Page 17 of Angel Lost

“Cowardlyputa,” Chano snarls. “Won’t fight, but wants to take my Aeternum to the king? Has beenfeedingfrom her as his source?”

He gestures angrily at me. “And the little princess fed in return, I assume. No wonder she had blood left over to redecorate my rooms with.”

Hecate. Chano did pick up on it, did understand. What was I meant to do? I needed blood to feed on, Kai needed emotions. It was a transaction. One I had no intention of telling Chano about.

“Punch out your frustrations all you like, bonehead,” Kai drawls, slowly pushing himself off the arm of the sofa to stand. “A week’s grace is the best she could hope for. And, since you’re so interested in our little arrangement…she seemed to like it. A lot.”

In a flash I’m in front of Kai, straining up into his face. “She has a name, Your Highness. I thought we agreed that was between us, or do royalty not keep their word?”

Kai’s expression softens. He shrugs. “You have a week together. I did what I had to to buy you that,” he says quietly. “I don’t often use myposition as the king’sfamilyas leverage. I hate being associated with him.” His gaze comes to rest on Zephyr, still sprawled on the ground. “Maybe you should stop lounging down there, angel, and make the most of it.”

Zephyr rolls onto all fours with a groan.

“I know you’re one ofthem,” Kai continues. “But she is your allegiance, and the time will go quickly.”

Zephyr’s lip curls. “As an actual emotional vampire, you have nerve to judge others.”

I rub my ash-covered hands together, glancing between them. “Guys! Please.” Then quieter. “It’s only registration, right?”

Chano’s big hand squeezes my shoulder. “A lot of aethers don’t come back,” he says hesitantly. “Especially the women. The stronger women.”

Farrell clears his throat. “With your strength—”

“Shut up, lizard breath,” Chano snaps. “The princeling doesn’t know.”

“That’s just it though. He should.” Zephyr stands slowly, wincing. “You say I’m ‘one of them,’ Kai, but you? You’re one of us.”

My thoughts stall.

Zephyr’s voice pierces my rising anxiety. “I had a vision,” he says. “Kai here, His Highness, is our allegiance. He’s replacing Naeve.”

No.

Kai’s dagger slips from his fingers, but he catches it mid-fall. He clutches it to his chest, then slowly runs his thumb along the blade. “Now that is interesting,” he whispers.

Everyone talks at once, the volume rising to a crescendo of incoherent shouting.

“No,” I mutter, and somehow they all hear me. “No,” I repeat, more forcefully.

“I know what I saw,” Zephyr says.

I slap my hand across his mouth. If he says one more thing about replacing Naeve—He licks my palm and I yank my hand away.

“Zephyr!”

He smirks, tossing his blond hair over his shoulder. “You don’t need to like the stupid fae being allegiance, but you could ask for his help.” Zephyr hesitates. “I can’t foresee anything about the aether registration, Lorelei. Nothing at all. It’s a weird blank.”

The normally languid smile is gone from Zephyr’s face, leaving only a hardness there.

“His Highness has helped quite enough,” I snarl. “Your vision was wrong. End of story.”

“If you won’t trust me,” Kai says slowly, “If you think I’m not good enough for your precious allegiance, then I won’t help. After all your sob sessions, drinking fae wine, talking about these idiots, drinking my blood…and it’s me you don’t trust?” He slams his dagger into the center of the still-smoking sofa. “I made sure those angels didn’t take you away today.”

I stare at the vibrant multicolored rug, and edge toward the door, following Chano and Farrell. “Thank you, I think. But I didn’t ask for your help then. And I don’t want it now.”

Kai’s scowl darkens. “I know you said thank you, but what Iheardwas fuck you.”

Zephyr slumps to the ground beside the scrying pool, and I fling myself onto the cool tiles beside him. The light on the surface of the water sends reflections dancing across the ceiling of the classroom. It’s entrancing…but Zephyr stares solidly ahead. I don’t need to ask. He’s not seen anything, again. Not even with us feeding him power.

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