“I apologize for not telling you about Olivia sooner.” His hand is warm against mine. His other hand presses against the small of my back, making the butterflies in my stomach take wing.
“No worries.” I try to remember how to breathe. “You had no obligation to tell me.”
“It would’ve been right for me to tell you instead of Rain. I was working to gain your trust, and now I’ve completely lost any trust I might have acquired due to letting this information slide.”
“It’s okay, Forest. You never really had my trust to begin with.”
He winces. Oops. There I go again. No filter. Complete decapitation. I swallow hard and offer a smile. “I’m sorry, Forest. I was told never to trust a politician.” I shrug, surveying the other dancers. “I’ve heard too many things about your kind, and I don’t really want to get involved.”
“Well you don’t seem to have any trouble getting involved with my brother.”
“Rain?” His name comes out in a strangled laugh-choke. “Are you serious? We’re not involved. Had I a choice, he would be the last one I would have selected to escort me.”
“You did have a choice, though. Apparently I was beneath even him.”
I cringe. “It’s not like that. I didn’t know who would be escorting me. Rain was assigned to be my escort. It just sort of happened.”
“If only that were true.”
“What do you mean?”
“Rain requested to escort you.”
I stop dancing. Why would Rain want to escort me after he wanted to watch me burn on the Rebels Circle? I glance at him as he dances with Olivia. But he’s not watching her. He’s staring at me with a brooding intensity that makes something strange swirl in the pit of my stomach. I blush to my roots and look away. How does he have such power over even those who hate him?
“I wouldn’t look so pleased if I were you,” Forest whispers as we resume dancing. “Rain is a player, Ember. He only wanted to escort you for no other reason than to be the center of attention tonight.”
My smile flattens. “I’m not pleased. And why are you telling me this? To get back at me for what I said earlier?”
“No.” His golden brows furrow. “I want you to know so that you won’t fall for his charming act. So that when he bores of you––and he will––your heart will remain intact.” He sighs, staring over my shoulder as we switch hands and walk in a circle. His left hand on my left hand, our fingers interwoven so intimately, and I don’t think I ever want to let go. “Listen,” he says. “I understand if you don’t trust me. Fine. I get it. But if there’s anyone you really don’t want to trust in this room, it’s Rain.”
I almost laugh out loud. “You don’t have to worry about me trusting Rain. Not after what happened during my stay in prison.”
Forest glances at me. “What happened in your stay in prison?”
Oh, rot. The last thing I want to do is place a bigger wedge between two brothers who are already at odds with each other.
“Never mind. I’m leaving soon and none of this will matter.”
Just as I finish the sentence, Forest passes me on to another suitor with black hair and dark skin. He’s handsome and tries to make small talk, but I’m too busy trying to figure out Rain’s sudden change in character, Forest’s engagement to Olivia, Rain and Forest’s relationship, and why I even care.
Another reason for me to leave as soon as I’m allowed. Too much drama in Frankfort. The people thrive on it. There is no trust, not even between two brothers. There’s no openness like there was in the Community Garden. Leaf and I told each other everything. There were no secrets among my classmates. If I asked them a simple question, they gave me simple answers. No elaborate riddles that blow up into drama. The people here…they’ve got nothing better to do than play games with each other.
I’m thankful for a quiet dancing partner for once, so I can think. But then I’m passed back to Rain.
“So, you have the hots for my brother,” are the first words that pop out of his arrogant mouth.
I look away, my face warm enough to melt steel. “I barely know him.”
He laughs. “It’s all right. Your secret’s safe with me, Rainbow Eyes.”
I wonder if anything is safe with him.
“It’s not like they’re married yet,” he continues. “I mean, you could always, you know, stay true to your Patrician blood and steal him away.”
And that sets me over the edge. “I’m not a Patrician!” I rip my hand from his and stalk away, not caring about the scene I may or may not be making right now. But, seriously. Rain is unbelievable. I mean, can’t he just let it go? Keep his shoddy mouth shut for like five minutes?
“Wait.” He grabs my arm and spins me around. “You are Patrician, Ember. I, as your tester, know that well. Why can’t you accept it?”
“Because if Patricians are anything like you—” I twist out of his grasp. “—I want nothing to do with them.”
He blinks, opens his mouth then closes it and looks at the floor.
I choke out a laugh at the look in his eyes and say, “Don’t pretend to be offended, Rain. You said yourself that you looked forward to watching me die on the Rebels Circle. So don’t stand there and pretend like anything I say could possibly offend you.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Understand what? That of all the Patricians, you’re the worst? Even worse than Titus.”
His gaze hardens. “Don’t forget where you are, Carter.” His eyes swivel to the people around us, and a muscle jerks in his jaw. “You’ll get killed for insulting Chief Whitcomb, whether you’re Patrician or not.” He steps closer, his peppermint breath hot on my cheek. “One word against the chief, and I will report your treason myself.”
My body goes hot, then cold. My heart pounds. Is he serious? Then he steps back, and the look in his eyes tells me that, yes, he would report my treason, no problem. He would be more than happy to send me back to Frankfort Prison, to watch me die on the Rebels Circle.
Behind Rain, I catch a glimpse of Chief Whitcomb making his way back to his throne, and I wonder why he bothers keeping me around since I’m innocent. Why a friendly person like him would keep me prisoner. Then it hits me. Frankfort is the golden city. The pride of Ky. Many people dream of coming here. Even Elijah verbalized several times his desire to experience the Christmas celebrations. So no wonder Titus invited me to the feast.
He thinks he’s doing me a favor.
Maybe—maybe all he needs is to be informed that I don’t really want to linger around here. That I want to go home, resume my career as a farmer, and live close to my dad and brother. I mean, Titus seems like a pretty nice guy. He’s warm and smiley and understanding.
He sits in his throne, then his gaze locks with mine. And his brows flicker but then his mouth breaks into a brilliant smile, and I can’t help but smile back. I automatically begin walking in his direction.
Rain clamps a hand down on my shoulder. “Where do you think you’re going?”
I shrug his hand off my shoulder. “I’m informing the chief that I’d like to go home first thing in the morning.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“Whoa.” Rain’s hand is on my shoulder. Again. And he firmly turns me to face him. “Informing? Informing? You’d better make it sound more like a request if you really want to go anywhere.”
I shrug from his hand. Again. I’m really getting tired of his grabbing my limbs. “I don’t see why he would have a problem with me wanting to leave.”
“Neither do I. You’re just a plain little farm girl who’s created quite a bit of excitement here in Frankfort and is now failing miserably at paying off.”
The jackal.
“But for some reason,” he continues. “I really don’t think Titus wants you to leave yet. You see, he’s not really the type to invite just anyone to his feasts. He doesn’t even invite all the Patricians. In the rare instances that a criminal is proven innocent, he sends them home. But you.
You’re an exception, Ember Carter. You’re special. And not in a good sort of way. In case you didn’t know, you’re still under custody. You’re not free yet.”
“I’ve been proven innocent. My records are clear. I’m as free as you and Forest and everyone else in this shoddy ballroom. So, if our chief truly believes in equality, he won’t stop me from leaving.”
Rain snorts. “You don’t get it, do you? No. He won’t stop you. He will let you go and then he will get back at you in a worse way.”
My mouth goes dry. “What do you mean?”
“Whether it’s forcing you into an awful career or putting you back in prison for who knows what, he’ll get back at you.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I ask. “When you absolutely loathe me?”
His Adam’s apple bobs. “I want to help you.”
“Help me? Help me? You were anticipating my death two days ago, and now you want to help me?” Since when does he care what happens to me? Then it hits me. Rain may not be a politician, but his brother and parents are, and he may not be so different from them. “Oh.”
He frowns, tilts his head. “Oh, what?”
“You want to help me so you can use me to scout out the Resurgence, don’t you?”
He smacks his hand over my mouth and shoves me into an adjoining chamber, slamming the door behind him. No people here. Just me and Rain. And he shoves me against the wall, his hand clamped firmly over my mouth and his eyes frosting over like ice, and I wonder—I wonder what, exactly, he plans to do with me.
“What is wrong with you?” he asks.
My heartbeat pounds in my eardrums, and I’m breathing too fast and struggling against his grip, but he shoves me against the wall again. Fear paralyzes me.
“Don’t ever talk about them in public,” he hisses. “Don’t even say their name. Do you want to be executed? Do you want people to suspect you’re working with them?”
I quickly shake my head.
“Then drop it. Pretend you’ve never heard of them. Because few people, very few people, Ember, support the Resurgence. And if you’re caught talking about them, you might as well stamp the word REBEL on your forehead.” He speaks slowly, as to a child. “If one person hears you even say the name of that rebel group, you WILL be executed.”
His passion terrifies me. His warning confuses me. Because I thought he wanted me dead. And now he’s trying to keep me alive. He removes his hand, steps back a little so he’s not crushing me to the wall, but still has a firm hold on my shoulders. I can’t escape.
“You’re already a suspect for saving your little friend,” he says, very quietly. “That’s why Whitcomb doesn’t want you to leave. That’s why he’s placed you in a hotel, under surveillance, where he can watch you while he’s supposedly waiting for your blood work to come in. He doesn’t give a jackal’s nuts why you’re a Patrician. Like you said, who cares? But he’ll let the Patricians believe he’s as obsessed with the drama as they are, while watching your every move and listening to every word that carelessly tumbles out of your pretty little mouth.”
I clamp my mouth shut. Swallow the tears burning the back of my throat.
“When he catches you speaking of this rebel group, he’ll arrest you again, and he’ll try and torture information out of you. If you don’t speak, he’ll kill you. No amount of talking to tigers will get you out of trouble this time.”
“Why are—” My voice chokes off, and I swallow. “Why are you telling me this?”
He smirks. Steps back and releases me completely. “Because you have a knack for getting yourself in trouble. As fun as it is to watch rebels burn to death, I don’t like it when innocent people die. And I do believe you’re innocent. You’re incredibly stupid, but you’re innocent.”
I wipe my nose with the back of my hand. I didn’t realize I was this close to crying.
“Now, I’m going to leave you. I’m going to let you sit here and think about your actions,” he says, like I’m some stupid child. “I want you to think really hard about whether or not you really want to approach Chief Whitcomb, and if you do, what, exactly, you’re going to say. How you’re going to say it. How you’re going to sound incredibly appreciative and look extra pleasant while you speak the words on your mind. I won’t stop you. I won’t stop you from talking to Titus. But if you’re sent to prison tonight, you can’t say I didn’t warn you.”
He spins on his heel and walks out of the room. And it’s not until he’s out of sight that I realize I’m trembling. I’m trembling violently because his rage is possibly more terrifying than a black tiger. Rain is…unpredictable. Confusing. So confusing. So incredibly confusing. Gloating about my death one day, then three days later, what do you know, he suddenly believes I’m innocent.
Rain is just about as temperamental as a feral cat.
And now…now I’m terrified of Rain. I’m angry at Forest. And I don’t think anything sounds better than going home right now, starvation and all. I’ll take hunger over drama any day. I mean, seriously, who would have thought a beautiful city full of glorious luxuries could turn into such a shoddy nightmare?
Frankfort is a black tiger. Beautiful. Dangerous.
I need to get home. I don’t care how risky it is to ask the chief, I just need to at least ask, because I don’t even know how long he plans on keeping me around. So I step out of the room. I numbly edge around the chamber, around the whirling bright dresses and dashing black suits, and I approach the chief, although I’m feeling eighty times less confident than I was minutes ago.
He looks at me, his eyes widening in obvious surprise and discomfort and then that smile—that dazzling smile. And I force a smile of my own. My most winning smile. A smile like the smile Olivia Doss wore earlier tonight, because Rain told me to look pleasant.
And I think, everything’s going to be okay. Everything’s going to be fine.
Just. Smile.
I bow to the chief of Ky. “Chief Whitcomb,” I say, straightening. “I would like to…request permission to go home to the Community Garden.”
“When?”
When? I didn’t expect that to be his first question. “Um. T-tomorrow? Morning?”
Something shifts in his eyes. “You wish to forego the rest of the Christmas celebrations and return to the Garden?”
“Yes.”
“But the glorious New Year’s parade is only a month away. Surely you want to be here for that?”
Who cares about the shoddy parade?
“No more parties or parades for me, thank you. I only want to return to the Community Garden.” A strange courage fills me. “And work in the apple orchard. That’s my only request to the greatest chief of all time.”
Forest must be right about the chief, because my flattery seems to get to him. The strange spark leaves his eyes, and his smile almost looks genuine. “Very well, Miss Carter. I will have a jeep waiting for you outside the hotel at sunrise.”
Wait—what? “You mean, you’ll let me go?”
He laughs softly. “Yes, Miss Carter. You are my guest and are free to leave whenever you want.”
Shock, then pure joy so consuming that I can’t hide my smile.
“Th-thank you, Chief,” I bow again. “You are most gracious.” And this time, I mean it.
I turn and waltz back through the room, completely unaware of the other dancers around me. That was so easy. For the first time in weeks, things are going my way. This is what I’m used to. This is what I grew up with. Easygoing people. One simple request granted with one simple answer. And home. I’m finally going home. It’s so completely unbelievable.
When I reach the refreshments table, I pick up some spiked punch. My going home is something worth celebrating.
“You’ve had some change in mood,” Forest says as he steps up beside me.
I grin. “Don’t worry, Forest. After tonight, you won’t have to worry about my wellbeing weighing on your conscience. I’m going home.”
“Really?” His brows
shoot up. “How did you manage that?”
“Easy. I merely requested the chief let me go, and he said ‘yes.’”
“You asked the chief to let you leave early?”
“Yes.”
He clears his throat. “Well…I suppose a congratulations is in order. But I will miss you, Miss Carter. It’s a shame you’re leaving so soon. I’d hoped….” His voice trails off and he looks past me.
“Hoped…what?” Could Rain be right? Could there be something between me and Forest?
He looks at me again, opens his mouth to respond, but then Olivia whisks to his side in a flurry of blue ribbons. He smiles down at her, then looks at me. “I hope to see you once more before you leave.” Then he takes Olivia back onto the ballroom floor.
Disappointment is possibly the worst feeling in the world—next to humiliation. It’s like nails on a chalkboard. Sandpaper on skin. Mud stuck to the roof of my mouth and I just can’t spit all the grains out. It’s uncomfortable and unbecoming and I don’t like it.
I don’t like watching Forest dance with Olivia on the ballroom floor. I want him to dance with me. I want those evening sky eyes to be focused on me, like I’m the only flower that decided to bloom this season. I want that smile reserved for me, and me only. The world must be laughing hysterically at my expense. My decision to leave tomorrow might quite possibly be the wisest decision I’d ever made. Because I don’t think I could stand another day in this place.
Not as long as Forest Turner is engaged.
Not as long as I’m slowly falling for him.
“Word on the street says you already approached the chief.” Rain steps up beside me and picks up a drink. How many has he had? Four? Five?
“Are you here to reprimand me?”
“Sounds like you did what I said, and thought really hard about how to approach Titus. I’m proud.”
He’s back to his old exuberant self. That was quick. Temperamental feral cat.
“However,” he says. “You can’t leave the cupola without getting a real taste of Frankfort.”
black tiger (Black Tiger Series Book 1) Page 18