Page 22 of A Lord of Snow and Greed

Probably not the port then. Vale hadn’t asked me to go to the vampire ship with him, but I planned to. He was in this mess because of me.

“Roar was there,” Saga added. “He looked like he’d struck you verbally, but I don’t know what he said. All I know is that you looked shocked. And furious.” She let out a long breath, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment as if to push out the memory of what she’d seen. “I’m telling you so that you can do your best to stay out of that situation. There was so much blood and my brother was there and I-I can’tlose him.”

My throat tightened, but somehow, I nodded reassuringly. “I’ll be on the lookout for signs that might indicate your vision is coming true.”

“Thank you,” Saga replied, her tone a little stronger, as though she felt better by telling me what she had seen. “I think I’m going to go speak with Mother. Try to calm her, if that’s even possible. Perhaps I can win you her alliance.”

The memory of the queen’s face and her accusation in Vale’s room rang through my mind loud and clear. I doubted Saga could perform such magic, but it was worth a shot. “I’d appreciate that.”

She went on her way, leaving me alone to ponder the vision. A dark place where we were covered in blood?

My hand drifted to my dress pocket, where I sometimes kept the vial containing Roar’s blood, only to find it empty. Right. After servants had delivered my personal effects last night, I’d hidden both vials in a drawer that Vale cleaned out. I hadn’t thought to grab them when the queen arrived and pulled us from Vale’s suite. The blood vials, my insurance against any deceit on Roar’s part, were safe in the prince’s rooms.

Safe. What a novel concept.

The door to the healer’s sanctuary opened. Out came Vale and the others, all pale and damp-faced from the dash through the palace.

“What did they say?” I asked. “Will he heal quickly?”

Or at all? That possibility made my stomach swoop.

“He’s in the best hands,” Vale replied, his voice low and drenched with pain. “But it will be at least two weeksbefore he can resume any sort of normal life. A couple more for his wings to heal all the way.”

I shuddered, knowing what it was like to have mutilated wings. At least the rods that had been in my wings were uniform, the surrounding membrane not torn. Poor Sir Qildor’s injuries were far, far worse.

Vale noticed my reaction and gave a sad nod. “My father drove the whip in hard and deep and it was coated in his magic, which the healers will have a hard time extracting.” Vale shook his head, eyebrows knitting together. “He’s nearly as powerful as he is unreasonable.”

“Careful with your words.” Sian came closer, rustling his honey-brown wings as he moved. “You never know who’s listening.”

“Especially now that you’re a pariah,” Sayyida added, tucking in wings that matched her eyes to better fit into the circle. “Or at least as much of one as a prince can be.” She looked around. “Where’d Saga go?”

“To help her mother,” I replied.

Though she tried to hide it, Sayyida looked a little disappointed. “When are you going to the ports, Vale? I can go put people in place to make sure you’re as safe as possible. Your father won’t offer help.”

Vidar’s eyes widened. “You’ll not be going alone, sister. I’ll join you. Who knows what might break out once Vale delivers the news?”

“Neither of you has to do that,” Vale replied.

“I don’t let my friends run into peril like that without aid,” Vidar shot back.

“Neither do I.” Sayyida nodded at me.

Vale shook his head at her gesture. “Neve isn’t coming. She?—”

“I am,” I cut him off. “You’re in this because of me. I won’t let you run off alone to tell a ship full of vampires that their prince is dead.”

“Because you’ll protect me?” He smirked, and though the implication was obnoxious, my stomach gave a little flutter.

“I’ll do my best.”

“You’re not trained.” He paused and then added, “Which we will be remedying soon.”

Sayyida gave a chuckle. “Maybe not formally trained, but Saga said that she sawNevekill the vampire. She’s not defenseless, oh great Warrior Bear.” She pumped her eyebrows to goad him.

“Thank you.” I winked at her. “And there’s nothing you can do to change my mind, Vale. I understand how dangerous vampires can be.”

The others wrinkled their brows at that. Among those who remained, only Vale knew my secret, but I didn’t elaborate. “I’m coming. You won’t be stopping me.”

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