Page 104 of The Blood Crown

“Regardless, she knows the kind of magick Aurelia wields,” Ven continued, his voice detached as he took a step back from Karro to study the map once more. “And she’s smart enough that she’s probably guessed by now why the demons were swarming us.”

“If she knows—" Nira placed her palms on the milky stone, "it’s a question of whether we invite her into this room or whether she’s a liability.”

Karro turned on Nira then, fangs exposed in a tightly-controlled threat as he uttered, “Say what you mean plainly.”

Nira didn’t flinch, didn’t move from the male that towered over her.

“Either she gives us useful information on her father’s court—or we kill her and tie up a loose end.” She looked up to where Ven stood across the table. “She needs to decide which court she belongs to—here. Now.”

Silence stretched, until Ven finally spoke. “Nira is right.”

The muscles of Karro’s square jaw ticked, anger flaring behind his scarlet eyes as he gave a stubborn nod.

The windows in the council room were covered with heavy drapes, the fabric so thick that it was nearly pitch black save forthe flickering torchlight along the walls and the pale silvery glow of the moonstone table at its center.

It didn’t take long for the Wraiths to find Valea and bring her to the chamber, every inch of her pale skin covered with a heavy cloak, the large hood pulled so far down over her face that Aurelia wondered if she'd seen anything more than her boots as she’d been led here.

Red-gloved hands pulled the hood away from the strikingly beautiful face as Ven invited her to take a seat at the milky slab of stone.

Valea did as commanded, her shoulders squared as she marked every face at the table—her eyes landing on Seth.

“The Death Dealer,” Valea whispered, almost reverently if it hadn’t been for the sneer that tugged at the corner of her full lips. “They still tell tales of you in our kingdom. Of how you killed a dozen warriors, half-starved with your bare hands.”

Nira snarled a warning across the table as her twin remained silent, unmoving, ruby eyes locked on the enemy princess.

“It’s a compliment,” Valea answered insolently, her gaze flicking to Nira for only a moment before it landed back on Seth. “Is it true?” Her lips curved, carnelian eyes sparkling as she uttered, “They whisper that you see death before it happens.”

Ven tensed, and Aurelia saw how Karro braced himself—but his eyes were marking Nira and Ven, as iftheywere the threat.

Seth’s expression was a mask of indifference, so still he looked like one of reliefs carved into Ravenstone’s black walls.

“It is,” he answered simply. His voice that quiet calm that Aurelia had come to know was far more dangerous. A knife in the dark that was far deadlier than the blade brazenly flashed.

Valea arched a platinum brow. “And what did you see when you were trapped in that dark, silent place.”

“Not my own.”

The air in the room seemed to disappear as every one of the Wraiths marked the tension. A keg full of powder just waiting for the smallest spark.

Valea’s mouth sharpened into a grin, but whatever was on her tongue was cut off as Nira barked, “Enough!” impatience thinning the Wraith’s lips into a tight line. “You are here at the pleasure of the King, and you would do well to show some respect.”

“Apologies,” Valea drawled, her eyes sliding to where Ven stood.

“You were content to sit at our father’s side for decades, centuries, why leave now?” he asked.

The smirk fell from Valea’s face. “Ask your question plainly,” she ground out.

Ven braced his palms against the silvery-white stone of the table, leaning toward her. “You were a traitor to your king, your people, your kingdom—why should I trust you not to be a traitor in mine?”

Mine.

They all heard the tone he used. The Blood King spoke now—not Ven. Not Valea’s half-brother. Not their father’s son.

A leader in his own right, protecting his own people.

“He may be your father—but you were not raised by his hand,” Valea whispered, her voice cold as she locked eyes with Ven. “Youthinkyou know the monster he is, but you have no idea. The only people left in his court are sycophants and those too cowardly to defy him—”

“Like yourself?” Nira uttered from where she stood to Ven’s right.

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