Page 27 of Blood On His Lips

I returned the smile.

“Aerinne,” Renaud murmured. “I will not intervene if you attempt to kill my cousin—his life is yours if you have the power to take it. But perhaps there are more pressing issues at hand than your entertainment.”

Baroun watched me for a long, frigid moment, then nodded toward my father. “No slight was intended. You are human, but your tenure has been competent. If not for your daughter, Montague would have sought alliance.”

My father smiled while I blinked in astonishment at the apology, ignoring how Baroun shamelessly threw me under the bus.

I turned my glare on Renaud. Was hereallygoing to let his cousin blame the entire feud on me? The Prince squeezed my arm.

“Of course, High Lord,” Baba said. “I took no offense, but my daughter has yet to learn what requires response, and what is inconsequential.”

I suppressed a smirk. He'd returned Baroun's insult with one just as cutting, but in a smart way, a way that wouldn’t get the House in trouble. I really did need to take notes.

The Montague smiled, amusement in his gaze before the expression faded and he glanced down at the kneeling warriors. “If Lady Aerinne won't be moved to execute them for the attack on her life, know that there is a traitor in your House working with Sivenne.”

He gestured, and a palace orderly approached my father, bowed, and handed him a sealed document. “The transcripts.”

Baba nodded, handing the documents to Édouard, who immediately broke the seal and began reading, no surprise in his manner.

I turned on Renaud. “Was that part of the useful information you extracted?” I didn't bother to soften the demand in my voice with deference. “You said they weren't Montague.”

“And they are not. Someone is testing me. As I have said, and as you have guessed.”

I raked Baroun with an overly thoughtful look.

“My cousin was the first I questioned,” Renaud added.

Not even the Prince could be ruthless enough to have tortured his own cousin. I glanced at Baroun, his slightly paler than normal face, and revised my opinion.

“I want to watch next time.”

But my tone was half-hearted. Baroun deserved death, but not the indignity of torture. He was a noble enemy, not some lowly thug.

“My halfling,” Renaud said in his velvet purr, “next time I will allow you to participate.”

. . .Right.

This was one reason why I steered clear of the Courts. Betrayal, or possible betrayal, was always met with heinous cruelty I didn't want to experience or be forced to visit on another.

This discussion of torture didn't seem to faze the former regent. Baroun's smirk widened as darkness crawled behind his dilated pupils. Were all High Fae psychopaths?

Another rhetorical question.

As much as I loved my father and my House, I couldn't imagine accepting my own torture at the hands of my Lord so calmly. I didn’t know if that increased my respect for Baroun or just revealed how deep his own madness ran.Montagues.

“And we are once again diverting from the subject.” Renaud gestured.

“I'm not going to kill them,” I said, voice flatter than their combined moral compass.

“Your soft heart will lead you astray.” He tilted his head, fixing a displeased gaze on the three.

Their already colorless faces turned ashen. An ice and smoke breeze fluttered the tips of his long hair, a faint rising glow rose underneath his skin, pale eyes slowly brightening to death by azure lightning. I tasted of copper in my mouth and ran my tongue around my teeth. There was no blood.

“I will not suffer traitors or assassins, my halfling.”

I shunted aside a useless surge of primal fear. But I knew for certain. . .Renaud was the monster that hid under beds.

A fitting mate for you then,Darkan said, his mental voice slithering through my mind.

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