In Her Shadow(45)

"You don't know, or you do know and you can't admit it?"

Britta's heart hammered against her ribs. Her knees wobbled.

"Don't look so nervous," he said, "or guilty. Just tell me."

"I – I had faith in you." She slowly rose her gaze to meet his. There was strength in his eyes, and that gave her strength too. "I have faith in you. I didn't want to admit to myself, because I was so angry, but there was a part of me undeniably convinced you'd do the right thing in the end. It was just such a small voice inside me, it was nearly drowned out by the rage."

Lucius took a step towards her. "Do you still think I'll do the right thing in the end?"

"Yes," she said, her voice tremulous.

He took another step, so near now she could feel the heat of him. "Do you still have faith in me?"

"Yes."

"I didn't mean to hurt you, Britta. I wish opportunity had allowed me to explain myself. I wish there'd been time. I had to act quickly, and within the limits of my legal authority, to save Weboshi."

Britta, pressed the palm of her hand against his shirt, felt the hardness beneath. His heart thundered inside him too. "I know," she said. "I'm sorry for getting so angry. I don't want to punish you. I did at first, but not now. Your father though. . ."

"I know," he said. "We'll stop him."

"How?"

They were so close now. When had they leaned into each other? Their lips brushed.

"I don't know," said Lucius.

Lucius wrapped his arms around her, held her against him. She shuddered, not from the chill but the feel of his chest against hers. The words he'd said were the wrong ones, but her body didn't mind. The uncertainty of the situation didn't slow her rushing thoughts. Their lips brushed again. Then met. Then held. He squeezed and she squeezed, as if they could embrace into one person. When they pulled back to breathe, the world spun around her.

"This is a mistake," said Lucius. "We're setting ourselves up for a lot of pain if we do this and the marriage is off."

"Do what?" she said. She gave him a gentle push back as she smirked. "I'm not doing anything untoward until we're married."

"So the marriage is back on?"

"I don't want to discuss it," she said. "I don't want to talk about politics, or leadership. I don't want to think about the future. I just want to be up here, alone with you for a while. Can we just do that?"

Lucius smiled.

"What's that?" she said, running a finger across his lips.

"What?"

"That thing you did with your mouth."

Lucius chuckled. "Come on, you've seen me smile before. Laugh at least."

"Once. Maybe. You don't do it enough."

"I'm trying to get better."

Britta wrapped her arms around him. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the thump-thumps of his heart beneath the fabric. Any thought that rose to remind her this couldn't last – that they'd have to separate at some point and go back to being adversaries – she forced down.

"Remember the night of the riot? When you saved me from three of your father's guard?" She'd meant to go on about how he made her feel safe, but Lucius stiffened in her arms. She pulled back and looked into his eyes. He didn't return her gaze. Instead, he glared over the crenelations into the darkened streets at the spot where the attack had happened. "Dux Lucius?" she said. "What's the matter?"

"You reminded me of something Weboshi said when I was interrogating her." He grabbed Britta by the shoulders with such suddenness and ferocity, it scared her a little. But her fear vanished the moment she saw the expression of unmitigated joy etched across his face. "I think I can prove my father's the one who kidnapped her."

Before she could ask how, he kissed her again. And again. And again.





Chapter 22


The passages honeycombing the inside of the Governor's manse were dark and cramped. So cramped, it was nearly impossible to squeeze through them without making some sort of scratching noise like rats in the walls. Worse was the dust that stung Lucius's nose. He'd scratch, but it was all he could do to keep his hands on Britta. Between her ability to see in the dark, and Weboshi's knowledge of the secret passages in the city, the small party of cloaked sisters and soldiers navigated the twisty turns of the secret passages.

"Here," said Weboshi, her voice a whisper in the darkness. The party came to a stop, each person smooshing into the next. Weboshi cracked a panel in the wall. A dim light shown through, filtered through a cloud of dust motes. Lucius wished he could see more. Third in line after Weboshi and Britta, he didn't like stepping into an unknown environment, especially since Britta had to go out before him. As if sensing his hesitance, she squeezed his hand.

Weboshi stepped out of the slit in the panel. Britta released Lucius's hand then followed. Lucius slid to the side so that he was in the secret opening, staring out. He couldn't see past Britta into the room beyond, but he could hear the sounds of men snoring. He emerged into the room, hand on the hilt of his sword, as quietly as he could. Then Captain Marcus, then the handful of soldiers Lucius had had Marcus select for their stealth skills.