Page 115 of Slaying the Shadow Prince
‘Yeah, the make-up sex will have to wait,’ Wilder added gruffly, his cheeks tipped pink.
A low laugh rumbled from Talemir, and he pressed a kiss to Drue’s temple. ‘Later, then,’ he murmured.
‘Later,’ she agreed.
It wasn’tlong before Drue found herself in familiar territory: crowded around a table, strategies and plans laid out before her with Talemir, Adrienne and Wilder at her side. Her father and Baledor were there too, and Gus, who had rather sweetly appointed himself the unofficial spokesperson for the half-wraiths still trapped in the lair.
Drue and Adrienne watched him, unable to stifle their amusement. The poor boy wasn’t much of a spokesperson, for he was speechless most of the time, staring at Talemir in awe.
Warmth bloomed in Drue’s chest as she spotted the pink tinge to Talemir’s cheeks. He was clearly embarrassed by the attention.
‘We only have a handful of options, as I see it,’ Wilder was saying. ‘Two, if I’m completely honest.’
‘And they are?’ Drue asked, turning back to the matters at hand.
‘We could attack the lair directly,’ the younger Warsword said slowly. ‘Or we could create a diversion, draw them out, and when they vacate the lair, send a team in to rescue your people.’
‘Attacking the lair directly puts those inside at risk,’ Talemir countered.
‘Agreed,’ Drue chimed in.
Adrienne splayed her hands across the map of the island. ‘So we create a diversion. How can we draw them out?’
‘Use me,’ Talemir said without hesitating.
Drue’s heart seized. She only just had him back; she couldn’t stand the thought of losing him again.
But Talemir continued. ‘They seek power. I have theirs and that of a Warsword… I’ll be a beacon to them.’
‘And then what? We’re free to be slaughtered out in the open while a bunch of half-wraiths may or may not be rescued?’ Baledor demanded, before shooting a belated grimace of apology in Gus’ direction.
Gus scowled, his wings twitching behind him.
‘No,’ Talemir replied. ‘When we first entered the lair, I felt all the connections among them…’ He said it slowly, as though he himself were only just putting the pieces together. ‘It’s taken until now for me to fully understand… All wraiths are sired to a reaper. It’s how they were created. From the network of tethers I felt inside that lair, I suspect if you kill the reaper, you kill the wraiths it sired.’
Drue’s blood ran cold. ‘How do we know doing something like that wouldn’t kill you? Kill our own people?’
Baledor spoke again, brushing aside Fendran’s hand as it moved to stop him. ‘Does it matter? It’s for the greater good.’ The older man turned to Gus. ‘I’m sorry, lad, but if you were older, you’d understand.’
‘I don’t need to be older.’ Gus’ dislike was written all over his young face. But tucking his trembling hands behind his back, he turned to Talemir, eyes widening at the warrior’s breadth and wings. ‘Do what you must,’ he said grimly.
Talemir gave him a kind smile. ‘That’s very brave of you, Gus. However, I believe those people like you and me won’t be affected when the sire is killed.’
‘Why’s that?’ Wilder demanded.
‘Because though we accept the darkness, we half-wraiths cling to our humanity with all the strength we have. We are more human than shadow monster —’
‘So you believe,’ Adrienne cut in.
Talemir nodded. ‘So I believe.’
‘But it’s a gamble,’ Drue argued, panic wringing her heart.
‘One we have to take.’ Talemir’s fingers slipped into hers, squeezing gently before he released them to cross the tent to where he’d left his saddlebag.
‘There’s something else on our side.’ He donned a riding glove and produced a crumpled bunch of flowers. He dropped them on the table before her. ‘I know you’d prefer a wraith heart, but I thought these might be more useful in our current situation…’
Dazed, Drue picked up the blooms. They seemed to sing beneath her touch. Her cuff hummed in response as well.
