Page 198 of A Touch of Poison
“Sounds expensive.”
“It is. A length of that probably could’ve paid my rent for months back in Briarbridge.”
It probably could’ve gone a good way towards clearing Robin’s debts.
“Anyway, this…” She tilted the patch so the goldwork glinted in the light. “This is standard crimson thread for the hydra and gold for the eyes. To my mind, the stitch difference makes sense, but the colours…” The crease between her eyebrows deepened.
“What are you saying?”
“These weren’t just sewn by different hands but… for different people. Do you think if Bastian asked for crimson like this, he’d be happy with that other insignia? It was almost vermillion, for goodness’ sake.” She snorted, shaking her head.
I sat back. I’d never seen Ari so animated.
Yet… I could understand. The black and charcoal serpents on Bastian’s clothing were always perfect—the difference in their shades just enough to show the intricate embroidery. Dawn’s guards wore pale, pale grey, while the Kingsguard wore pure white. Dusk’s had that deep blue-black, differentiating them from the Queensguard’s black.
Subtlety in colour mattered to fae.
“The scarlet and gold thread might as well be yellow—that’s how different it is from this.” I held up the insignia.
Ari gave a single nod. “Exactly.”
I thanked her, and we drank tea and chatted before she had to go and open her atelier. I couldn’t tell if I made good company, not when my thoughts snagged on the idea that we had two versions of Hydra Ascendant, a real one and a false one.
That evening I showed Bastian and explained what Ariadne had told me. He peered at the patch a long while, a deep frown furrowing his brow.
“I’ll look into it,” he muttered before tucking it into his pocket, though he sounded unconvinced.
It was better than nothing. Once he saw them side by side, he’d have to realise the truth. Sura was not behind the Solstice attack.
73
Kat
“And here you are undoing all my hard work.” A few days after Ari’s visit, Ella stood in the doorway, arms folded, one eyebrow arched at the (very full) glass of brandy.
I gave her a rueful smile as Urien carried in a chest I recognised—the one that contained all her beauty concoctions.
Once he’d left, I shrugged. “It’s only a little bit.”
“Yes, but the night is only young.” She sighed and plopped onto the settee beside me. “And I know you intend to polish off at least half of that bottle.”
I grumbled and tucked my notes into the research book I’d brought back from the library. I wasn’t fae, but I didn’tlikelying to Ella.
She slid me a sidelong glance as she pulled bottles and jars from the chest together with a small paper-wrapped box. “At least you’re not denying it, even if you are denying everything else.”
“Oof.” I clutched my chest like she’d wounded me. “I wish you’d tell me what youreallythink, Ella.”
She shot me a wicked grin and I knew I’d made a mistake. “Your wish is my command.”
I groaned and opened my mouth to argue, but she seized the opportunity to pop in a chocolate truffle and silence me.
When silence tasted of chocolate, I didn’t mind it as much.
“There. No denial while you’re eating that.” She dusted off her hands and passed me a bottle of hair oil. “Have you noticed your hair getting thicker and shinier since being here?” She ran her fingers through hers.
I nodded and made a noise around the rich mouthful of truffle. “Ari said it’s the food,” I managed once I’d swallowed. “So what am I denying?”
“Gods, where do I begin?” She flashed me a grin before taking a bite from one of the truffles. “Your magic, for one thing. Though I’ll give you credit that you’re no longer denying your feelings for the delectable Bastian Marwood.”
