Amber Sky (C.O.I.L.S Of Copper and Brass Book 1) by Claire Warner

Author:Claire Warner [Warner, Claire]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Raven Press
Published: 2017-06-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

“Come on.” A hand shook her awake, and she jolted upright as a heavy book slid off her lap to land with a thump on the floor. The man stepped back as she dragged herself to her feet, and stared about her in consternation. “It’s nearly six,” he noted, with a small smile. “You dropped off.”

Tay glanced up at the clock in the corner of the room, and almost choked at the time displayed on its face.

“I’ve got to get back to my room,” she announced unnecessarily, as he retrieved the fallen tome and returned it to the table.

“And without being seen?”

She nodded, wondering how she could have fallen asleep so readily. “Can you…?”

Another quick grin flashed across his features, and he smiled. “Of course.” He beckoned her to the corner of the room, and pressed down on a small knot hidden in the floor. A door in the panelling slid open, and the tunnel beyond led off into the distance. “Just follow that, it’ll take you to the second floor.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, as she pushed past him, and ducked into the passageway. Cobweb and dust free, it was clearly in frequent use.

She took several paces down the tunnel before she heard him call from the other end. “What’s your name?” Tay stopped moving and stared back over her shoulder. The door was still open, and he was leaning against the frame, a curious look on his face.

“It’s Maria,” she lied quickly, unwilling to provide him either her real name or her alias. Despite the strangely companionable few hours she had spent in his company, she did not wish to draw too much attention to herself. Turning on her heel, she continued to head down the tunnel and back to her rooms.

True to his word, the tunnel opened out onto the second floor, and she turned onto her landing with relief. Quickly, she rushed along the corridor and pushed open the door to the suite.

“What the…?” She froze and stared out at Darius who was sitting at a newly added table, clad in a dressing gown. For a moment, neither said anything, both too stunned to speak.

“What are you…?”

“I went for a walk.”

They spoke at the same time, stopped, and Darius indicated that she should continue.

“I woke early,” Tay explained, unwilling to go into the events of the night. While she was convinced that Darius had something to do with the rebellion, she wasn’t willing to trust him with her secrets. “And I wanted to take a look round.” She attempted nonchalance, hoping that he would buy her rapidly constructed lie.

“Like that?” he asked, nodding at the dressing gown that covered her form.

“Yes.” A rapid nod to confirm the tale. “I didn’t expect to see anyone.”

“I see,” he noted, a small smile playing about his lips. “And did you?”

“Did I what?” she asked, flustered as she always was by Darius’ presence. She had expected a more intensive interrogation or at the very least a demand for an explanation.

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