Book 5: Like a Hawk

Ingrid

“So then we’ll—Cirocco?” Amval says, looking at his brother.

I glance at my fake fiancé to find him staring through the sweltering cave. Amval hasn’t bothered with his veil in this little mine, and Joli has been slightly more careful about the looks she’s been stealing at Amval—maybe because she had all of last night to look at him—but Cirocco doesn’t have that tact. Still, he hasn’t been outright staring until now.

He clears his throat. “Apologies, I just—”

“You thought I was dead.” Amval pats his brother’s shoulder. “I wanted to tell you.”

“But you couldn’t,” Cirocco says slowly. “For our safety.”

“Clearly, Kaloni is suspicious of those she thinks know anything.” I jingle the metal manacle around my wrist. “She wouldn’t have put me with you if she didn’t still trust you completely.”

“Right.” Cirocco sighs. “I know all that.”

Amval looks at me, his amber eyes shining with hurt and want. It’s a plea for me to ha