Page 37 of Only Cold Depths
“Oh, yes. The members of the Erzton ruling council, myself included, have our spies in the Imperium, just as Holloway has his spies in the Erzton,” Aldrich replied. “We have been aware of Holloway’s actions for quite some time—ever since he started taking your parents’ power roughly thirty years ago.”
Kyrion jerked back as though the other lord had just punched him in the throat. A muscle twitched in Kyrion’s jaw, and his hands clenched into fists. Siya drifted closer to Aldrich, her hand dropping to the hammer hanging off her belt. Rigel remained along the wall, although his eyes narrowed, like he was calculating whether he could tackle Kyrion before the Arrow attacked the lord.
Kyrion ignored the other warriors, his icy gaze squarely on Aldrich. “Youknewwhat Holloway was doing to my parents?”
The lord nodded. “I did.”
Kyrion’s fists curled a little tighter, his knuckles standing out like white knots against his skin. His cold, dark fury vibrated through the bond, stealing my breath and chilling me to the bone.
“You could have offered my parents sanctuary. You could have offered them the same chance you are giving Vesper and me. You could have given them some bloodyhope.”
Even though he was much shorter, Aldrich still managed to peer down his nose at Kyrion. “Hope has nothing to do with truebonds, and it has absolutely no place in politics. Business is business, and it’s a mistake to attach personal feelings to such things. The Erzton does not get involved in Imperium matters, and vice versa.”
“And yet here you are, offering us sanctuary,” I cut in. “So what’s changed between then and now?”
Aldrich looked at me. “You helped my stepdaughter save Erztonian lives and property. The Caldarens did none of those things. You are also standing here before me, on Sygnustern, not halfway across the galaxy on Corios.”
“So what you’re really saying is if we hadn’t helped Asterin defend the Regenwald Resort, you wouldn’t be offering us shelter now?” Kyrion laughed, but it was a low, ugly sound. “Funny how Erzton law is so very flexible.”
Aldrich’s eyes narrowed, but Kyrion glared right back at him.
“What happened to your parents was a tragedy, Lord Kyrion. Truly,” Verona said in a serious voice.
“But?” he growled again, turning his icy glower to her.
“But don’t compound it by refusing our help now. The past is the past. We cannot change it, no matter how much we might wish to.” Verona’s face softened with sympathy. “All we can do is move forward together into a brighter future, but the choice is yours.”
“And what is thischoicegoing to cost us?” I asked.
Verona arched an eyebrow at my snide tone. “We don’t charge credits, if that’s what you’re asking.” She paused. “But future favors are always appreciated.”
I huffed. In other words, the Colliers would help us now, with the true cost to be determined later as they saw fit.
Kyrion looked at me.I don’t trust the Colliers.
I don’t trust them either.I hesitated, but I finally gave voice to the thought that had been haunting me for the last few weeks.But we both know something is wrong with our bond. We need help if we’re to have any chance of stabilizing our connection. If we don’t master our magic, we’llneverbe able to stop running.
Some of the icy fury trickled out of the bond. Kyrion’s fists loosened, but his stance remained tense and watchful. Together we faced the Colliers again.
“Excellent,” Verona chirped in a bright voice. “I’m glad all that unpleasantness is settled. The two of you must be exhausted after your long journey. I’ll show you to the guest wing, and you can get something to eat and rest up. You are both also invited to attend the marriage mart House Collier is hosting tomorrow night.”
“What’s a marriage mart?” I asked.
“A long-standing Erzton tradition, although this year, my father is hoping to bribe someone from another House to marry Asterin,” Siya said in a snide voice. “Since my stepsister didn’t manage to snare a husband while she was flitting about all those Regal balls on Corios.”
Asterin bristled, and a hot blush scalded her cheeks, although I couldn’t tell if it was from anger, embarrassment, or both.
Verona ignored the tension between her daughter and her stepdaughter and turned to Leland. “Has everything been prepared for our guests?”
The chief of staff nodded. “Yes, my lady.”
“Good.” Verona gestured at us. “Lady Vesper, Lord Kyrion, please follow me.”
The Erzton lady swept out of the library. Asterin glared at Siya a moment longer, then followed her mother. Siya remained behind, along with Leland and Aldrich, and the three of them huddled together and started speaking in soft voices. Rigel also remained behind, still leaning against the wall. He hadn’t moved or said a word the entire time we’d been in the library.
Kyrion grabbed his duffel bag off the floor, spun around, and headed after Verona and Asterin. I picked up my own bag and followed him, trying to tamp down my growing sense of dread.
Bounty hunters, corporate mercenaries, Zane Zimmer, Callus Holloway, and a whole host of other enemies might be waiting outside the Collier estate, but I had a sinking feeling that just as many dangers were lurking inside this bright, glittering castle.
