Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Something akin to embarrassment heats my skin. I drag my hands through my hair and look away, unable to meet her gaze. “There’s not a lot of help my people accept from me. Each of the noble families is responsible for their own portion of the territory, and while I technically oversee all of them, they’ve been functioning well for generations and don’t require much oversight. There’s only so many territories in this realm, and I’ve already negotiated the trade deals that benefit us. Those will continue to remain in place unless something drastic happens. “Patrolling the spaces where superstitions lead my people and ensuring there are no dangers here?” I lift my hands and let them fall back to my sides. “It’s the least I could do.”
She props her hands on her hips. “Bram, I don’t know if that’s the single sweetest thing you’ve ever said, or the saddest. It’s quite possibly both.”
The flashing feeling beneath my skin gets stronger. “It’s what anyone would do in my position.”
“No. It’s really not.” She makes a move as if she’s about to shift toward me but seems to think better of it. “Most people wouldn’t dredge up the effort to piss on the nobles if they were on fire after the way they turned on you. Most people would punish them for the disrespect. Most people would use their power as leader of the territory to force obedience. Or maybe walk away completely. I don’t know. Either way, they wouldn’t continue to care for people who repeatedly reject them.”
The way she says that . . . it’s almost as if she admires it. But that can’t be right. I’ve fallen short of every expectation set for me. That trend started long before my family died and my cowardice ensured my survival. I was always too soft for my father’s tastes. I can still feel his derision, can see the colors painted across the air around him. “You’re wrong. I’m nothing special.”
Grace is silent for several beats. I refuse to look at her, refuse to see her colors and what they might tell me. Finally, she says, “If you say so. Now, show me the space that will bring me luck.”
Gratitude flows through me. I’m glad she’s not pressing the issue. I might feel a kinship with this woman, but the truth is that we’re barely more than strangers. Whatever she thinks she knows about me, she doesn’t. I clear my throat. “It only brings luck if you’re down here at midnight.”
“Maybe. But from what you said, it’s a new superstition. Maybe your people just haven’t explored the full parameters of it.”
Despite myself, I smile a little. “Maybe.”
I lead her down the hall to the wine cellar—a long, deep room carved right out of the mountain. There are no windows, and the temperature drops several degrees as we step inside. Good for wine. Less so for humans sensitive to the cold. “It looks fine. Let’s go before you catch a chill.”
“Are you worried about me, Bram?” A pale flicker of orange shows her surprise. “I appreciate the concern, but a little cold won’t hurt me.” She moves deeper into the room and tilts her head back, then closes her eyes. “I see why they come here. It might be creepy as shit, but it’s a little peaceful, too. You can barely hear the wind. It feels a little like you’re the last person left in this realm.”
I move closer despite myself, drawn by the strange peace emanating from her. “Doesn’t the thought of being the last person left scare you?”
“No,” she says simply. “I’ve been alone for five years now. Long enough to get good at it. But if I’m the last person left”—she reaches out and takes my hand—“or, for the sake of argument, we’re the last two people left? It means no one needs to be saved. No one needs to be ruled. No one needs us at all. And yeah, there’s a part of me that finds that really attractive.”
Understanding curls through me. How many times has she said or done something that immediately resonates with me? She’s a stranger, and yet I feel like I know her down to her very bones. I squeeze her hand, close my eyes, and tilt my head back, mimicking her posture. “That is really attractive, isn’t it?”
Just the two of us left alone in the world.
It’s not reality, but I stand here in the dark, in silence, and share the fantasy with her. At least for a little while.
13
GRACE
I don’t know what I’m doing. If I had half a brain in my head, I would wait for Bram to lower his guard before attempting another escape. I would stack the deck in my favor as much as possible. I would ensure I had supplies enough to last me a week at least. I would do a lot of things.