Page 91 of Of Nine So Bold

After all, Casimir was just as obsessed with Gwyneira as the rest of us. I had plenty of evidence of that. Hell, ever since Byron’s magic brought her back after our run-in with those corrupted apple trees, the vampire had been watching her with an almost feral level of concern whenever she wasn’t looking.

Even if the rest of us were gone, he would defend her no matter what.

I let out a slow breath, grateful to have a plan, even if it was a final one. No, it wasn’t exactly the end I’d imagined for myself. I’d figured I would die in battle, or perhaps as an old man.

But if it was the last thing I did in this life, I would make sure Gwyneira survived.

“Ozias.” I turned back to my friend. “How close to the surface could you get us?”

His eyes narrowed as he studied the cavern ceiling overhead. “Not close enough to break through.”

“But close enough for vampires to pass through?”

He met my gaze. Over the years, he’d often kept his own counsel, rarely speaking more than a few words at a time. ButI’d never been foolish enough to mistake that for a lack of intelligence.

My friend knew exactly what I was thinking.

Unfortunately, my treluria did too. “No,” Gwyneira protested immediately. “I’m not leaving you all down here to?—”

“Only for a short time,” I cut in, knowing it wouldn’t be anything of the sort. “Then we?—”

Niko put a hand to my arm, stopping me. He placed a finger to his lips with a wary look. Drawing closer, he whispered, “Ignatius said the guards have ways to hear us down here.”

ThesefuckingAneiran?—

A crackling sound came from the wall, but not like stone breaking. More like miniature lightning fizzling along the stone. “Attention, prisoners.”

“And they have a way to speak to us too,” Niko murmured with a dark look at the walls. “They don’t use it much so no one has a chance to figure out where the spells are placed, but they’re always watching in case?—”

“Your disobedience brought this punishment upon you.” The voice boomed out from the stone, echoing around the cavern in a dizzying fashion. “You have one chance to avoid being left to die.”

This couldn’t be good.

“Do you see the humans in your cell?” the guard continued. “They and their beasts are vicious killers and traitors to the crown. The queen promises if you kill them, we will free you. But be warned.” I could hear the smile in the guard’s voice. “The woman is the most dangerous of all. Be sure to destroy her at any cost.”

My friends drew in, circling Gwyneira immediately. Around the cavern, the giants rose, staring at us.

Fuck.

24

MELISANDRE

Hiss-clicks carried through the company of Voidborn, whispering over the miles, telling me what I already knew.

The Nine had been neutralized.

Just as I’d promised they would.

Smiling to myself, I didn’t look away from my study of the map on the table before me. It wasn’t just territories and national boundaries I saw. No, my mind overlaid the ley lines atop it all, while I played out the strategy of where to take next.

The provinces were mine. True, a few still held out. Lord Thomas and his annoying Duteliera remained obstinate. For some unknown reason, he kept his people behind the city walls and burned any tree that I sent up through the ground, almost like he’d gotten warning of the threat they would present to his precious free will.

“That sillylordcould be in league with your stepdaughter.”

I ignored Alaric’s voice coming from the shards of glass on the carpet.

“She probably sent word to him somehow,” the irritating bastard pointed out.

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