Page 49 of Heir to His Court

They ignored me. Silly Fae.

“I said,enough.”

Heads snapped toward me. No one moved. In the corner, Nora chuckled, glanced up once, then returned to her knitting.

“Lavendre is right. We will take a recess and then return to this conversation,” I announced in the silence. “I want cake, and a bottle of red. Especially if I’m going to die tomorrow.” I pulled in that glimpse of my Dark form, and my talons became fingers again.

“That male is not going to kill you,” Juliette said. “At least, I don’t think he will. On purpose.” She paused, then whispered to Numair, “Should we take bets?”

“Odds?” Tereille asked.

Murungaru gave them a withering look, his arm around Baba’s shoulders still. “No wine, Nya, please. Let me brew you some tea.”

“I’ll make her her tea,” Numair said stiffly.

“No,” my cousin said. “Youhave done enough, and I am about tired of it.” Male gazes clashed. I glanced between them, but. . .no. I didn’t want to know. I had enough on my shadow plate.

“I prefer asphyxiation over beheading,” Nora said, needles clacking. “It makes for a more appealing body to bury. Though less visually striking.”

Ah. . . House Faronne.

I shook my head, and addressed my cousin in Kikuyu. “Everything they say about us is true.”

* * *

Murungaru invited me outside for a smoke—another carrot to forgo the wine. We sat in the courtyard, its gates opened to indicate the house was currently accepting visitors, should they choose to call. I signaled to the guard on duty, and the gates slammed shut.

Much better.

“You're taking your imminent execution well,” Lavendre said, plopping down on the bench beside us. She indicated with her chin, and Murungaru dug out another herbal and handed it to her.

“I think you know why.”

“Yeah.” She took a long drag, having needed no lighter, and gave him a long, up and down look. “I think I missed weed more than anything else.”

Murungaru smiled, meeting her gaze.

“How was the food?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Not bad. Our guards were amenable to a bit of nightly entertainment on occasion.”

“Anyone you plan on renewing your acquaintance with now that you’re out?”

“There was this couple, younger male and his older female bonded. Our energy aligned.” She took another drag. “That’s not a bad idea. I might hunt them down—if I receive no other offers.”

“You should do that. Take care of Juliette and Numair for me, right?”

“Wrong.” Lavendre turned her head, eyes narrowing. “You’re going to spend the rest of the day figuring out how to survive.”

“I murdered his son.”

“So? You think Renaud hasn’t slaughtered people who didn’t deserve to die?” Lavendre stood, her laughter a harsh bark. “I didn’t escape that place just to watch my Lord’s daughter sacrifice herself on an altar of guilt because no one was paying attention while she built it. Juliette said you take every blow too personally, and now I understand the warning.”

“Juliette doesn’t take anything but the wrong wine pairing with dinner personal.”

She shook her head. “Kuthliele madness. Granpére warned me about his highborn cousins, how they choke on their honor. You don’t survive tomorrow? I’m going to blow the House up. How’s that for incentive.” Lavendre leaned down, shoving her face in mine. “You want absolution? You live. You live and you learn what was important to Embriel and you carry on his work. Start at the University.”

I stared after her as she wandered away, my mind on Embriel’s final words. On his instructions. “The years have not made her any more pleasant.”

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