Page 238 of Lady for Embers

Alaric released the rest of them from his magic as he sneered at the Avonleyan Hand. “And then there is you,” he spat. “Offspring of the dragon master.”

Razik gave him the same insolent, bored expression he gave everyone else. Alaric almost appeared to bristle when Razik didn’t say anything in response.

“I see you learned the work-around for the Wards if you are on this side of them,” he ?nally continued.

Now a cool, amused smirk tilted on Razik’s lips. “From my understanding, our princess tricked you into using the work-around to free our allies.”

Alaric’s dark eyes narrowed. “That idiot girl repurposed the Avonleyan Keys.”

“That girlisan Avonleyan Key. The one to let us out, in fact. I guess that makes you the idiot. You sent her right to us. I suppose a thank you is in order for that.” Then Razik shrugged lazily. “But I’ve been told a fraction of what you did to her, so I’m inclined to say fuck you instead.”

“You lie,” Alaric seethed, and Ashtine let out a small whimper as the Marran Prince’s ?ngers dug into her arm.

Razik’s spine snapped straight at the sound, smoke ?owing from his nostrils. Gone was the indifference. But he couldn’t do anything. He could obviously shield against Alaric’s power—had trained with Cethin extensively on how to do so—but it was eating away at his magic, and he was the only one who could Travel them out of here. And if he tried to attack Alaric, he risked all of their lives. None of them cared. They would all give their lives for Ashtine and those babes, but Alaric wouldn’t go for them ?rst. He’d go for her, and they all knew it.

“What other matters need to be discussed?” Razik demanded.

Alaric cleared his throat, watching the dragon shifter warily. “The matter of the mortal heirs you house.”

“You cannot have them. What else?” Razik said, and Cyrus had to work to control his reaction at Razik speaking so ?ippantly to the male.

“You misunderstand,” Alaric said smoothly. “If you wish for your companions to live, you will need to bring me the other two mortal kings in exchange.”

“You will keep six males and a female hostage for two mortal kings?” Razik asked, arching a brow. “Get your head out of your ass. That is not a fair exchange. A life for a life. That is what we are doing here, isn’t it?”

Cyrus whipped his head to Razik because what the actual fuck was he doing?

Alaric stared back at Razik, and Cyrus could swear he seemed almost rattled.

“Well?” Razik pressed. “Are we negotiating or not? Choose wisely though. I am only entertaining one offer.”

“Who are you?” Alaric asked, his eyes narrowing again.

“Right now I am the one you are negotiating with. Do you want the mortal kings or not?”

Alaric’s mouth pressed into a thin line before he said, “Fine. Two lives for two lives. The two Water Fae stay behind.”

“No.”

Alaric blinked. “No what?”

“No. On behalf of Avonleya, I reject the offer,” Razik said. “We keep the mortal kings, you keep the Water Fae. Kill them. Whatever. Truth be told, I like the mortal kings more than them anyway.”

“What?” Briar and Cyrus said at the same time.

“It seems your companions disagree,” Alaric said with a sneer.

“My companions are not Hand to the Avonleyan King,” Razik snarled in reply, straightening to his full height. “You have bartered with them and stated your terms for the Wind Princess. If they follow through, you will already have one mortal king. The other mortal kings are also in my kingdom, under our protection. One of them resides under my king’s rule. If you want them, you negotiate with me. Which we already did. What else?”

“I need a Fae Queen or getting into the prison is pointless,” Alaric gritted out.

“And? I thought you knew Scarlett was not actually Fae,” Razik replied.

Alaric inhaled through his nose as if he were trying to control himself. Scarlett had said more than once Alaric was a patient man, but when he ran out of it, it was never good. He was still gripping Ashtine, and her skin had taken on a greenish hue now, as though she were going to be sick.

“You are trying my patience, dragon,” Alaric said tightly.

“I don’t give a fuck,” Razik returned.

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