Chapters (51)
- Title Page
- Copyright Notice
- Dedication
- PROLOGUE
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- EPILOGUE
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- Also by Adrienne Young
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- Newsletter Sign-up
But everyone in the room had to know what that really meant. She’d start with gems. As her coffers grew, so would her inventory. Smaller traders would go under and she’d be there to pick up the pieces. In no time, she’d own the Narrows.
“Shall we call for a vote?” The master of the Unnamed Sea Rye Guild stood, tucking his hands into his gold-lined pockets.
The masters each gave hesitant nods and my hands curled to fists inside my jacket pockets, my heart hammering. She was going to win. She was going to get everything.
I took a step forward before I could change my mind, my skin going cold. But as my lips parted, the door at the back of the pier flew open, filling the room with bright sunlight. I blinked furiously, my eyes adjusting to see a sharp silhouette moving through the crowd.
“My apologies.” My father’s deep voice resonated throughout the room, and I let out a painful breath, swallowing. “I’m late.”
The Unnamed Sea Trade Council eyed Saint suspiciously as he made his way up onto the platform between the tables.
He didn’t look at me as he walked to his chair, flinging his coat out behind him before he sat. “Now, what have I missed?”
THIRTY-NINE
No one looked more shocked and outraged than Holland. She was carved from ice beside me.
“We’re due to vote on Holland’s proposal to open her route to Ceros,” the Gem Guild master from the Narrows answered. She looked almost relieved to see him.
“Ah.” Saint pulled the pipe from his pocket, rubbing the smooth chamber with his thumb, as if he was thinking about lighting it. “That won’t happen, I’m afraid.”
“I’m sorry?” The surface of Holland’s flawless calm suddenly cracked.
Saint leaned forward to meet her eyes down the line of chairs. “You won’t have that merchant’s ring on your finger much longer. It would be a shame to waste parchment on a trade license.”
Holland squared her shoulders to him, fixing Saint with her murderous gaze. “You have got to be—”
“I’d like to submit a formal charge.” Saint stood back up, taking hold of the opening of his jacket with one hand.
A streak of bright red streaked up from his collar to his chin. Blood. It looked like he’d tried to wipe it clean. And I didn’t see a wound, which meant that it wasn’t his.
“Against Holland and her licensed gem trade operation.”
“And what is the charge?” the Gem Guild master from the Unnamed Sea screeched.
“Manufacturing and trading gem fakes,” Saint answered.
A collective gasp sucked the air out of the room, and the Gem Guild master from the Unnamed Sea sprang to his feet. “Sir, I hope you understand the gravity of this accusation.”