#Chapter 32: Blazing Suspicion

Aldrich

“Nothing!” Cathy peeped, propelling over to me before delicately snatching the piece of paper from my hand.

I looked at her incredulously. She took the note and buried it deep in the pocket of her trousers, where she sheathed her dagger. “It’s a personal note from my sister,” she said, and the polite buoyancy in her tone indicated she was lying. When she was overly kind, she was lying, as if she was guilty to be doing so. If it actually was a note from her sister, she would be nasty that I was picking it up.

I only stared at her, my jaw tightening. The hurt at her surreptitious, nervous behavior settled into my bones. After being away for so long, I predicted a warmer welcome. And especially less secrets between us.

“What is going on?” I demanded, raising my tone. She merely raised an eyebrow at me, annoyed at my volume. It was a habit I used as authority over my soldiers, and forgot it was not a tactic for her.

“I guess you didn’t hear me right,” she