoy doing.” I watched him fiddle with the leather strap across his chest, holding one of the blades I knew he had crafted himself. “You need to ask Claude. He’s not going to tell you no.”

“I know. I will.” He was quiet for a moment. “You’re going to hate what I say next, but you should probably stay out of the gardens for a little while.”

“Yeah, probably.” I crossed the chamber, the gown snapping at my heels. I stared out the window, my thoughts drifting back to that odd feeling I had last night. That I should’ve stayed by his side.

It was still there, like a shadow in the back of my mind. That I should be out there.

Withhim.

Where I belonged.

CHAPTER 12

In the days that followed, things had calmed around the manor and within Archwood. There had been no moreni’mereattacks or word concerning the Iron Knights and the Westlands’ princess, nor had I found any more guards involved in the shadow-market trade.

Things were normal.

I spent time in the gardens and with Naomi, sat with Grady in the evenings. I joined Claude for his suppers and rode Iris through the meadows between the manor and the city, and I found pleasure in these things, like a good little lowborn.

But each night, I went into the gardens, and I tried to convince myself that it wasn’t because of him. That I wasn’t out there because I hoped to find the Hyhborn lord among the wisteria blossoms. That it had nothing to do with the odd feeling that haunted me as days turned into weeks.

Lord Thorne hadn’t returned, but that feeling I’d had the first time we met remained. I knew I would see him again.

Tonight I’d stayed in my quarters, not feeling up to socializing. I was in a weird mood; one I couldn’t quite decipher. Alone, I’d spent much of the evening watching thesolsdrifting across the lawn and into the gardens while the hum of music from the lawn followed the warm breeze. I’d even gone to bed at an unreasonably early time, but I’d woken suddenly, sometime before midnight, heart racing. It was like waking from a nightmare, but I wasn’t even sure I’d been asleep long enough to dream.

That had been half an hour ago, and unable to fall back asleep, I returned to my chair, a book unopened in my lap as I watched thesols.I revisited that odd feeling that remained, like I’d done so many times since I’d last seen Lord Thorne. I just couldn’t figure it out, and it preyed upon my mind. Why would I think I needed to remain by his side when theni’meresarrived? Wasn’t like I would’ve been much help, unless screaming frightened them away.

Why did I feel like I . . . I no longer belonged where I was, more so than normal? I was beginning to think that was the source of my mood tonight—

A loud series of raps caused me to give a little jump. I twisted toward the door as I heard Grady call out, “Lis? You in there?”

“Coming.” I rose, tightening the sash on my robe. Worry sprang to life as I crossed the narrow space, opening the door. I could think of only two reasons Grady would come to my chambers at this time of night. Sometimes it was just to share the same bed when he was having trouble sleeping— a comfort born out of the years of doing so, and which helped, since neither of us slept all that well. The other reason was, well, potentially stressful.

Grady stood alone in the dimly lit hallway. “The Baron has summoned you.”

My shoulders tensed. “Hell,” I muttered, not wasting time changing into more suitable clothing. I stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind me as I glanced up at Grady. “Do you know why?”

“I don’t,” he answered. “All I do know is that he was in the solarium when Hymel came to get him. He left for about a half an hour, then came back and told me to retrieve you.”

I drew my lower lip between my teeth. The options were truly limitless when it came to Claude, but I seriously doubted he’d want me to take part in whatever celebrations were occurring at this hour.

Grady led me through the back halls of the manor, the ones traveled only by staff and those who didn’t want to risk the chance of running into anyone. We ended up at the small antechamber that sat behind the Great Chamber.

There were a few people in the antechamber, but my attention focused on Claude. I hadn’t seen him since his earlier temper tantrum, and I wondered if he too was thinking of that when our eyes met, because his cheeks flushed. I didn’t think it had anything to do with the blonde half sprawled in his lap. Her eyes were unfocused as Claude tapped her on the hip, urging her to rise. She half slid onto the empty portion of the settee, and I had a feeling she’d been enjoying the laudanum-laced wine that was often served for the Baron’s closest friends.

“How are you feeling, pet?” the Baron asked as I approached him.