Page 116 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

Hanson’s lips thinned. “You’re the guard for Lady Brennan?”

“He is—and my brother.”

Hanson straightened and regarded Gil from his toes to his nearly-shaved head and arched one brow. “You look nothing alike.”

“Bren is chosen family,” Gil said smoothly, without even a hint of a smile. “But she is precious to me as a sister.”

“Seeing a woman as a sister? That’s a first” The voice was cold, and cocky and came from behind me.

Gil and I both turned. Ruin stood there, splendid in sleek black leathers, his expression flat and eyes dark—and fixed on Gil.

Gil smiled. “Good to see you, Ruin. Very good. I’ve been looking for you. Slippery little bugger, aren’t you?”

Ruin’s gaze flattened and he turned to Hanson. “You don’t want to get mixed up with this one, trust me.”

I pretended to be shocked. “But… Ruin… what a cruel thing to say.”

“Don’t worry, Sis,” Gil said with a wicked grin. “Ruin’s just feeling a little inadequate. He’ll get over it.”

Ruin’s jaw twitched, but he didn’t rise to the bait, instead turning his focus to Hanson. “Shall we go in?”

Hanson nodded, then offered me his arm. “Please, Lady Brennan. Allow me.”

I almost said no. I almost recoiled. But I’d been looking for him all day. And Donavyn’s insistence rang in my head.

Find out what he knows. Use whatever means you believe are necessary. Just… take brothers with you. Stay safe. Come back to me. We’ll figure this out together. I promise you.

“So kind,” I said demurely. “But I couldn’t leave my brother out here alone…?”

“He should join us, of course,” Hanson said tightly. I could feel the tension in him, but he covered it well, leading me to the top of the stairs, barely pausing for the footmen to open the doors before walking me through—not stopping when the Cryer announced us to the ballroom, and ignoring the dozens of pairs of eyes that turned to look the moment they heard my name with his.

Ruin was announced as an afterthought, and Gil, assumed to be a servant, wasn’t mentioned at all.

He didn’t mind, but Ruin smirked.

We’d barely made it to the floor and found seats near Faye before Hanson leaned into my ear and asked me to dance.

“I can’t leave my brother here alone,” I hedged for no reason except to increase his impatience. “He doesn’t know anyone. And he doesn’t like me to be far.”

“I’m very protective,” Gil said flatly from the position he’d taken behind my chair.

Ruin rolled his eyes. But Hanson glanced between us and I saw his sharp mind calculating, measuring, clicking that there was a dynamic at play he didn’t understand.

He didn’t like it.

“Perhaps your brother would allow me to accompany you to the drinks table? Refreshment may help… refresh you?”

I looked up at Gil, as if asking a question, then smiled and nodded to Hanson. “He can keep eyes on us from here,” I said as if it pleased me, then offered my hand again.

As he ushered me through the ballroom I looked over my shoulder a few times, watching Gil and Ruin.

Ruin was seated with Faye and a few other women, looking bored—and tense—while Gil stood nearby, beaming.

It wasn’t until we’d been handed drinks and Hanson ushered me to the quieter, open spot at the end of the table that he spoke. “Is he truly your brother?” he asked, his eyes on Gil.

I almost balked. Almost pretended offense. But when Hanson’s eyes snapped to mine, I knew it would only infuriate him. He’d been insistent that he was candid with me, and although I didn’t trust his motives, I did believe he’d kept his word.

So, I waved a hand towards Gil as if shooing him off. “I did tell you that my life was complicated. There are more pressures on my time and intentions than you know, Lord Hanson.” He frowned, but I pressed on. “I have been considering your proposal, however. Seriously considering it. Attempting to… work out details. But as you can see, I am not alone in my time and purpose.” I fixed him with an intense gaze of my own and lowered my voice as if it were an intimacy. “I’ve been looking for you all day—where did you go? I needed to speak with you.”