Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Two guard towers come into view, and my heart flutters. I’m so damn happy to see Varithen’s flag waving in the distance. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this relieved to see home. I don’t normally travel for so long outside of the city, like I have this past week.
“Welcome back,” one of the guards says, nodding her head as we pass the tower. A high-pitched whistle fills the afternoon air; a signal that’ll be repeated until it reaches Peylin, alerting her to my return.
We head to the council building where, at this time of day, there will be a merchants’ meeting or township debate.
At our approach, Peylin exits the two-story stone structure, built to house the city’s business dealings along with a library available to the residents.
A smile spreads across her face, lighting her eyes with delight and relief.
The moment I dismount, Peylin engulfs me in a hug. I wrap my arms around her and squeeze. “I’m glad you’re alive.”
“Me too.” I lean back and smile, then pull her against me again. She’s the closest person to me; part of my family, even if not by blood. “We have a lot to talk about. Let’s go to my house.”
“Not Govlik’s?” she questions, lines of surprise written on her face when her brows rise.
“No, not there,” I respond.
Her expression shifts to confusion, but she doesn’t say anything.
A worker rushes down the steps and nods, grabbing the reins from me and Mikael. “They need to be returned to Norhaven’s Inn. Please make sure that happens. I’ll send a correspondence to confirm they’ve been returned.”
“Consider it done.” The young man slightly bows and heads in the opposite direction with the horses.
Peylin keeps pace with me as we head toward my house on foot. I’m so glad to be off of a horse and stretching my legs. Mikael comes up on my other side, and Peylin inclines her head.
“I’ve brought her back safely, as you demanded.” Mikael does a graceful half bow between his next steps.
A practiced move. For years Mikael had to grovel at the feet of his king, pretending, wanting anything but to be there. How horrible the last two hundred years have been for the both of us.
Now that I’ve made it back to Varithen, I can’t think of how a future is possible for us. I have this city to run, and he cannot stay. It’s easy to let unrealistic thoughts permeate your mind when you’re away from your responsibilities, wrapped within someone’s arms under the stars.
We haven’t even talked about what will happen after the curse is broken. Only that he would leave me to return to the life I built here.
I glance down at the new tattoo on my arm, reading some of the words. Never break free.
“Bryn.” Peylin waves a hand in front of my eyes. “Did you hear me?”
I shake my head. “No, sorry.”
“I’m going to run ahead and have the cooks prepare something for you two to eat.” Peylin takes off in a jog down the street.
“Thanks!” I call out after her. She raises an arm as she leaves my view. I turn to Mikael and tell him, “I want to stop somewhere first.”
I veer off to the left, down a different street, and the scent of freshly baked goods and sugared cinnamon reaches me before the bakery comes into view.
When I open the door, the aroma transports me to a delicious, mouth-watering wonderland of sweets. The sudden urge to have something sweet hit when Peylin mentioned food.
The bell dings, causing Anorak to look up from his position behind the counter. A smile spreads across the face of my favorite baker.
“Bryn!” Anorak exclaims. “I haven’t seen you in a few weeks. Are you doing okay? You look good.”
“I’ve been busy, and thank you.” I meet his smile with my own.
You look good. Yeah, because I haven’t been drowning myself in liquor. I walk around, viewing all the pastries and sweets spread out beneath the glass displays. “I’ll take three of the berry lemon ones.”
He wraps them up and hands them to me in a white box. Eyeing Mikael, Anorak leans toward me and whispers, “Erik’s been asking around for you, but it was in a suspicious manner. He’s never gone around to merchants before, that I know of, and asked for your whereabouts. I thought you should know.”
“Thank you.” I squeeze Anorak’s arm and head to where Mikael is looking at the decorative cakes. I brush my hand against his arm. “Let’s go.”
Before we step out of the shop, I turn to Mikael, speaking in a low voice. “Put your hood up. Someone is watching me.”
If Erik has been asking about me, then he’s got his friends looking out for me as well. Getting Mikael back to my house is the priority, then I’ll find out what Erik wants.
Keeping an even pace as we make our way through the streets, I take note of every nook and cranny someone could hide in.
I look at every person I see, tracking who I know and who I don’t. Most of them are citizens I’ve encountered before. I greet those who acknowledge me. But I won’t be able to relax until we’re inside and I’ve dealt with Erik.
The bakery is close to where I live, so it doesn’t take us long to make it there. We do so without incident.
Before my front door clicks shut, Peylin calls out, “I’m in the dining room.”
“What if that wasn’t me?” I ask, rounding the corner to find her setting plates and silverware on the table.
“I know the way you barrel into a space,” she deadpans.
“I didn’t barrel in,” I retort, shocked at her accusation.
“Yes, you did,” Peylin says.
“I agree with Peylin,” Mikael says, shrugging when I look at him.
“What happened?” Peylin pauses setting the table, looking at me.
“Erik.” His name is sour on my tongue.
“The shadow weaver from the tavern?” Mikael growls.
“Yes, the same one you got in a fight with.” I pull my lips into a thin line, faintly remembering I had egged it on.
“Can I kill him for you?” he asks, serious.
“No. I don’t even know what he wants.” I cross my arms over my chest and lean against the doorframe to the dining room.
“He asked me where you were. I told him you were out on official business. Even though you two were involved,” Peylin eyes Mikael, waiting for his reaction, but he doesn’t react.
She continues, “he’s still a mercenary. He’ll sell out anyone for money, or if he sees a gain in some way.
He’s been trying to get a high position in the guard for some time without entering the normal route, and Mikael gives him both.
There is a large bounty for information on Mikael or the vampire king, and a position if the information is fruitful. Do you want me to handle it?”
“No.” I run a hand through my hair, thinking. “You know that won’t work. You can start dinner without me. I’m going to handle this right now.”
“Bryn—” Peylin starts, but I walk out of the house without letting her finish.
I head to my office, knowing if word of my return has spread, he’ll be there already. He’s not patient—and neither was I. We learned not to keep each other waiting. He’s the best mercenary around for a reason.
“Is he here?” I ask the clerk working at the counter.
“I tried to stop him. Tell him I’d send word to you that he wanted an audience.” The clerk stutters, probably afraid of my response. But this isn’t on her.
“I’ll handle it. Go home early,” I command.
She gets up and leaves without question.
I shut the door to my office, my stride heavy and purposeful as I walk to the other side of the desk and sit in my large brown leather chair.
I had it made custom from the hide of a Brindleback, spikes and all.
I wanted it to complement the female who sits in it: intimidating and powerful.
I wasn’t sure what state I was going to find him in, but Erik is sitting in one of the low-back chairs, his body angled to the left, expression unbothered, twisting a dagger in his hand. His beard is neatly trimmed, and his worn brown traveling leathers are clean, his boots polished.
He hasn’t been on the road or out handling a job, otherwise he wouldn’t have shown up in such a state. He also knows I’m not a fan of when he comes back from traveling all filthy.
“I heard you’ve been looking for me?” I cock my head to the side, leaning against the tufted back, the leather still supple.
“That man you’ve been seen with sure looks a lot like how Mikael has been described.” Erik snarls, giving me a disgusted look as he leans back and kicks his feet up.
His boots land on my desk like he owns the damn place.
Peylin had constantly warned me about sharing my bed with Erik. Don’t mix business with pleasure, she’d told me. She was right, of course, but it’s too late now.
Or, it could be that I’ve rejected him so many times that he now has a vendetta against me.
“You came here to bother me about what company I keep?” I lean forward, resting my chin on my fists. “Have you missed me that much?” Sugar laces my tongue as I give him the sweetest look I can muster.
He raises a brow and gives me a low chuckle. “I always miss your company. You’re easy.”
Did he just insult me? The fucker. Keep your composure, Bryn. He’s trying to get under your skin. He definitely didn’t take my bait. Fuck.
“Likewise.” I fire back, unable to contain myself.
“I wonder what the king would think. Do you think they’d pay me for this kind of information?” Erik points the sharp end of his dagger in my direction, closing an eye as if he’s aiming at me.
Taunting me.
I know he would do it, and it would be very bad if he told my father. I have to try and handle him in a way that won’t ruin what Mikael and I are working toward. We need to figure out this next riddle immediately, and get moving again.
“There are a lot of men with blond hair and a fine ass.” I smile.
“But not vampires.” Erik flicks his gaze from admiring the dagger he’s twirling in his palm to me.
It’s a vile look, one where he thinks he’s won. The jealousy seeps from his pores like sweat on a glass jar.
I laugh manically, as if he’s said the most ridiculous thing. Then I narrow my eyes and rise, knocking his feet off my desk with the back of my hand.
He sits up straight, murder in his gaze.