The Confectioner's Truth by Claire Luana

Author:Claire Luana
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Live Edge Publishing

Chapter 27

Wren was drowning. Drowning in Ansel’s words, his presence, in the stark black ink of the tattoo, proclaiming that the anger she had felt for the past four years had been for nothing. Had been...a misunderstanding. Wren backed up. “I need some air.” Her feet propelled her past Ansel, through the door out into the damp chill Novan afternoon.

Pike and Callidus were outside, huddled close to a fire, Pike finishing his second helping of stew.

“Did you figure out whether you hate him or not?” Pike asked, his dark eyes furrowed.

Wren ran her fingers through her hair, its ends knotted from the blustery ride. “Maybe? I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “There’s someone else I need to talk to.” Wren squinted towards the paddocks beyond the little village, where men and women were sparring with whirling staves. “And I think I see him. Wait here.”

“Can’t wait,” Pike called in a simpering voice after her.

Even back in their Wraith days, Bran had been big. Now, he was huge, with thick cords of muscle raining down blows upon his opponent in a merciless tempo. His round face was ruddy with effort, and his dimpled cheeks were covered with a thick beard braided at the ends and tied with little silver beads.

“Bran,” she cried, stepping up on the lowest rung of the fence circling the field.

Bran looked her way, shock registering in his hazel eyes.

His opponent took advantage of the moment and whacked Bran hard in the ribs.

Bran doubled over with a grunt of pain, resting one hand on his knee, the other held up in a sign of surrender. “Low blow.” He coughed before standing and taking in a deep breath.

“Never take your eyes off the fight,” his opponent said with a wide grin.

“Right you are. Now you’re learning,” Bran said. “Switch partners. I need a minute. I think I see a ghost from my past.”

“A wraith,” Wren called.

Bran let himself through the gate and swept her up in a bone-crushing hug. “Gods, it’s good to see you.”

“Ribs...” Wren croaked.

“Figure it’s payback for that little swipe.” Bran set her down, a wide grin breaking across his face. “I knew we had company...but I never in a million years would have thought...”

“The feeling is mutual,” Wren said.

“Can I get you something hot to drink? You’re freezing.” He ran his hands over her shoulders in a vigorous motion. “Some things never change. You never had any insulation on you, did you?”

“None left for the rest of us after you took it all.” Wren punched him in his sizable arm.

Bran guffawed, and the sound warmed her. It was good to see him. She had locked Ansel and the other Wraiths into a little dark corner of her mind after she had fled, but those memories were all resurfacing now. They had been her family. And with the exception of Nik, she had loved them like family. Well, with the exception of Ansel. That had been more complicated.

Bran led her into one of the small cabins.

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