Beyond Your Touch (Dark Heart) by Pat Esden

Author:Pat Esden [Esden, Pat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2016-08-29T18:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

Honor-knives at a warrior’s waist and the marks on his skin record past victories. But only blood and clang of steel predict the future.

—Malphic, Warlord of Blackspire

The morning had turned stormy. I ducked my chin against my chest and pulled my cardigan closed as I dashed out of the house and to the garage for our strategy meeting, rain pinging the ground all around me.

Chase opened the door to let me into the garage.

“Sorry I’m late. I lay down for a nap and overslept,” I said. Actually I’d fallen asleep while taking a bath, a convenient but unintentional bit of multitasking.

He squashed his lips into a hard line and glowered down at me. “I was hoping you wouldn’t show up.”

I locked my gaze with his, intent on snapping something back. But the worry shadowing his eyes melted my anger and resolve. I cleared my throat. “Are Selena and Tibbs here yet?”

“Selena’s not, but”—he tipped his head toward where Tibbs was retreating from the backseat of the Mercedes with a bucket and rag in his hands—“my guess is that Tibbs owes you for something?”

I dashed to the car. “Oh my God. Thank you so much. But you didn’t have to do that. I was going to.”

“I’m just glad I have a lousy sense of smell.” Tibbs set the bucket down and pushed the brim of his cap back with his forearm. “Chase says Lotli’s doing better?”

“Thankfully. She told Kate that she drank too much at the bonfire and needs to sleep it off,” I said.

I was also thankful I hadn’t mentioned my suspicion about Myles’s involvement. My nap in the bathtub had done a lot to clear my mind. There was no doubt I’d seen him adjusting his pants like he’d gone to the bathroom and swaggering away from the garage. But I was less certain, in fact pretty much convinced he hadn’t been the chunky guy who’d taken off in the black car. Considering how I’d put down Newt in front of everyone at the bonfire, if I’d accused Myles it would have looked like I was taking another backhanded stab at Newt, this time by way of accusing his creepy brother of something he in all likelihood wasn’t guilty of.

The garage’s side door opened and Selena flounced in, raindrops rolling off her raspberry-pink rain slicker. “Hope you guys didn’t start without me. There’s something we need to do first, like right away.”

Chase squinted at her suspiciously. “Like what?”

“Since we’ve decided who’s going, we need to make a trip to the armory and swipe the disguises while Lotli’s not around. I’m all for going to the realm on the sly, but I’m totally against her knowing or seeing anything more than is absolutely necessary, like the tunnels or the secret rooms.”

“Sounds smart to me,” Tibbs said. “But I can’t do anything until later. Mom’s expecting me to help her in the kitchen.”

“I think it’s a great idea.” Chase rubbed his bicep for a second, his gaze settling on Selena and me.

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