“You think it’s a code?”
Bryce shoves at Carter’s shoulder. “We think they’d be stupid not to have a safe way to communicate with her, and there seems to be some urgency for them to get her back. The real question iswhy.”
I think back to the dinner we had with her family. She didn’t so much as glance at her oldest brother. The heir of the Carrenwell family is a pompous ass from what I could tell, laughing about drinking wine with the mayor, ignoring his sullen wife sulking into her own glass beside him.
It was a far cry from how Harlow acted around Kellan.
“I’ll ask her,” I say, brushing the sweaty hair back from my forehead. “I’ll see how she reacts. I just have to get her out of her?—”
Carter holds up a hand and turns slowly toward the forest behind us.The faint sound of footsteps echoes from somewhere down the foggy trail in front of us.
A moment later, Stefan emerges from the mist with his friends, Zach and Darren, at his back.
When Stefan sees me, he slows for a second before charging at me. He stops just a foot away.
“You are a fucking traitor to your people,” Stefan barks. “You slit Seth’s throat for touching a Carrenwell.”
I cross my arms and appraise him with boredom. “Seth knew better than to touch my betrothed. He tried to use his magic on her.”
Bryce approaches from my left and Carter steps into position on my right. They’re ready for a fight. Much as I’d like to throw down with Stefan, the Laurence family would just use any lack of control as a sign that I don’t have what it takes to be heir. Worse, Stefan’s friends also come from families who have a lot of influence in the fort, and while both are currently loyal to my parents, there’s no guarantee that I’ll inherit that loyalty.
Stefan laughs bitterly. “I can’t believe it. One good fuck from that city slut and you’re already killing your own people for her.”
Bryce shifts beside me, ever the hothead fixing for a fight.
I knew our people would doubt this plan and that Stefan and his family would use it as a way to cast doubt on us. It’s a calculated risk, but I’d hoped that I’d at least get to marry her before the mutiny started.
“Let it go, Stefan. We’ve told you that we have a plan,” I say. “I know when you’re a hammer, everything looks like a nail. But we don’t need to risk more bloodshed when diplomacy could get us everything we want.”
He cracks his knuckles. “I’ve been patient for ten years, Havenwood. I’ve followed your family’s rules and I’ve waited for this score to be settled, but instead, you’re bringing one of them into the fold.”
His anger is palpable, a sort of prickle in the air. I wish I didn’t understand it. It’s not as if I don’t feel the urgency. I hate that it’s taken this long. There’s not a day that passes that I don’t feel the rapid slip of time—the ever-present guilt that I haven’t avenged my sister. This is just another reminder that I’m running out of time to prove to our people that we can get them the vengeance they need. They have earned peace, but none of them will have it until Harrick Carrenwell is dealt with.
I’d love to go at the Carrenwells directly, but that’s the fastest way to get us all killed.
“You’re not the only one who lost someone—who lostyourselfthat day, Stefan.” I hold fast to the last fraying edges of calm. “We have a larger strategy. I wouldn’t expect you to understand something that can be solved without fists.”
“Bet I could solve your new Carrenwell with fists,” he says over his shoulder to his two minions.
Zach and Darren chuckle in approval, and my blood boils. It’s taken years to master my temper—to not rise to every occasion. Showing weakness now would destroy the goodwill I’ve tried so hard to build after years of holding back. The only thing separating me and Stefan now is my ability to be temperate and think about the larger picture.
I have half a mind to let him try. I can’t decide if it would be more satisfying to break his nose myself or to see the stunned look on his face when Harlow does it.
They all think what I thought before meeting her—that she’s a coddled city girl. But she’s not soft and trusting. She’s vicious and conniving—a viper waiting for her moment to strike.
Stefan’s grin slips into a frown. He’s not satisfied that he hasn’t baited me into a fight. I’ve had years of holding my tongue when I’d like to put someone in their place. Years of listening to half the fort talk about how they could rule better than my family without ever understanding the burden of making decisions that affect thousands of people. Years of judgment about the methods my mother turned to in order to save us.
They don’t like to think about who would have stood on that wall every night while we rebuilt if she hadn’t made those hard choices—if she hadn’t pushed herself to the very limits of what was possible with her magic. There are people here who have an aversion to Asher’s gifts—but I don’t know anyone who returned who doesn’t feel grateful to be here—except Stefan, I suppose.
He uncrosses his arms, hands flexing again. “And if my fists don’t work, I could show her an even better lesson with my cock. I heard she made an appearance at hunt night. Have her wander out there again and I’ll race you, Havenwood. I could break her far better than you ever could.”
My heart thunders, my hands itching to pummel his face to a bloody pulp.
I need to blow off some steam before I do something stupid. Not fucking Miriam on hunt night really messed me up. I am all pent-up energy, and in the absence of a good fuck, I’m aching for a good fight.
Carter’s hand alights on my shoulder. “How hot, Hen?”
The words are like being dunked in cold water. Holly used to say that all the time when my temper was getting the best of me—a taunt from the level-headed big sister to her raging younger brother. She was a better fighter—smaller, but quick and clever. She’d have me losing my mind with frustration in mere minutes.
