Page 83 of A Sky of Emerald Stars

“When we reach the other side of the forest, I should contact Briar,” Maez said. “Last we spoke to Calla, we were here to make allies. Now we’re going to steal from them.”

“Surely Calla knew our chance at making allies disappearedthe moment Luo agreed to my marriage to Tadei without my consent?” I asked incredulously, and Maez snarled at the thought. “Exactly.”

“The way these Wolf Kings think they can trade us around like sacks of grain without even our knowledge,” Maez growled. “The Moon Goddessherselfchose Briar for me and me for her. Why hasn’t the pack risen up against Nero for this deal with Evres?”

“I don’t know.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Fear of his retribution? If Nero says the Goddess made a mistake, who amongst the pack would lead the charge against him now that we’re all gone?”

Maez’s hands balled into fists. “I thought our families wouldn’t be so cowardly.”

I thought about my father and uncles, mourning the family I lost, one that I was just beginning to realize I never truly had to begin with. There was no loyalty to me. There was no loyalty even to the Gods. They only scrambled to save their own tails from Nero’s wrath. They manipulated and abused to uphold the power of their King, and yet even the highest ranked among us lived and died by the whims of a system that was never designed to serve the many, but only the one.

“So Luo gets me, Nero gets Briar and a million Valtan gritasandan army of Onyx Wolves to help him take the rest of the continent,” I said, craning my neck up to the high canvas ceilings as if searching for an answer.

“And I’m certain Nero promised to return Luo’s money tenfold when they take Olmdere,” Maez said. “Though I don’t see the greedy bastard splitting his mines with Valta anytime soon. Maybe he’ll cut them out entirely once he gets his hands on it.”

“I would almost count on it. And Taigos?” I mused. “What will the country in the middle of all three do?”

“Survive. It depends if Calla is successful or not in persuading her, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Queen Ingrid will do as she’s always done,” Maez observed. “Be impartial to protect her court.Let whoever the strongest and baddest ruler is at the time dictate who enters her kingdom.”

“Which is almost certainly not the Golden Wolves,” I grumbled. “I know Calla is doing everything she can to rally Ingrid to her cause, but I don’t think the Ice Wolf Queen has anything to give but empty promises.”

“You’d think she’d at least try to protect herself from Valta,” Maez said. “She was once promised to Luo, you know. He still feels jilted about not possessing Taigos if rumors are to be believed. With his alliance with Damrienn, he’ll be able to take it from her.”

“Too afraid to fight back until it’s too late,” I said. “Which is why we have to get this vase from them now.” My gaze slid to Navin. “We can’t let anyone possess such a powerful weapon, least of all our enemies.”

“Only if you can pull off this ruse.” Maez let out a sharp huff.

“How long does it take you to locate and steal a vase?”

Maez shrugged. “How long can you hold a smile without a knife in your hand?”

Sadie

“I look like a pumpkin,” I grumbled, staring at myself in the mirror. I wore a light flowing gown in a shade of deep orange that ruffled and cascaded down around my body doing nothing to accentuate my figure but rather hide it.

“Like a royal pumpkin,” Maez countered as she finished tying my hair back in a matching orange scarf. “Besides, do youwantto entice any of the Onyx Wolves? Here.” She added the cream-colored veil over the top, the beads and lace obscuring my face. “This will buy us some time. Tadei willlovethe idea of being the first of his court to gaze upon your face.”

“It’s an archaic old Wolf custom,” I muttered.

“So is selling off brides to the highest bidder. We’re okay with playing that game, so let’s be okay playing this one. It strokes his ego,” Maez said. “And gives me more time to set up our escape plan. Navin will present you to the court and ask for his bounty. Youwalk slowly. Draw this thing out.”

“I can barely see through this thing,” I snarled as I pulled the veil off and set it on the kitchen table. “One belt of knives under the dress. Just one—”

“Nope,” Maez said, holding up her hand. “You are a damsel in distress. Tadei is your knight in shining armor who is saving you from your human captor. Just follow the plan. Indulge theKing and his brother. You’re the one who is so adamant this vase can’t be in enemy hands.”

I curled my lip. “Fine.” I shimmied back out of the dress, stepping out into just my undergarments right as Navin walked through the curtains.

He froze, only his eyes moving to rove my figure for a split second before he cleared his throat and turned around. “Sorry,” he said, “I have the rope to bind your hands with.”

“Maez.” I cut her a look. “Didn’t you say you wanted to contact Briar?”

“I can’t feel her in my mind,” Maez muttered. “She’s not in her Wolf form right now.”

“Still,” I pushed. “You should shift one more time anyway.” I play-punched her in the arm. “We want you to be strong and ready.”

“Stick to the eastern side of the jungle, though,” Navin said, jutting his chin in the direction of the trees we were parked beside. “Stay in the thickest parts. If the trees start thinning, you’re too close to the edge.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Maez looked at me and then Navin and then back at me before grumbling, “To be clear, Navin, you want me to go not too far, but far enough not to hear anything.”

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