A Girl in Black and White (Alyria 2)

“Calamity, what a surprise seeing you here.”

I stopped short, coasting my gaze across the large corridor with a well, woven baskets, and laundry lines—letting Alis know that I found his presence here contrived.

“A word with you, if you don’t mind.”

I sighed.

A couple of women dunked shirts in some water before scrubbing it on a washboard, their mundane chore becoming interesting as the city’s golden boy stood in their dirt alley. My gaze narrowed further when three of Alis’ friends stepped into view, as if this had been rehearsed—well, at the least, it had been thought out.

This wasn’t a happy run-in. It was a staged ambush.

I couldn’t protect myself against four Druids. They knew how to withstand compulsion, and it would take too much time to try and persuade them all. There was also no burning in my palms at the moment, which meant I couldn’t fast-travel myself out of this mess.

A sense of vulnerability rushed me. I didn’t think Alis would hurt me, but the fact that he set this up to intimidate me, which I would have never thought he would do, already let me know I’d underestimated him.

“Alis,” I said cheerfully. “What a surprise, indeed. But I’m a little busy right now. Can we speak later?”

His eyes narrowed suspiciously at my behavior. He’d never seen me this nice before and didn’t know how to take it. He shook his head regretfully. “Sorry, but this cannot wait.”

Lovely. Unease worried itself into my brain.

“I’ve given you many opportunities to accept my offer to pledge with you, and still you refuse. Well, it is no longer an option.”

Anger uncurled in my stomach, expanding. “That’s great, Alis. I’ve heard that my mother accepts your suit, so I don’t understand what this is all about.” I glanced meaningfully at his three friends standing stoically nearby.

He raised a brow. “And you accept?”

Hell no—but I hesitated. Currently magically inept, and surrounded by four determined sons of bitches . . . “Yes, of course. I wouldn’t go against my mother’s wishes.”

His eyes hardened. “You think me stupid.”

“That’s not true.” Yes, yes it was.

His gaze shot to the women watching the scene as if they were memorizing every word. This is going to be in the gossip rags tomorrow, I thought with a sigh. “Go,” he said harshly. The women’s eyes widened before dropping their clothes and rushing from the alley. I thought about running out with them, but I knew that would get me about four feet because Alis could fast-travel; that, and he had the ability to cause severe pain that completely immobilized his opponent. His gifts must have been what made him so popular with his cronies here.

His eyes came back to me, before glancing at one of the men behind him who looked a few years older than me, with dark hair and an indifferent expression.

Alis nodded his head in my direction. “Raymond, let’s see if she’s lying, shall we?”

Shit. Worry needled its way into my chest, my heartbeat picking up pace.

I was sure that you weren’t supposed to let yourself get into this position: four men surrounding you in each direction. But screaming wasn’t an option for me. I was not that farm girl anymore, and I wouldn’t act like her unless death was on the line. Being that Alis’ goal was to pledge with me, I knew that wasn’t what he had planned. I would just have to think my way out of this situation.

Raymond stood in front of me, his callous gaze looking me straight in the eyes, and I noticed that something was missing from it: sympathy. I’d thought Weston losing his humanity would be a tragedy for anyone, but I realized then, that many gave it away for nothing.

Alis stood back, leaning against the wall indifferently while chewing on a piece of straw. “Are you lying to me about accepting my suit, Calamity?”

Raymond was watching for my reply, able to see the truth in one’s eyes. I bit my lip, uncertain. But I knew there was no point in lying. So, I looked Raymond steadily in the eye, and said, “Yes.”

He blinked, not expecting that response.

Alis didn’t flinch, though, somehow having learned me better than I had him in the six months I’d been here.

“Truth,” Raymond supplied, and the two other men circling me guffawed at my blatant disrespect.

Alis rubbed his jaw, frustration only seen in his tense movements. “I’ve been trying to go about this the right way, Calamity. I do not understand why you have to make it difficult.”

I couldn’t help it—I laughed. Because what a piece of work.