Page 73 of Blood On His Lips

I stilled, holding up a hand when Numair glanced at me and began to speak.Survive you?

I am the least of our worries.

Frustration seared me.Why don’t you cut out the cryptic horseshit and just tell me?

Becausetellingyou is never how you’ve learned anything, Aerinne, not from the time you were seven and Itoldyou not to jump off the cliff. If it were that easy—

I’ve come to you. I’ve offered to submit, to negotiate—

Nowhisfrustration crackled through the bond. But his emotions were darker, edged, informed with eons more knowledge and power. All I could do was fume. Renaud could do so much more.

And do you think someone who truly wanted your subjugation would sit around nicely waiting for you to parlay? Have you forgotten the attack the other night? Or are you so used to attempts to destroy your soul and take over your body that it meant nothing to you?

I paused. I hadn’t forgotten, precisely, but the threat in front of me had seemed more immediate.What do you want me todo? Give me the syllabus, Raniel.

You are Everenne’s last line of defense. Protect your people, Aerinne Kuthliele, without sacrificing your life. If you can.

“Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.” I kicked a wall, swearing, then reined it in when I caught a glimpse of my family staring at me, wide-eyed and silent. The air sparked around me, lightning and shadows.

That was new.

Fine. I’m willing to learn, Darkan. We don’t have to do this the hard way.

We will see.His skepticism saturated my mind and then he was gone.

His fear was taking shape, circling back to the name he did not want me to speak aloud. That threat, and Renaud’s current game, were related. This wasn’t some tantrum because of a thwarted mating claim.

Édouard turned to me after he finished talking to Wyvenne. “Lord Étienne is secure outside the city.” His black eyes cut me. “You had the last contact with the Prince. Report.”

I gave a concise summary of events, and my conclusion. “You’re certain Baba is secure?” If I were the Old One, my father was the first person I would take hostage. What better fire in which to immolate my perceived weakness?

“He was secure when we left him,” Tereille said. “And you know the drill. They will move his location at regular intervals. No one but he and his guard will know where he is after the hour is gone.”

I nodded. “I need to return to the Prince. The only way out of this is through it.”

“No,” Édouard said.

I clamped down on my first response. “The Prince will only negotiate with me. We have no hope of using force. I have to play this game with him.”

“Do you not understand that it's a trap?” Édouard growled.

“Renaud doesn't want my death.”

“No, he doesn't. That's why you're not thinking clearly. As soon as he has what he wants, your attention, he'll kill us all.”

I pursed my lips, scanning the assembled people. Spotting a cousin, I lifted a finger. She trotted forward and bowed.

“Can you give us silence?” I asked.

She nodded and cast her power, enclosing the six of us in a soundproof circle. She was one of the only warriors in Faronne with that affinity. Édouard must have conscripted her in case she proved useful.

I looked at Édouard. “Your assessment doesn’t match the events. I think your judgment is clouded.”

If it were just Renaud I was dealing with, I would agree with the commander and stay away. But I wasn't just dealing with Renaud, I was dealing with Darkan. With Raniel. “The situation is a little more complex than you think.”

“Then enlighten me, Lady. Tell me what I'm missing.”

Numair, Juliette, and I exchanged looks.

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