Page 22 of Fortress of Ambrose (House of Marionne #3)

Seventeen

Quell

Willam holds his shotgun on the front porch of the safe house as Rein and Kedd hold a girl with dark hair, dressed in the color of blood. As Jordan and I get closer, I recognize her.

“Yaniselle?” Jordan says.

“Your ex is here?!” Her hands are tied behind her back, and the barrel of Willam’s gun is pressed to her head. Jordan walks faster. The last time I saw her was at the Sphere, standing beside Beaulah, filled with rage at Charlie’s death.

“How did you find this place?” Willam demands.

“I sun tracked Jordan.” She slides a Dragun coin with a cracked column from her back pocket.

“This is why I don’t want him here.” Willam slips a finger onto the trigger. Guilt cinches in my chest.

“She’s lying,” Jordan says. “She doesn’t know the first thing about sun tracking.” Jordan approaches, and Willam turns the gun on him. The barrel of the weapon swivels back in Yani’s direction. A hard line etches between her brows as Willam nudges her with the gun up onto her feet.

“The truth, Yani,” Jordan says.

She looks between both of them.

“Jordan, it’s me.”

“Precisely.”

Her nostrils flare. “I did come for Jordan,” she spits.

“That part wasn’t a lie. I’ve been kicked out of Hartsboro, and I didn’t know where to go.

I visited one of the brotherhood’s contacts to ask about a safe place.

He told me I’d find a friendly face at this location. I took it to mean I’d find you.”

Audubon. “That snake.”

“Jordan, you know how Mother is. Please, let me stay.” She jerks against Kedd and Rein’s grip.

“He has no say here.” Willam’s jaw works. Knox exits the house.

“I can’t vouch for her, Willam,” I say.

Jordan’s lips thin, and it fills me with confusion. He can’t feel sorry for her. He can’t care one bit what happens to her.

“If you have a way to lock her up, I believe she could be telling the truth,” he says.

“I didn’t ask what you thought.” Willam does not take his eyes off Yani. He raises the gun again, and Jordan steps forward.

“What are you doing?” I say under my breath to Jordan.

“You’re trying to keep everyone safe here,” he says to Willam. “One of your allies just handed off your location. Questioning her more about Audubon and what else is going on out there could be useful.”

Willam turns the gun back on Jordan. “Maybe I wasn’t clear.”

Jordan swallows.

“Knox, what do you see?” Willam asks.

“We need her alive,” Jordan whispers when he returns to my side.

“Why?” I burn with irritation. Yani stiffens as Knox moves around her before focusing on her heart.

Yani struggles against her restraints. “What kind of magic is this?”

“Her heart is dark,” Knox says. “But it is broken. I don’t mind the boy’s suggestion.”

“Take her to the basement,” Willam orders. “Seal her in. She’s watched on a twenty-four. Fed on the twelves. The only reason she’s going inside is for information. Draguns, former or current, are not welcome here.”

Willam, Knox, and the others follow as Yani is led in.

Jordan exhales, and I see red. “You still love that trash?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Before Willam crosses the threshold, he says, “Jordan, there will be dinner shortly. Take some for yourself and to Yani. Question her thoroughly. I expect to hear everything you find.”

“Does this mean he can stay?” I ask.

“For dinner.” He and the others are inside as we trail behind them.

“You’re having dinner with your ex. That’s fantastic.”

He smirks. “I think you might be cutest when you’re mad.”

Jordan and Yani have known each other since they were young. They grew up together, bonded by the trauma of being raised at Hartsboro. It’s not lost on me that she knew him in a way I never can.

“Quell, this is our chance to get more insight into Beaulah’s plans.

We can’t forget she was working with the Dragunhead when the Sphere broke.

Not to mention the Darkbearer attacks feel too coordinated to be random.

We need to know who all we’re up against, what they’re planning, and how close they are to finding us.

Don’t let trifle thoughts like jealousy divide us. ”

My skin heats. How stupid I must look, acting jealous. That is not me. I won’t be that person. “I hope you know what you’re doing. Because that girl still wants you.” If he thinks she’s innocent, he’s naive.

He steps so close to me that when I breathe, the air is only him. Sandalwood and earth. Something sweet underneath, like vanilla or cashmere.

“I don’t care what she wants.”

A pang runs through me—a need to lean closer to him, to suffocate the space between us. To feel the promise of his words in an embrace.

“She is nothing to me anymore. I’m yours. Only yours. As far as I see, there was no one before you. There will be no one after.”

The tenderness in his expression warms the coldest parts of my heart.

“I don’t trust her. And we don’t have the full truth about why she came here. But I can handle Yani.”

My chest uncinches a little, and when Jordan unclasps his hands, I suck in a breath, thinking he might allow us a moment of something closer than this. But his hands slide into his pockets, and my fingers move to my chest. Despite what he says, he is nervous.

“Be on guard and in control in her presence.”

Towering over me, he hinges at the neck, bringing his mouth a breath away from mine. His nerves settle. Golden light from the setting sun catches in his unruly strands of hair. He’s so close, my lips part. I’ve stopped breathing.

“Self-control happens to be something I’m very good at.” His breath on my lips sends a rush of heat all over my body. I lean toward him, daring him to kiss me. But he puts distance between us and heads to the door. I can’t decide if I’m annoyed or impressed.