Page 111 of Ruthless, But for Her

Margot opened it and Cassia was startled to find Leif there.

Suddenly, she realized... he was more than just the ship's captain.

“The boys are ready. I won't be joining you. There’s a matter aboard The Einar that needs my attention.”

Margot closed the door behind them and they made their way to the Map room, but before he turned toward the stairwell, Leif whispered to Cassia, “I’m glad you’re back to stay.”

With a smile, he left and Cassia followed Margot.

When she opened the door, the expression on Ashton’s face immediately grabbed her attention.

Something was wrong.

Very, very wrong.

CHAPTER 60

Ashton

The boy’s report was worse the second time Ashton heard it.

“There were close to thirty when I left,” he said, standing at the opposite end of the map table. Mud covered his boots and leggings nearly to the knee. A dark stain ran along his sleeve, but he'd already assured them the blood belonged to another man. “Could be more by now.”

Sorren moved around the table. “Mounted?”

“A few. Most came from the south road. They pushed our men from the Toll before they could mount a defense.”

“And casualties?”

“Edmund took a blade to the arm. One other was hurt. None were dead when I left.”

Ashton looked to Ryker.

Neither mentioned the obvious. The boy had left hours ago. A lot could happen in that time.

The door opened and Margot walked in first, with Cassia just behind her. She wore one of Margot's gowns, belted tightly around the waist, her hair braided neatly behind her. Ashton would have preferred to have a moment to appreciate the transformation. Instead, he watched her expression change when she saw them.

“The Reach?” she asked.

“Aye.”

“De Grey?”

“We cannot know for certain,” Ashton said.

Ryker snorted.

Cassia came closer to the table. The map laid out everything de Grey wanted to take from them. Mere's End, the northern road, the Toll and the narrow stretch of land they'd invested nearly everything they had into securing. It wasn't much to look at on parchment.

“Last time was a test,” Ashton said. “This is not.”

Sorren nodded. “He wants to hold it.”

“Then we remove them,” Ryker said. He made it sound remarkably simple.

Cassia glanced at Ashton. He knew what was coming before she opened her mouth.

“I am coming.”