Exile's Adored by Kate Rudolph

Author:Kate Rudolph
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kate Rudolph

14

Three Weeks Later

Carise dropped off her latest note to Kenzie with one of the runners before checking in to see if she had any more errands to run in her quadrant. Layala hadn’t been lying about the job. It was real work, for real money, with real protection.

For the first time in years, Carise was acting for herself. There was no master, no chains. No guards.

No Kenzie.

No Jaek.

She’d wanted to go running off to Jaek the same day she’d met Layala. And her boss wouldn’t have stopped her. But it was dangerous to cross the city, and Carise had been afraid. And she hadn’t wanted to ask Layala for an escort.

Nor did she want to go back to Kenzie. Layala had explained what happened that night, even though Kenzie should have been the one to do it.

Carise had been abducted by the former exile king’s men. Mad had challenged the king, Jadirel, in single combat, and he’d won. Mad was Kenzie’s mate, and so she now stood as queen beside him.

And they’d done it all to free Carise.

It made Carise feel a little bad for running away. But that feeling faded the longer she stayed away.

Her feelings for Jaek didn’t. She hadn’t been brave enough to send a note to him. For some reason she was almost afraid of what would happen if she saw him again. Would he carry her back to his cave and keep her there? Would he drag her back to Kenzie?

Would he let her make her own path?

Jaek had been so careful and protective with her. And his kisses had made her burn. But she couldn’t be dependent on anyone if she wanted real freedom.

Carise checked in at the restaurant and Layala was sitting at her table, drinking tea alone.

“Sit,” her boss told her. “Have you eaten?”

Carise shook her head, and Layala flagged down someone to bring out a meal. Carise accepted it gratefully. Layala was generous with food and drink, and half the time it meant that Carise didn’t have to waste her credits on food.

“How is the roommate working out?” Layala asked while Carise finished off her meal.

Carise chewed and swallowed. “Good, good. She’s…” She stumbled over what she should say.

“Always busy?” Layala suggested. “I thought you might like someone who gave you your personal space.”

Carise wasn’t sure about that, but having some space to herself wasn’t a bad thing, at least. Her roommate also worked for Layala, but Carise wasn’t sure what she did. She wasn’t sure what Layala did, exactly, but it involved a lot of employees and a lot of errands.

Carise didn’t need to know more. Yet.

Layala flicked her fingers in the air and one of the wait staff brought her a package. “I need you to deliver this package to this address,” she said, sliding a card across the table. “You will meet a Kru’dari named Fynn. He’s… charming.” Disdain dripped with the words. “Hand this over and if he has any messages, report back directly. This is a sensitive matter.

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