The Crow King's Wife(65)

Zoelyn stared at him in accusation and narrowed her eyes before turning to look at Shade. “It was just a dream, and my spirits are decent considering.” she answered as she carried the tea to the table and sat a cup down for both of them.

“Noble? Vosha? Dray? Who are we dreaming about?” Shade asked as he settled in a chair and smiled at her. There were no signs of his former wounds, and he was freshly showered and dressed well. By just looking at him no one would ever guess he had been on death’s door when he had arrived. It was the good cheer that amazed her most though. She had fully expected Shade to be angry or depressed when she saw him. Instead he was buzzing with energy and apparently in a very good mood.

“None of them.” Zoey sighed in frustration and shook her head at Shade. “Shade how can you possibly be this happy knowing what today holds in store for you?” she asked in confusion.

Shade raised an eyebrow at her as he tossed a piece of dried meat to the goblin. The creature scurried from the door to snatch the morsel and then settled beside his chair to devour it. He smiled again and shrugged. “I don’t really see the downside of what today has to offer.” He admitted with another shrug and then busied himself tearing more pieces of jerky apart for the goblin.

“Grim intends to commit suicide and you have to assassinate someone.” Zoelyn reminded him stubbornly.

“Caleb won’t die because I won’t let him die. I can count the true friends I have on one hand and I value each of them too much to let them throw their lives away no matter what idiotic notion they may get in their heads.” Shade corrected calmly.

“And the Assassination?” Zoelyn pressed. She settled in the chair across from him and watched him closely. He didn’t even flinch at her words, but she knew how Shade felt about killing. From what Jala had told her about the man, he didn’t resort to violence unless he could see no other alternative. Shade was typically the mellowest of the people she knew, and the idea of him going into Rivasa to kill seemed too out of character for him.

Shade sat silent for a long moment before dropping the handful of jerky for the goblin. Turning slowly he folded his hands on the table and leaned forward to meet her gaze. His smile was gone replaced by a look of pure determination. “The man I am going to kill is going to die for the crimes he has already committed. He attacked a defenseless country and killed one of the few individuals I can honestly say I respected. I justify the blood I am spilling on the fact that it will be done for the greater good. Not only will I be ridding the world of a horrible person and avenging Micah Arovan, I will be forging peace for an entire culture of people in the process. I am killing a man that doesn’t deserve to live and I refuse to feel guilt for it.” He lifted his chin as he spoke and his smile slowly returned. “I will kill, Caleb will live, and Sanctuary will have peace. It’s as simple as that. I refuse to allow it to end any other way.” He finished in a voice that held no room for argument.

“Thank you so much for referring to my intentions as an idiotic notion.” Grim said dryly. He sat down at the table finally and pulled his cup of tea closer as he regarded Shade with annoyance.

“I call it as I see it my friend. Life is too precious to waste and friends are too important to lie to.” Shade responded without the faintest hint of apology in his tone. His gaze turned back to Zoey and he grinned again. “So Seth eh?” he asked and she felt her face go red again. He nodded at her reaction and smirked. “Figures. It’s always the ones like him that draw the attention.”

“Seth?” Grim asked seizing the name at once. He stared at Shade expectantly and didn’t even bother to look in her direction.

“Shade please.” Zoelyn begged and to her relief Shade glanced at Grim and then back to her but didn’t elaborate.

“Let it go, Caleb. If I have learned anything in the past year it is the simple fact that no matter how many times you try to tell a woman that the one she adores is not right for her she won’t listen, and as much as I hate to admit it there are times that she is right to ignore you. I was never able to see what Jala saw in Finn, but he gave his life to save her. In that much at least I will admit I was wrong about him. There is a fair chance that I’m wrong about Seth too.” Shade said and rose from his chair without so much as looking at his tea. “Dray is coming with us right Zoey?” he asked as he turned toward the door.

Zoelyn nodded silently and felt her tension ease a bit at the question. He had changed the subject willingly, and it was possible that the mention of Dray would keep Grim’s mind too occupied to press her more.