couldn’t help but feel like pulling away—from the both of them. He was the next leader? He hadn’t mentioned it.
Then again, it wasn’t like she’d told him everything about her intentions, either.
Garin spoke even quieter now, but there was an urgent lilt to his voice. “Do we know who did it? Does anyone know who killed him?”
Bastion scoffed, the mirth in his eyes replaced with bitterness. “Not a single lead. Though,” he added blackly, “I’ve overheard a few of the others speculating you had something to do with it.”
Garin blinked, visibly bristling. “What? I’ll—”
“Don’t worry. I silenced them. Permanently,” Bastion said, flicking an invisible piece of lint from his jacket. “I know how much Laurent meant to you.”
“Also, to you,” Garin retorted, his tone warming slightly. “He was like a father to us.”
“We’ve already discussed the process in our quest to find his killer, starting with contacting the Fair Folk.”
“Have you?” Garin said, brows knitting in disbelief. “Have you received a response?”
“Not yet.”
“Are you mad?” Garin began to raise his voice. “This soon? We should always leave the Fair Folk as a last result. You know what consulting them means for everyone involved, especially a favor of this magnitude.”
“And you know as well as I, brother, that there are eyes and ears for the creatures everywhere. Almost certainly, someone’s witnessed it. And, with the right leverage, the Ember Court should reveal to us what they know.”
“At what cost? You know they won’t have anything to do with it, unless they’ve reason to help us, or need a favor themselves.”
“What won’t you give to find Laurent’s murderer? I say we give them whatever they please. And then we avenge him,” Bastion declared, his hands balling into fists.
Almost shaking, Garin roughly let go of Lilac and took a threatening step toward Bastion. Even Lilac flinched back.
“Must I remind you,” he growled. “Any decision on retaliation is mine to make.”
“You dare let Laurent’s death go unavenged? I knew you—"
In a flash, Garin had Bastion pinned by the throat next to a torch. Rubble rained down upon the both of them. “Do not test me, Bastion. The death of our leader upsets me as much as it has all of you, make no mistake. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure that the party behind this suffers, regardless of the cost. Remember what I am capable of.” Bastion’s tongue lolled from his mouth as Garin gave a final squeeze before releasing him. Bastion landed clumsily on his feet, wheezing.
“We’ll discuss this further tomorrow. The sun will rise soon, and I’m exhausted.” In the dancing shadows near the torchlight, he looked it.
Garin returned to Lilac’s side and gripped her wrist, towing her past his brother.
“Garin,” Bastion called out just before they reached the archway. “Before you go.”
Determined to leave, he only turned at the sound of one of the rusted cage doors creaking open.
Lilac’s heart sank. She didn’t want to look, but she couldn’t help it.
“Have a quick welcome home drink with me. You must be parched, and by the color of your eyes it’s been at least three days since your last.” Bastion held a woman roughly by the hair—the same one who’d called out to Lilac earlier. “Let us put our pasts behind us.”
“I told you, Bast. She’s depleted and needs to rest.”
“Never mind her,” Bastion boomed, roughing the poor woman and gripping her jaw with his free hand. “We can share.”
Now, in better lighting in the middle of the hall, Lilac could see her clearly. Fiery, matted curls escaped from the bonnet that had fallen off in the cage. Hopelessness dulled the forest-green eyes that bore into her soul, silently pleading the princess for mercy.
Time seemed to freeze altogether. Forgetting herself completely, Lilac choked out in a single, desolate sob.
It was Piper. Her former handmaiden, whom she’d feared dead—whom she’d feared the king, in a twist of drunken madness, had executed after Freya. But this fate was worse. It was far worse.
Garin must’ve heard her heart racing. He shook his head wearily. “Really,” he insisted. “I’m fine, Bastion. Perhaps tomorrow—”
“Look.” Bastion yanked Piper’s hair so hard, she croaked out. “I am graciously relinquishing the honored position of leadership that would’ve been mine, had you not returned in such convenient time.”
At this, Garin released her wrist and crossed the room to Bastion. “What are you implying?”
“You were gone for forty-two years, Garin! And now that our leader is dead, you return home? Don’t you know how that looks?”