Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night, #2)

by Brigid Kemmerer

“So you’re testing your medicine on people too poor to know better,” says Lochlan. “No! I wouldn’t classify it that way—” “Yes,” says Allisander. “We’re testing it on him, too,” says Corrick. “He just doesn’t know it yet.”

“Do something,” I whisper to Corrick. His blue eyes meet mine. “Hang them both?” “Corrick,” I breathe. I’m not entirely sure he’s teasing. “They’re both at fault here,” he says pointedly, for all at the table to hear. “We’ll never make any headway if the two of you are content to attack each other.”

“Shall we go find out what news this emissary brings?” I say. “Perhaps he has a ship full of Moonflower petals and we can toss Allisander from the palace roof.”

“Then … what was he?” Rian smiles. “A spy.”

Oooohhh the plot thickens

Lochlan smirks. “Maybe you shouldn’t have walked out of the palace without guards,” he says. “Maybe she shouldn’t have,” says a voice behind me, “but I brought more than enough.” My heart kicks to hear Corrick’s voice. Lochlan snaps back.

If you’re not sharing his bed, someone is. He’s the brother to the king. He must not have heard that part. If he did, I can’t imagine Lochlan would still be on his feet.

“Aren’t you concerned?” He lifts a shoulder in a shrug. “When I found the note in your chambers, yes, I was concerned. When the porters told me you’d left alone, yes, I was concerned.” He gives me a look. “One man glaring at me is a matter of course, Tessa.”

Corrick sits on the opposite seat of the carriage, and there’s a part of me that wants to ease to his side, to hide in the circle of his arms for the short journey back to the palace. Another part of me wants to run away from everything that just happened. I can’t do either. Everything about our relationship is massively complicated now.

Some of the consuls are married, like Roydan Pelham, an older man who’s rather devoted to his wife, while others seem to rotate through courtiers as regularly as I wash my face.

“Your Highness,” Roydan says. He gives Tessa a kind smile. “Miss Cade.” His warmth tugs at me. I just can’t imagine him doing something nefarious.

<3

“Again. Welcome to life at court.” “Thanks. I hate it here.”

“I think the King’s Justice was doing the very best he could,” I say, “during a very challenging time.” Under the table, Corrick’s hand finds mine, steady and warm. He gives it a squeeze.

I wonder if Laurel Pepperleaf will add a comment, but she takes a sip from her own glass. Happy to watch Allisander hang himself, I suppose. Maybe some of Corrick’s cynicism is rubbing off on me.

“Forgive the prince’s pet apothecary, Captain,” Allisander says from his end of the table. “She understands little of politics and negotiation.” “On the contrary,” says Captain Blakemore. His eyes don’t leave mine. “I sense that Miss Cade understands quite a bit.”

Harristan casts a briefly annoyed glance at Corrick, who looks ready to spring out of his chair.

His eyes are ice blue, but they thaw when he looks at me.

Hehehe

Rocco glances between me and my brother. He might be in the king’s personal guard, which carries some benefits, but he’s not an officer. Making an unfounded claim against the guard captain could put him out of a job, and he looks like he’s just realized he’s cornered himself.

Oops

Rocco hesitates again, but then he nods, and I realize that he might not trust the guard captain, but he must trust my brother.

I wish I could go to Tessa, but I’m terrified of admitting weakness just now, as if putting voice to my fears would make them more real. I’d give anything to don a mask and climb down a rope and find her in the workshop, the way I used to. Now, everything is just as dangerous, and somehow ten times more complicated.

“Take off your mask,” she whispers behind my hand. My eyes snap to hers. “What?” “Take off your mask. Say you were taking your sick sister to find a physician.” “I—what?” She gives me an exasperated look, like I’m the crazy one, then flops against my shoulder dramatically, her head lolling back, her eyes half open. She goes limp so quickly that I barely catch her before she tumbles into the undergrowth. Well, damn.

A knock sounds at my door, and my heart leaps. Maybe he’s finally found some time to see me. As usual, my future feels so uncertain. I need to look into Corrick’s blue eyes and hear the warmth in his voice. I need to erase the memory of the man on the floor of the candy shop, Corrick’s dagger stealing blood from his throat. I need to remember why we’re doing this together—why I trust him at all.

A male voice speaks from behind me. “If an armored guardsman goes overboard, he turns into an anchor.”

“Do forgive us for the delay,” I say, but I’m pretty sure my eyes say, I’m about to push you off the dock. That spark of challenge lights in his gaze. “Forgiven, Your Highness.” His eyes say, Go ahead and try.

“Are those for lunch?” I say to her. She hesitates, then shakes her head. Then the vegetables she’s chopping are obviously for dinner, but I say, “Ah, so you must be preparing a meal for the fish, then. You throw them overboard? Get the fish nice and fat?” She looks at me like she can’t decide if I’m crazy or stupid. Dabriel glances over, and it’s clear she probably thinks I’m both. Anya shakes her head again. “You feed them to the seagulls, then? I really don’t think seagulls like carrots.” A tiny smile begins to peek through. “They’re for dinner,” she whispers. “We’re having seagulls for dinner?” I say, feigning horror. That brings out the full smile. “No! The carrots.”

“And you thought it was a good idea? Sending my apothecary to the top of the main mast?” “I thought it would be a poor idea to suggest she couldn’t do it.” He pauses. “Jealous?” That really does startle a laugh out of me. “No.”

Surrrrreeeeee

“I love you, Tessa,” he says, and I inhale sharply, because I wasn’t ready for him to come right out with it. He touches a finger to my lips. “Let me finish.” I nod. “I have always loved you,” he says. “I love your brilliance and your courage. I love your faith in me, and your faith in my brother, and your faith in Kandala.” His hand slides to my cheek, and his blue eyes soften, filling my vision. “I don’t ever want to frighten you. I want to take actions that will make you proud.” His jaw clenches, just for a moment. “But I will never be wholly altruistic.

“I know!” he snaps. “I know. You don’t think I know? You don’t think the people know? That night we held the sector, we laid down our weapons for Tessa. But it wasn’t just for Tessa.” I stare at him. “So we took a chance,” he says. “We trusted that this was an opportunity for real change.” He swears and looks away, but he must gather his mettle, because he takes a step closer to me. His voice is a low growl. “And then we had to sit across the table from a man who truly was a criminal, a man who faced no repercussions for his actions. None! Where’s the sack over Sallister’s head, Your Highness? Where’s the stage? Where’s the noose? Where’s the crossbow? And you want to know why I’m holding you to a different standard?”

“I trust you’re well rested, Your Highness?” No. I’m not. Which is probably why I stride forward and throw a punch. It’s reckless and impolitic, and if we were only at odds over the appearance of ships, I never would’ve done it. But his comment is a barbed dig at Tessa, and I’ve reached a limit.

“Tessa,” I shout, but there’s no answer again. I have no idea whether she can hear me. I yell anyway. “I love you.”

Then I’m free, sprawled on the deck, a male arm around my waist. I look over, expecting Rocco. Instead, it’s Lochlan. His face is close, full of sweat and bruises, but his eyes lock on mine. “Are you all right?” he says, and I’m so stunned that all I can do is nod.

I swallow. We’ve both lost too much. “You don’t … you don’t have to guard me.” After a moment, he sits down beside me. After another moment, he takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. It’s kind. Brotherly. “There’s no one left to guard,” he says quietly.