Page 42 of A Tempest of Shadows

When another server passed, I stopped him to exchange my empty glass for a refill. Having another drink wasn’t my best decision, but it wasn’t my worst.

I wouldn’t drink this one. I just needed something in my hands to keep them from fluttering around like trapped, broken birds.

“I was telling Lord Locke⁠—”

“Please, call me Ryker. I’ve spent the night in your home; we should be on a first-name basis.”

My mother beamed at him while I tried not to roll my eyes. Of course, the ass could be charming too.

“Thank you,” my mother murmured before turning to me. “I was telling Ryker about how well you know the Revenant Woods and how skilled you are at hunting.”

“Oh, I played in them sometimes as a child,” I said flippantly.

“That’s an interesting pastime for a child,” Ryker remarked.

My mother laughed. “Ellery has always been interesting. My daughter has no fear.”

Pride shone in my mother’s eyes. She had no way of knowing she could be throwing me deeper into a pit of suspicion.

Still, I kept my strange smile in place as, without thinking, I took another sip of alcohol. What did it matter anymore?

“So you do know the woods well?” Ryker asked.

I couldn’t look at my mother; it might make me look guilty. I yearned to tell him no, but she was standing right there and would know I was lying.

“I’ve spent time in them and know many of the creatures who reside there,” I hedged.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Ellery

“Ryker and I were discussing how you could split the reward if you were to find the thief,” my mother said.

The look in her eyes and her desperation for me to understand we needed that money tore at my heart. For the first time, I questioned if things were worse at the manor than I’d realized.

She rarely kept things from me, but she would seek to protect me, as I was trying to protect her from my secret. That reward money could solve her problems; she had no way of knowing we could never find the thief and collect the reward.

If things were worse at the manor than I knew, she could have accepted Ryker’s offer to pay me for my help, but her pride wouldn’t allow her to do so… mine wouldn’t have either.

I could turn myself in, but I doubted they’d give her the reward afterward. I was pretty sure they’d confiscate our manor and everything we owned. They’d also probably throw her in the cell next to mine. Even if they didn’t, it would destroy her if she lost her only child.

“Splitting the reward makes for a good partnership,” Ryker said.

It took me far too long to realize they were staring expectantly at me. I took another gulp of alcohol before speaking again.

“But we have the manor to care for.”

My mother gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “We’ve planted the crops and can care for the foaling mares. We can spare you until you catch the Hooded Robber.”

They were both staring at me again… waiting. When the sounds of the room rushed in to pound against my eardrums, I realized I’d shut out the din of conversations, laughter, and clink of silverware against golden plates.

I winced as it suddenly all became too loud… too much. I couldn’t hear myself think. As the seconds ticked into a minute, their expressions became more confused as they stared at me.

Say something. Speak. Say ANYTHING!

“That sounds like a great idea.”

Not that, you idiot! Anything but that!