Page 42 of The Cost of Blood and Bonds

The words land too close to the truth, too accurate. He’s reading something he’s not supposed to be able to see. I shift my weight, instincts flaring to move and leave before this goes any further. “If this is about yesterday…”

“It’s just…” He exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. “Ignore me. I’ve had too many early mornings.” But his eyes don’t move. It’s like he’s waiting for something to click into place. He shakes his head and looks away.

I hear footsteps crunching on the gravel path and spot Rosie approaching us. I release my hands I didn’t realize were clenched.

“Good morning, Gemma!” Rosie’s voice softens the moment.

She comes down the path from the direction of her house, cloak wrapped tight against the morning chill. Too well-timed to be accidental. Her gaze flicks between us, assessing, before she smiles brightly and slips her arm through mine.

“You promised to join me for morning tea,” she says.

She turns to Rye, with her expression pleasant. “Good morning, Rye. Early run?”

“Something like that,” he says, though his eyes stay on me.

“Well,” Rosie says lightly, already guiding me away, “we won’t keep you.”

Rye hesitates, like he might say something, but we’re already moving. We walk arm in arm but don’t speak until her door closes behind us.

“Tea?” she asks, crossing the room to the kitchen where she gathers a small service already laid out. She brings it back and sets it on the small table in the living room. Books are stacked open across it, with sea lavender peeking out from between the pages, mid-press.

“What were you doing out there?” I ask.

“Saving you from getting caught,” she says, glancing back at me with a smirk as she pours. “You’re welcome.”

I don’t answer. She hands me a cup and settles into a chair.

“I was actually coming to find you in your room. I didn’t expect to find you with Rye.”

“Neither did I.”

She hums softly, then continues. “The servants talk to me differently than they do most nobles. They remember where I came from.”

I nod.

“Lara, from the kitchens, mentioned something last night,” she says. “Extra dishes have been going up to the King’s suites for months now. More than one portion, every day.”

My breath stills.

“The King eats alone,” Rosie continues quietly. “Always has. He’s very particular about it. But suddenly there are extra plates and extra food.”

Relief crashes through me like a tide, and I have to set the cup down before my hands shake.

“That has to be where he’s keeping her,” I say, unable to keep the urgency out of my voice.

Rosie’s mouth curves into a small, satisfied smile. “That was my thought.”

I pull her into a hug without thinking. She hugs me back.

“I need to get back before the castle fully wakes,” I say when I finally let go.

She catches my hands, her fingers warm and careful around mine.

“Before you go,” she says. “Would it be all right if I joined your training sessions? I miss it. And I thought…since you’re there…”

“Rosie,” I say, squeezing her fingers. “Of course. You’re one of us.”

Chapter 14