Page 33 of Claws of Death

She is right. It’s so delicious I close my eyes as the filling slowly melts on my tongue, bringing forward notes of blackberry and apple. There is pear in the mix, too, and cinnamon. My Crow senses delight in the experience so much I don’t notice Clio froze Myron’s pie as well—and he didn’t pull up the fickle shield he’s managed since his escape from prison to block what he could have mistaken for an attack. I’d have felt his power flowing. I always do.

“You never offer to freeze mine,” Tori complains, much to King Recienne’s amusement, who smirks at his general. “That’s because you don’t deserve frozen filling.”

“You still mad at me for losing your sister?” Tori flashes his teeth, and I could swear a hint of bloodlust shimmers in his auburn eyes.

“I’m mad at you for a lot of things,” Clio interrupts the conversation before the Fairy King can respond. “Especially for not kicking Recienne’s ass and leaving it up to Ayna.”

My heart skips a beat as I wonder if this is the moment where everything goes sideways. Myron is so tense once more I can feel his magic push against my tattoo as if trying to escape there if he won’t allow it to leave his body otherwise.

But Recienne just laughs. There is no hint of discomfort in the gesture, no fear, nor aggression. He is genuinely amused, and this seems to be normal for their dinner conversations. What I should think about it, I’m not certain. All I know is that I’m relieved we’ve gotten through dinner without escalating anything.

And it’s been such an amazing meal. Only, time is running out, and I can’t wait any longer to discuss an alliance. If Recienne won’t help, we’re on our own. There are Crows in the Seeing Forest who have no idea what is coming for them. We need to warn them and prepare for whatever is coming for us.

It takes all my courage to speak up again, but this is for my people. Both of them. “Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty.”

Recienne inclines his head. “It was a pleasure having another human holding magic at my table.”

The comment makes me curious enough to want to ask about theotherhuman. If he means his queen. But the alliance is more important. If things go well, I might have time to meet her after all.

Steeling my spine, I take another bite of pie. Chew. Swallow. “Erina has improved the process to produce the magic-nullifying drug. If he manages to equip a human army with it, he’ll be unstoppable.”

The air in the room changes so fast I nearly choke on it, but Myron and Astorian are right there with me, throwing in their knowledge as we recapitulate what we’ve learned about Erina’s plans and Ephegos’s involvement.

“The Flames will fight at their side,” Kaira adds. “Jeseida, their Matrone, is still bitter about the loss of her lands in the Seeing Forest, and with Ephegos as an adopted son of sorts, she’s probably already dreaming of a Flame kingdom.”

Recienne listens to all of it, studying Royad and Silas as they add details about the effect of the drug, the cruelty of the Tavrasian king, then listens to Herinor as he lays open as much as he can about what he knows about Ephegos’s involvement without losing his life over it. Herinor in particular captures the Fairy King’s attention like no other in the room. Be it the no-nonsense attitude or the way he claims to be a warrior even when he’s obviously good enough to be a king’s confidant.

“Tell me, Herinor… Where do you believe Erina will strike first?”

Herinor doesn’t flinch under Recienne’s scrutiny, merely shakes his head, golden-blond strands dancing around his face. He’s shaven, making the scars on his features stand out even more. What he’s done to earn them, I yet need to learn.

“I have no idea what the human king will do. And I’m unable to say what Ephegos will do.”

Astorian frowns at him, as do Clio and Kaira. I’m not disappointed, though. I’ve been on the receiving end ofHerinor’s restrictions before, so I know not to expect his aid. But this is fresh for them. He’s helped them all before. Helped them so he didn’t need to help me. Speaking of Ephegos’s plans directly, however, seems to be beyond his ability, and I really don’t want him to die. He’s valuable even in his unpredictable ability to assist. Plus, Kaira likes him.

“Hey, I heard that,”Kaira complains in my mind, and I can’t help but smile.

“Good. Perhaps it’s time you acknowledged it and did something about it.”I don’t add that Herinor might be more inclined to put his life on the line with every word he speaks if he believes Kaira will reward him for it, but the expression on Kaira’s face tells me she heard me anyway.

“Assuming I’m willing to work with you, what can you contribute?” Recienne’s tone is all business as he turns to Myron, disregarding Herinor like he’s no longer part of the conversation.

For a heart-stilling moment, Myron and Royad exchange a glance, making Andraya and Pouly shift in their chairs as they wait for the magical beings to put their strength on the table.

“If the Flames haven’t gotten them, there are eighteen more Crows hiding in the Seeing Forest.

“Eighteen…” The Fairy King muses. “Eighteen Crows against a human army.”

“An army who can level the playing field in a heartbeat if they hit us with their weapon,” Royad supplies, and I’m surprised by the impatience in his tone. He’s disliking the Fairy King’s demeanor as much as Myron and Silas—even when Silas hasn’t said a word, I can tell. His posture is tense, hisexpression that of a male ready to stab someone if we don’t get to the point soon.

I’m right with him.

“Eighteen Crows at full, ungodly power,” I cut in. “They might be worth fifty of yours.” I shouldn’t be provoking a king who has a history of locking up my Crow in a forest, but if we don’t make progress soon, Erina and Ephegos might stand at our doorstep by the time we make a decision whether working together is worth it.

“She might be right.” No one is more surprised than I am when Recienne agrees with me—to a degree, but it’s not an objection to my statement.

Of course, Tori catches right on. “If we have eighteen Crows, each worth fifty of our own soldiers?—”

Recienne holds up a hand. “Let’s test that theory first.” His gaze swings from Astorian to me, to Myron. “And if you’re right, we’ll come up with a better plan than open war.”

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