Page 64 of Harbinger

“Off with you,” Taliesin says when Bishop hesitates on its threshold. “I’ll look after her.”

It sounds even less convincing coming from him.

Bishop steps through, leaving the two of us to stare at each other.

“I’m sorry you have to put up with me,” I say through clenched teeth.

He shrugs. “Could be worse. You’re better company than Vessica, and you don’t try to stab me when my back is turned.”

“She stabs you in the back?” I can’t hide my surprise. Vessica seems so direct, unlike the man standing next to me.

“Only literally. She calls it a training exercise. Just sneaks up behind me and—” He mimes a stabbing motion and shakes his head before offering me his arm. “I think she just likes the idea of seeing me bleed.”

That makes two of us. “And you aren’t afraid of me?”

“Why?” He escorts me into the hallway. “Because of the Ravenell mark you’re hiding under that shirt?”

Yep, I definitely want to see him bleed.

I don’t buy the act. Not after last night. But I know what he’s up to, and knowledge is a weapon.

Time to use it against him.

FOURTEEN

Taliesin walks with a speed that suggests he knows exactly where he’s going.

Since we’re heading toward the front door, it’s information I’d prefer he share.

“I thought you were taking me on a tour.” I start to slow down, but he continues, dragging me along. “Or are you just going to flirt with me until Bishop gets back?”

“I don’t know. Is it working?” he asks. “Come on. We’re going on a field trip.”

“Where?” But I plant my feet as he reaches for the handle.

“I promised the grand tour.” His smile widens as he opens the door. “You’ve had a couple of hours to snoop around here. I figured I’d show you the rest of your new home.”

Alarm bells go off in my head. The way he says home sounds more like prison, but that’s not what makes me sputter.

“Snoop?” Maybe I should have been more careful when I tried to get into the western wing earlier. Did Bishop see me? Is that why he pawned me off on the knight? I square my shoulders and hope my voice doesn’t tremble. “I have barely—”

“Relax,” he cuts me off. “It’s the first thing any self-respecting person would do in your shoes. Let me guess, you didn’t find much?”

I cross my arms and glare at him.

“I’ll take that as a no.” He tilts his head toward the door he’s still holding open. “I thought you might want to see the Bellatorum and some of the grounds.”

“So I can snoop around?” I bite back.

“Exactly.” Taliesin winks at me. “It will make your inevitable escape attempt go more smoothly.”

My mouth falls open. “Why would I try to escape?”

“Well, let’s see. Curiosity. Recklessness. Boredom.” He counts each reason off on his fingers. “I already mentioned self-respect. And, of course, there’s always the simple, well-intentioned, but ultimately doomed sense of self-preservation.”

Taliesin thinks he has me all figured out based on whatever Bishop’s told him. Fine. Maybe we should get to know each other.

I walk through the door, refusing to look at him. “And where would I go?”