A Restless Truth (The Last Binding, #2)

by Freya Marske

With his other hand, he reached out and toppled his king. “Very well. I’ll remain under your command.” He inclined his head, mocking. “Because I was going to win?” Maud frowned at the board. “No; I was going to beat you in ten more moves.” That seemed to be all the explanation they’d get. Hawthorn didn’t extend a chess metaphor in any direction.

Hawthorn waved that aside. “My sister…” He grimaced. “She was a little like you.” “Really?” “I would have followed her anywhere,” he said. “Into any battle.”

“Maud Blyth. You are a terror and you should not be allowed to run loose in the world.”

“I know there’s something—large, and fresh. It’s lodged in you like a haunting.”

“I want someone who delights me.

Edwin picked up one of Robin’s hands as Robin talked, and examined the knuckles with a critical air. Then carried it to his lips for a brief, absent moment that made Robin’s voice trail off entirely. Robin took his hand back. He looked at Edwin as though this slim, unremarkable man was everything he could imagine wanting.