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Seeing rins down froh that ht of the carriage, he offers ers and I’ and I accidentally thurasp ainst mine Our faces almost touch, his lips so close to mine I need only exhale to kiss him

Why shouldn’t I take the risk? Father’s rules no longer define my life

My lips brush his htens around e jolts under us as the horses back up a step I slip as he lets go to better grip the reins What a hich to defy his uncle?

The bricks of the tomb rise between us

"We er bench

Kalliarkos’s muttered curse ry if he’s challenged?

Then I see that we are no longer alone

Lord Thynos stands at the horses’ heads, holding the harness, while Inarsis leaps up into the carriage beside er bench The carriage rocks again as Thynos climbs up onto the driver’s bench beside Kalliarkos

"Keep , Kal," says Thynos

After a e rolls I peek out between the curtains to see Kalliarkos’s rigid back

"Did you follow o I promised your mother that I would never, ever let you walk about the city unattended She fears you may be kidnapped and held for ransom Or murdered, which would be less expensive but far messier You’vethat this is the first time you have sneaked out on your own?"

Inarsis chuckles "Not the first On the other occasion he followed our young tomb spider to the Ribbon Market"

"What do you want?" snaps Kalliarkos, sounding ehs with a dramatic emphasis worthy of Amaya "Either you don’t intend to feast with your sister and her new husband tonight and instead plan to ruin the prospects of an extre Gar’s injunction that all ties between our heroic General Esladas and his irregular family must be severed Which is it?"

"None of your business"

Lord Thynos’s eyebrows fly right up his forehead "Do not tell me what is and is not h, Thynos," says Inarsis in a genial tone "Be glad our young ood ruse, Lord Kalliarkos, to have this carriage made ready in the back alley and randrandh," ner, hs Kalliarkos does not Neither do I They will ruin everything I twist uished frustration, but I see no way to be rid of the but my wits and determination

We turn a wide corner and pick up speed Peeking out between the curtains I see we are headed toward the eastern gate along the Avenue of the Soldier, so called because sothis wide boulevard I’m a little surprised Thynos has not taken the reins, but in fact Kalliarkos drives with an ih his expression is stiff with anger I can’t stop looking at the way his handsthe traffic to find narrow spaces to slide our carriage through so we don’t need to slon

Lord Thynos glances back atto a flat stare "Spider, that was an iree to meet a man A crowd of drunk soldiers is not safe for a woman, especially one like you"

I do not need to be scolded about suchor because I am a mule?"

"Because you are both Patron won man who reaches these shores soon learns that Coic of their father’s mother A dame’s evil eye can kill a randmother on her father’s side Your father was no fool to raise his daughters as if they were Patron girls I feel sure he knew exactly how far his shield of protection extended"