Page 87 of Storm of Shadows

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Thorne

I’m nearly at the door, when Beaufort steps out in front of me and blocks my path.

“Where are you going in such a hurry?” he says, examining my face.

“Out,” I tell him.

“Our thrall is coming tonight. She’ll be here in fifteen minutes – if she turns up on time,” he mumbles.

“Right,” I say.

“You should be the one to greet her tonight.”

I stretch and ball my fingers, the leather of my gloves creaking. Beaufort doesn’t like to share and yet here he is offering me up his toy. What is his motive?

“Why?”

“The girl is being difficult and Dray’s antics aren’t helping. You heard about the history class?”

I stare at him. Is he serious?

“Spending time with me will do nothing to persuade her.”

My bond brother rubs his fingers through the stubble on his chin. “You don’t like her?” He scowls at me. “Is it because she’s from the Slate Quarter?”

I scowl right back at him.

“Not pretty enough?” he asks. “Too pretty? Is she not your type?”

“I don’t have a type.”

“You do,” he says, staring into my eyes. “And she is it.”

If only he knew how true that was.

It doesn’t change anything. Maybe she’ll come around eventually. Maybe the others will have her. But I never can.

No matter how much I may want her.

“Thorne,” he says, any traces of humor gone from his voice, “I’m asking you to be here when she arrives tonight.”

I hold his gaze and nod.

I wait in the lounge, seated on one of the straight-backed chairs, staring into the flickering flames of the fire, watching the smoke twist up into the chimney. My heart pounds in my chest and, despite the heat from the fire, cold sweat trickles down my spine.

The minutes tick by, drumming in my ears.

Just after eight, there’s a rap at the door.

I peer over my shoulder, through the hallway, towards the door.

I wait. Maybe Dray will come bounding through and beat me to it. Maybe Beaufort will have a change of heart.

Neither of them appear and reluctantly, I drag myself up onto my feet.

My mouth is dry and I walk the few feet to the door and pause.