Page 172 of Crowned In Venom

He notices.

"Interesting."

I don’t rise to the bait.

"The Ghost said you would offer sanctuary." I don’t waste time. "Are we wasting words or getting to business?"

Kareth smirks.

"Always so impatient. But then again, you are in no position to make demands."

He steps closer, and I do not move.

I do not flinch.

I do not let him see the exhaustion dragging at my bones, the ache in my limbs, the way my body screams at me to fall apart.

"You need me," Kareth says, voice lazy, but sharp. "You need a safe place for… her."

His eyes flick to Anya again, lingering.

My rage coils, slow and deadly.

"Say her name," I murmur.

Kareth’s golden eyes gleam. "No."

A test.

A game.

And I am too tired for it.

But I cannot afford to lose.

I exhale slowly. "You want something."

Kareth’s smile widens.

"You’re not as slow as the Matriarch thinks you are."

I grind my teeth. "State your terms."

Kareth steps closer, his presence imposing, but I do not step back.

"I want the Matriarch dead," he says simply.

I almost laugh.

"You think I don’t?"

"Oh, I know you do. But I don’t just want her empire to crumble. I want her annihilated."

His voice is hunger and blood and war.

"When you strike," Kareth continues, "I want to be at your side. I want to watch her bleed. And I want a piece of the ruin."

Of course.

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