Page 43 of A Fable of Riddles and Redemption

The protective note in his voice warmed her to her toes.

“You would be one of the guards assigned to her,” Captain Firmin told Herrick. “Given your relationship, you’re more invested than most.”

Zorina’s eyes bulged, and she stared at Herrick. He, in turn, merely clenched his jaw, neither confirming nor denying his senior officer’s claim.

Duke Armand grinned, apparently taking his lack of a response as an affirmation. “Precisely. You would be well-looked after, my dear. Our men will be there, and they will be armed.”

She scoffed at that, even as fear twisted her stomach. If the Maestro had magic—particularly black magic, as she believed he might—then how well could the guards really hold against him, even with their weapons?

As much as she wanted to help bring justice to the fiend who kept ensnaring women, could she really put herself on a silver platter for him? When she suspected she was his true target?

What answer could she give?

The Maestro wanted a mage…one who looked like…her.

Zorina could not betray her own magic by making herself so easy to abduct.

“Assign guards out in the forest because it makes sense,” Herrick said. “But using a young woman as bait? Unacceptable.”

Duke Armand shrugged. “Miss Nova lives out there anyway, and may very well be the next woman on his list. We simply ask for her help in trapping him.”

The duke’s words echoed in her mind. If the Maestro was indeed looking for her, having guards stationed around nearby could help…

Or would they? Their presence may only make things worse…

And if the Maestro had not yet set his sights on her, this scheme would put her directly in his crosshairs.

Was that a risk she could truly take?

Zorina turned to Herrick, who sat very stiffly with every muscle tight. “Herrick?” she asked quietly. “What would you do if you were me?”

Herrick gazed down at her, his green eyes sparking with emotions she could not name. “If it were me, I would play the decoy. But I don’t want that for you.”

She frowned, confused at the double standard. “And why not? Why would it be fine for you but not for me?”

His jaw clenched again and he said no more, but both the duke and the captain shared satisfied grins.

“I believe I know the reason for that,” Duke Armand began. “But I will let him confess it in his own time.”

Heat washed over her at the all too obvious insinuation.

“Now, will you be our decoy, Miss Nova?” Captain Firmin asked once more.

Zorina shook her head, making a decision at last. “No.”

Herrick released a pent up sigh as if relieved, though no other response revealed itself in his countenance.

“No?” The captain frowned before leaning toward her. “You realize that you may be the best chance we have at catching him?”

With another shake of her head, she said, “If the Maestro uses magic to lure his victims to him, your guards will not be able to do anything to stop him—especially if it’s black magic. And if we foolishly throw someone as bait to him when she isn’t the one he’s searching for, it will only incur his wrath. Add guards to the picture, and it’s even worse. No, it’s not worth the risk. Surely you can find a better plan.”

Herrick nodded along as she spoke, making his opinion clear, though she still wondered why he’d be willing to put himself in that position but not her. Did he not think her capable of handling it? Or did he want to protect her? Everything in her hoped for the latter, despite her insistence that she could take care of herself. His words and actions did seem to imply that motivation… But was it because he was a guard…or because he cared?

“Agreed,” Herrick said. “Shall we call Madame Giry to set you up in a room for the night?”

“No, thank you,” she said, despite the temptation to stay nearby within the castle walls. “But you may escort me home instead,” she added with a smile.

One corner of his lips turned up as he stood, holding out a hand to assist her. She took it and let him lead her safely home.