Page 12 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)

12

LUKA

Once again I found myself waiting anxiously outside Lennox’s door. I prayed to the Goddess she wouldn’t reject me again. The sting from two days ago was still fresh, even if she did let me train alongside her since.

But today, I had something better to offer than a walk.

“Hi,” she said when she finally answered the door.

“Hi.” I braced my arm on the door frame. “Are you busy right now?”

She looked behind her, toying with the end of her braid. “I?—”

“I wanted to invite you with me to find the witch Scribe, I don’t know if anyone mentioned her to you, but I’m hoping she will have a lead on finding Astria’s spellbook. Luciana helped me discover her.” I wasn’t going to give her an opportunity to make an excuse. “According to my source, she should be arriving this week or the next. I figured you might want to come with me to talk to her.”

She let out a breath and her shoulders relaxed. “Sure. Let me grab my cloak.” I tried my best to tamp down on my surprise, I didn’t expect she’d agree, let alone so easily. I didn’t even have to convince her. I had a whole speech planned. I guess I’d save it for the next time I’d inevitably need to convince her of something.

She returned a minute later, fastening her cloak over her leathers, she had yet to change since our training session this morning.

“So where are we supposed to find this so-called witch scribe?” Lennox asked as we made our way down the hallway.

“There is a market that runs several days a week at the far edge of the city. It’s a forbidden market of sorts.” I questioned how to best describe the Stygian market.

“The market sells many unorthodox and illegal items,” I continued.

“Such as?”

“Drugs. And other things.”

She looked at me out of the corner of her eye and raised an eyebrow. “Other things?”

“You’ll see.”

“Hmmm.”

“Although the market is technically illegal, my grandfather is well aware of it. As long as no one is killed and they’re not trading flesh it can continue.”

“I suppose for some it’s how they make their income?”

“Yes, when it first started a century ago, the king and queen tried to shut it down, but no matter what they did it reappeared in a different place and by a different name. Finally, the crown gave in, allowing the market to exist under loose guidelines. Those who want illegal items are going to find a way to get them, we might as well provide a channel they can get it without putting their lives and the lives of others in danger and allowing whoever is selling it to make a living.”

“Is there much crime?”

“We rarely hear of any if there is. The patrons tend to stick to the rules, they know if they don’t it will result in the market being shut down. There are deaths on occasion. Typically whoever decided to break the rules paid the price. ”

“You’re starting to make a lot more sense to me.”

I gave her a quizzical look. “What do you mean?”

“Hearing about this market and meeting your grandfather, learning more about your home—you make more sense to me.” She tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “You operate by a code of conduct. It’s not black and white but more in the gray. You don’t believe in killing for sport, but if it’s deserved you will delight in taking blood. That appears to be a Blood Court quality.”

I pondered her words. I had never thought of it that way, but she had a point.

“I never asked, how did meeting my grandfather go?”

“I was pleasantly surprised. He was actually—nice?” I laughed.

“And that surprised you, him being nice?”

A slight blush rushed to her cheeks. “Yes, well, you never talked too much about your grandfather, only Lorenzo. And your grandfather had a part in our— arrangement . I assumed the worst. But from our conversation, I could tell he cares deeply for you.”

My steps faltered. My grandfather had never been good at expressing his feelings, that’s where my mother got it from. He spoke in actions rather than words. Hearing from Lennox, who knew so intimately what it was like to be loved by a family member, she thought my grandfather cared deeply for me—I wasn’t sure how to place how it made me feel.

“My grandfather—he did the best he could with me. I was not easy to be around during the years my parents died.”

She dipped her chin. “You told me as much, and so did your grandfather.” I looked over at her as we continued through the streets of Cel Nox.

“My grandfather must have liked you to offer you this much information upon first meeting him.”

“You know better than anyone I make a good first impression,” she remarked. I couldn’t stop a laugh from rumbling out of me.

“You’re lucky I didn’t run right back out the door after those first days I spent in Alethens.”

“A weaker male would have.” There was a slight tilt to her lips.

“Was that a compliment, Lennox Adair?”

“Interpret it how you want to.” I let myself smile at the small pieces of Lennox slipping in. It gave me a small semblance of hope. This entire conversation did. She wasn’t shutting me out entirely.

We walked in silence the rest of the way to the Stygian market. Lennox’s pace slowed when we reached the first block as she took in the packed city street.

I leaned in close to her as we approached. “Stay close to me.” Her eyes widened as she surveyed the street.

A male pulling a street cart bustled past, my hand reached instinctively towards Lennox, my hand resting on her hip and pulling her closer—out of the path of the male. A gasp slipped past her lips as my fingers tightened around her hip.

It took everything in me to let go, but I did.

Lennox followed behind me as I navigated us through the busy streets, weaving in and out of the booths. Every so often I looked back to check on her.

My fingers twitched to intertwine with hers, but I resisted.

Slowly, I needed to take this slowly to not scare her off and shut her down.

Finally, we arrived at the street where I had found the witch before. Sitting in the same spot was a different witch, her table stacked high with books.

I couldn’t believe it.

We had found the witch Scribe.