As the Shadow Rises by Katy Rose Pool

Author:Katy Rose Pool
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

24

JUDE

Jude’s stomach sank. The collector wanted to speak with them. Personally. Jude could think of only one reason—somehow the collector had figured out that they intended to steal the Pinnacle Blade.

His gaze zeroed in on Evander. “You,” Jude said. “What did you tell her?”

“Nothing!” Evander’s brow furrowed. “Is there something to tell her?”

Of course. Evander didn’t know who they truly were, or why they had come here. But there was no other explanation.

“Jude, let’s just go see what she wants,” Anton said.

Jude avoided his gaze. They didn’t have much of a choice, unless they wanted to leave now and lose any hope of getting the Pinnacle Blade back.

Evander summoned one of the servants to his side. “Take us to see Lady Bellrose.”

The servant nodded, leading them to a door across the ballroom. He pushed it open, shepherding them inside.

Evander looped his arm through Jude’s and held him back.

“Excuse us one moment,” Evander said, and let the door swing shut, with Anton on the other side.

“I don’t know what just happened with you two,” Evander said, eyes searching Jude’s face. “But can I give you some advice?”

Jude didn’t know what sort of advice a self-absorbed lordling could have for a member of the Paladin Guard, but he was sure he wouldn’t like it.

“Don’t pin any hopes on him.”

Jude startled, wondering for a brief moment if Evander somehow knew what Anton was, knew about the prophecy and their roles in it.

But then Evander continued. “He’s got a tendency to collect admirers and lead them on. He’ll make you feel like you’re his favorite person in the world, and then the next day he’ll have moved on.”

“I am not,” Jude bit out, even as he felt himself flush, “an admirer.”

But the memory of Anton’s body pushed up against his, every angle lined up, cut through his denial. He could still feel the phantom weight of Anton’s hand, firm against the nape of his neck. And he was still reeling from his own sudden realization of how easily he could have leaned forward and captured Anton’s lips with his, and of how terribly he’d wanted to.

“Not what it looked like to me,” Evander said. “I know you saw us out by the dock. You didn’t like that I kissed him.”

Because Anton was the Prophet. Because dallying with lordlings was beneath him. But despite himself, the scene Jude had witnessed flashed in his mind. Evander drawing Anton close beside the moonlit river. His thumb brushing over the hinge of Anton’s jaw, inching down to his throat where his pulse beat.

Jude curled his hand into a fist. “He can do whatever he wants. It doesn’t make a difference to me.”

Evander laughed. “Don’t be mistaken—it’s not that I’m jealous. I’m just giving you a friendly warning.” He pushed the door open again. “Come on. Lady Bellrose is waiting.”

Jude followed, averting his eyes from Anton’s questioning glance as they followed the servant down a corridor. He was as big a fool as Evander thought him to be. No, a bigger fool.

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