Page 19 of Taste of Thorns

“Something strange is going on at this academy,” he continues, “and I think it’s about time we did something about it.”

“What?” I ask, with my mouth full.

“You could start by telling us the truth about what happened in the maze, Kitten.” I turn and find Dray leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest.

I consider him and then Beaufort. There have been too many secrets between us – isn’t it time for the truth?

However, Beaufort just offered to serve my stepmom’s head on a plate. I don’t think I can trust them to remain calm and sensible about this and going off all magic blazing is unlikely to help any of us in the long run.

“If I tell you, do you promise that you won’t do something crazy? This person is powerful and clever. We need to be just as clever about things.”

“We’re pretty clever and powerful ourselves, sweetheart,” Beaufort says, clearly a little offended.

“Who was it, Kitten?” Dray says through gritted teeth, his eyes turning deadly and his form flashing briefly from human to wolf and back again.

“Promise me,” I say sternly.

“That’s a hard promise to keep.”

“No, it isn’t. You say you want to keep me safe. Then you can’t act like a bunch of knuckleheads throwing your weight around.”

Dray pouts. “I thought you liked it when I threw my weight around.”

“I’m serious.”

“Okay, Briony. Just tell us,” Beaufort says with frustration.

“Bardin. Madame Bardin.”

A string of expletives come flying out of Dray’s mouth but Beaufort’s face remains calm, as if he’s trying his best to follow my order. His jaw, though, I notice, stiffens a little.

“What happened exactly?” Beaufort asks me.

I tell them everything – describing in detail what happened to me from the moment I stepped into the maze to the moment I left. I even tell them it was Thorne who helped me.

“Fuck, that sneaky bastard,” Dray says, pacing the kitchen, “that’s one hell of a risk to take. You realize if he was caught–”

“They’d banish him. Yes, I know.”

“You think that’s why she went after him in the trial this time?”

“Maybe,” I say, swallowing down my food. “Maybe she suspects he was the one who helped me and she was looking for proof.”

“That’s if she was behind it. It was the Hardies’ thrall who attacked you in the forest, Briony,” Beaufort says, “to get at us.”

“I don’t know if that is linked to this.”

“You should have told us about Bardin sooner,” Dray says.

“Fox said he had it in hand.”

“Fox is a teacher. She’s a teacher,” Dray snarls. “For all we know, they’re working together.”

“Fox saved me, remember?” I point out. “Besides, Fox thinks he’s the reason she attacked me.” Dray looks at me with utter confusion written across his face. “I take it, they used to be anitem or something,” I mumble, just the thought of it making my stomach turn.

“So he thinks his ex attacked you because she’s jealous of you or something?” Dray shakes his head. “Arrogant shit.”

“I don’t think that’s the reason,” Beaufort says, combing both hands through his hair. “Bardin is a cold-hearted bitch. And she’s fucking half the academy.”