Kin by Lili St. Crow

pool. Water lapped; she swallowed the sound and realized he meant Cami.
    â€œF-fine. What exactly happened?”
    He shrugged, nice and easy, but his gaze came up over Cami’s shoulder. The warning was clear.
    Don’t talk in front of strangers
. “Tell you later,” he said. “I’ll get you some coolers, then, if de Varre over there won’t snitch to her grandmother.”
    â€œShe would
never—
” Cami began, hotly, but he laughed and tugged gently at a lock of her long black hair before vanishing down the path leading to the house.
    â€œHe likes pulling your chain,” Ruby observed. “So, the Canisari? They’re pretty reckless. At least the younger ones.” For a little while she’d had a crush on one of them, but that embarrassment was something she’d take to the grave.
    Family and kin didn’t mix. Except Cami, and her. They were exceptions all over, weren’t they.
    â€œOh, yeah. So’s Nico. He’s getting better, though.” Cami turned, standing in the shade of the poolhouse, and her eyes were a blue glimmer. “Ruby, can I ask you something?”
    â€œAsk away.” A long, luxurious stretch. Maybe she’d avoided the rocks. If Nico came out, Cami wouldn’t question her about Gran or Conrad or anything else. They could do the old familiar dance, Nico trying to get a reaction, Ruby giving him one, Cami keeping the peace.
    Just like always.
    â€œDo you really like this Conrad guy, or is it just what you have to do?”
    Nope. Not past the rocks yet. “Talking about it is
boring
, darling. Leave it alone.”
    â€œOkay.” Cami came back, picking her steps with care on hot concrete, and Ruby suppressed a sigh.
    The pressure mounted until she had to speak again. “It’s just a betrothal. It’s not the worst that could happen,” she added. “Really. Trust me on that.”
    Cami paused, looking down at her. In the sunshine, she glowed, an alabaster statue. Her swimsuit—white, one-piece, she’d stopped wearing cover-ups all the time—was rapidly drying. “You d-deserve more than that.”
    It’s sweet of you to think so
. Another smile. “Thanks, Cam. It’s getting hot. Race you to the pool.” She was off the chair and halfway to the water before Cami laughed and bolted after her.

ELEVEN
    â€œ I ’ M HOOOOOME !” SHE CALLED INTO THE COTT AGE ’ S cool, dark interior. “Did you miss me?”
    No answer, but the house didn’t smell empty. Gran was inside.
    Great. Had she been supposed to sit here and babysit Conrad? Had he decided to go back to New Avalon?
That
would be just grand, wouldn’t it.
    The lights were on in the kitchen, and Gran was at the table, bolt-upright. Her hands were folded, and Conrad was there too, leaning against the counter near the sink. His expression was indecipherable, sun-eyes gleaming under the electric glow. They hadn’t had dinner yet.
    It’s not my day to cook. What’s going on?
“Gran?”
    â€œRuby. Sit down.” The lines on Gran’s face were graven a little deeper today. Instead of one of her housedresses, she was in her office wear, a black silk shell and tailored pants, a summer-weight wool blazer draped crookedly over the back of her chair.
    It wasn’t like Gran to hang something up that way. Especially her work clothes.
    â€œWhat’s going on? What happened?” She glanced at Conrad, but he was no help. He just stood there, staring at her. Was that a smirk? It couldn’t be.
    â€œSit down.”
    â€œI want to know what’s happening.” She folded her arms, her stomach turning into pure acid. “You said I could go to Cami’s today.”
    Did Gran’s mouth pull itself even tighter? “And if I call her, no doubt she will confirm you were there.”
    Hot injustice, then, but she supposed Gran had a reason. She’d caught Ruby