Page 43 of A Touch of Poison
For a beat, I held her eye. But Bastian’s warning that his power was diminished by day came back to me. If the jeweller was of Dusk, she would help me. If this was nighttime, Rose might be able to order her to answer, though I wasn’t sure how much of Bastian’s sway she held as his employee.
Telling Bastian about my work was out of the question. Last night he’d made it clear he didn’t trust me, and he’d proved that he couldn’t be trusted. If he found out I was after unCavendish, he’d say it was unsafe and make Rose put a stop to it.
Biting back a sigh, I turned away, Rose’s relief palpable as her shoulders inched down.
“Sorry,” she muttered as we stepped outside. “That’s Dawn for you.”
Was it that? Or did the jeweller have a reason to hide the maker and stop me following the trail back to unCavendish’s master?
We turned onto the street and with a gasp, I stopped short, a foot away from bumping into someone. I snatched at the poison in me and tried my best to shove it down.Small. Stay small.
“Katherine!” Hair glinting in the sunshine, Caelus beamed like he was genuinely pleased to see me.
My throat did something odd asthenandnowcollided, and for a second I couldn’t speak. “Lord Caelus. I thought you were still in Lunden.”
“I just got back. But it seems you’ve forgotten me in my absence. What did I tell you about calling me by my name?”
“Ah, yes.” In my surprise, I’d slipped into formality. “Sorry,Caelus.”
“Much better.” He smiled, throwing Rose a quick glance.
Clearing her throat, she turned and busied herself looking in the window of the shop we’d just left.
He bent closer and went on more quietly, “I hope your belongings made it to you safely.”
“How did you…?”
“Who do you think brought them here? Asher and your friend Ella agreed to it as long as they got to pack and lock the chest.”
Asher wasn’t back in the city yet, so I assumed it had been magically transported. “Then,thank you.”
“Oh, no.” Caelus raised his hand as if to block my gratitude. His mouth twisted to one side as his gaze slid away. “I did it by way of apology. After you… left, I found out about your uncle. I’m so sorry, Katherine. I believed you coming to my rooms was something you’d agreed to. I never would have…”
The rest of his sentence faded beyond the rushing in my ears. I squeezed my fingers and shoved away the image of Uncle Rufus, the feel of his hand around my throat.
Things here and now. The warm sunshine. The scent of baking—sweet and spiced with cinnamon and mace. Fingernails digging into my palms, muted by the gloves.
I could think of that night purely in words. I didn’t have to relive it.
When Uncle Rufus had dragged me through the halls of Riverton Palace, Caelus had believed I was going to him willingly. I’d been so knocked off course by the memories that night had unearthed, I’d never thought of his part in it for a second.
For all the city held new threats, at least I was safe from my uncle.
Refocused, I threw Caelus a quick smile. “I’m grateful for your apology and explanation. My uncle is… a determined man. I’m not surprised he lied in an attempt to win your favour.” It was the least he would do.
“I feel…” He shook his head. “Well, not as bad as you must’ve. He told me Marwood got wind of the plan and that was why you hadn’t been able to attend. When I saw you with him at the party, my offer was meant to be an olive branch to show I wasn’t trying to tear the two of you apart.”
My head spun at the odd way fae relationships worked. My skin burned too, like it was suddenly aware of the fact he’d seen me riding Bastian’s fingers to mind-shattering climax.
Knees together—you’re not a whore.The words whispered in my mind, my father and my uncle’s voices joined in a grotesque chorus.
I swallowed and managed a bitter little smile. “No need to worry about that—we managed it well enough ourselves.”
He arched an eyebrow. “You’re no longer with him?”
I couldn’t bring myself to speak and instead gave the smallest shake of my head.
“Well, that’s a shame.” The lilt in his voice sounded anything but disappointed.
