Page 61 of Throne of Ice and Blood

Relief washes through me. None of the humans were there.

We continue back to the other corridor. But when we get there, the dead body is not the only thing waiting for us.

Rage burns through me when I see Empress Jessina and Emperor Bane standing there with displeased expressions on their features. But that’s not what triggered my anger. Both of them are holding a chain that is attached like a leash to Isera and Alistair’s iron collars. They’re still blindfolded but at least they’re not handcuffed anymore. Though that’s probably only becausethey wouldn’t even be able to move if they were wearing iron shackles as well as the blindfold and the collar. I squeeze my hand into a fist as I watch them sway unsteadily on their feet.

“What is the meaning of this, Draven?” Empress Jessina demands.

Her massive silver wings flare in anger as she drops Alistair’s leash and instead stalks up to Draven. Emperor Bane releases his grip on Isera’s leash as well and follows her. Both Isera and Alistair slump back against the wall.

Draven pushes me towards it and out of the way of the two angry monarchs as he instead strides to meet them. It’s only then that I remember that I’m not wearing the collar myself. If the Icehearts notice that, I’m screwed.

“The Red Hand continued his murder spree while we were allbusy at the banquet,” Draven replies.

This time, the acidity in his tone during the final part of that sentence is loud and clear for everyone to hear. Draven is not happy that they forced him to go to the banquet when he could have spent that time doing more important things.

Jessina flares her wings wider. “You do not take that tone with me. Understood?”

She and Bane come to a halt in front of Draven and draw themselves up to their full height. Both her wings and Bane’s are now spread so wide that they brush the walls of the hallway.

Draven stares them down for another second before he drops his gaze and lowers his chin while he tucks his own wings in tighter in submission. “My apologies.”

“I don’t want your apologies,” Jessina snaps. “I want results.”

“This man was in charge of scheduling all the guard rotations,” Bane growls while stabbing a hand towards the dead body on the floor. “Just getting someone else caught up on all of his charts and lists and schedules is going to take weeks.”

“I know,” Draven replies. “Again, I apologize.”

“If you don’t find the Red Hand soon, we will hold you personally responsible.”

“And you know what that means,” Jessina adds, malice dripping from her voice.

“Yes,” Draven replies, his voice controlled. “And I assure you, I’m doing everything…”

While Draven and the Icehearts continue their argument, I move so that I’m standing right between Isera and Alistair. Then I brush my hands over their arms at the same time. Both of them flinch.

“It’s Selena,” I whisper since they’re still blindfolded. Keeping my voice so low that only they will be able to hear, I continue, “The human resistance has killed again. They’re picking off important people. And I have made progress on the treasury.” I draw my hands down their arms again in a gesture of comfort. “You just need to hold on a little longer.”

To my left, Alistair dips his chin in the briefest of nods to signal that he heard me. I glance towards Isera. She doesn’t replicate the gesture. I blow out a small sigh.

Right as I’m about to move away again, a cold hand grips mine.

It takes all of my willpower not to whip my head around and stare at Isera as she gives my hand a firm squeeze.

She heard me.

My heart pounds.

She’s aware of her surroundings again.

Which means that she is also aware of everything the Icehearts are doing to them.

I flick a glance over their half-naked bodies and the collars and the blindfolds and the leashes. Burning fury sears through my soul, and I squeeze Isera’s hand back firmly.

And I decide, then and there, that just ruining them financially isn’t enough. The humans are going to pull off thisheist. But that is not enough for me. I want the Icehearts hurt. I want them to suffer. I want them to despair. I want a fucking war. I want to make them watch as this whole castle burns to the ground around their heads.

I’m going to turn this whole fucking city against them.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

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