Page 37 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

“And perhaps, my rank?” I asked with a smile.

Ruin chuckled as the others laughed, but his eyes glinted. “One could never know. You’re such an active leader, sir—always at the forefront, engaging directly… in battle,” he added a beat too late.

Many of the noble women began to flutter their fans and whisper, their heated gazes cutting to me. I pretended I didn’t notice. But Ruin plowed on, his expression suddenly grieved. “If we were ever to lose you, sir, it would be devastating. Please, take care of yourself. But rest assured, if anything were to happen to you, I would be honored to fill your shoes one day.”

The little puke stain thought he could threaten me?!

“You could never hope to fill Donavyn’s shoes,” Bren snapped, not even attempting to pretend she was pleased to see Ruin.

His brows shot up and he stared at her, scanning her from head to toe as if he’d just seen her for the first time and was surprised.

All around her, the nobles’ heads snapped to her with shocked or scandalized expressions. No one had missed her ugly tone.

“Oh, of course not,” Ruin responded with a false smile, recovering quickly. “Though, isn’t it remarkable who steps into an empty void when a man leaves? You’re right that the replacement is often inferior, but such is life. God chooses humble men for great duty.”

I rolled my jaw and almost guffawed. He thought he’d get me with dick envy? I swallowed actual laughter.

Whispers began to flutter between the nobles, but Bren smiled sweetly and lay a hand on my arm. “It is true at times. Though, in my experience, a successor is often so much… bigger and better in life, one might even forget who came before.”

Oh ho! The nobles, now firmly convinced of the competition they watched play out, snapped all eyes back to me, thinking they’d just heard Bren insult me.

I smiled and took a glass from a passing servant’s tray, then raised it to Ruin as the servants continued through the crowd to serve the others.

“Here’s to you and your… inevitable future, Ruin,” I said with a smile.

He bowed his head as if he’d received a compliment, then turned to the nobles listening as if he were sharing a confidence.

“I may be young, but I’m wise enough to know—never try to take the place of your heroes,” he said with false modesty. “When a great man has walked the path before, it has already been cut to nothing. There is no challenge. Much better to forge an entirely new one.”

I bristled at the offense to Bren, but she squeezed my arm and smiled brightly.

“You’re so right,” she says quietly. “A new path is much, much better. And so much more satisfying.”

None of the nobles were under any pretense of what was occurring in front of them, though some were clearly confused about why.

But before Ruin could respond, Hanson broke in with a wry drawl. “Honestly, just pay someone to forge the path for you. It’s much easier all around.”

The nobles rewarded him with an overly-big laugh, their relief and delight plain. But Hanson’s gaze was sharp on Bren, and the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

As the gossips leaned into each other behind their fans, Hanson boldly approached, ignoring me completely, and bowing before Bren.

The nobles’ eyes went wide to watch three powerful men vying for her attention, as Hanson offered his hand.

“Please, my Lady Brennan, would you honor me with a dance?”

It was customary for a woman to dance first with the man who’d brought her. But Bren, cheeks pink with anger that I was sure our watchers assumed was embarrassment, curtseyed once, then let go of my arm to take his proffered hand.

‘Let me give him a reason to hope—and maybe trust me,’ she sent.

Her presence of mind with Ruin there, staring, was admirable. And terrifying.

Reluctantly, I stepped aside, watching both Hanson and Ruin, whose eyes both locked on her.

I waited for Ruin to finally stop following her with his gaze when the two disappeared among the others already sweeping around the floor.

I raised the glass to him again, but made certain my smile left him under no confusion about exactly what I thought about his presence.

13. Tighten the Screws