Page 50 of Dragons' Bride
"No, he's just an asshole."
Ettienne stares at me for a moment then throws his head back and laughs. “I do like you, Kitterny,” he says once the mirth runs its course. “If only you were born as something else.” Standing, he dusts invisible specks off his thighs. “In return for your delightful insights, allow me to share some news that is certain to please you. I have decided to honor my sons’ original agreement.”
My mouth opens. Closes. I hadn’t thought my argument would work, not really. And yet… “I will compete in the Equinox Trials?” I say breathlessly.
“Stars, no. But you may claim the prize of victory nonetheless.”
“I don’t understand, my liege.”
“Freedom, Kit. The reason you started down the path with my sons to begin with. I’m giving it to you with no trials required.” Ettienne walks me back to the door, but now turns us in a different direction down the corridor.
"There is a carriage waiting for you outside the stables,” he explains as we walk. “Inside, you will find a pack with suitable attire and food. The driver will take you to a village about two weeks' ride from here and provide you with funds to start a new life. You may remain there for as long as you wish, or secure passage back to the human lands. Few ships make the trip through the rift, but it does happen. You may even undertake the long voyage to the northern continents, where I hear Queen Lera has a soft spot for mortals, having once been one herself. The only requirements are that you make no attempt to return to the capital, speak of what happened these past weeks, or make contact with any of my sons. Should you violate those rules, you will be put to death.”
I stare at the king in incomprehension, the words penetrating slowly through me. “I’m free?”
He sighs in exasperation. "I’d have thought with the humans’ limited lifespan you lot wouldn’t be quite so repetitive.” Ettienne motions toward the two guards who now approach. “Yirel and Jared will take you from here. I wish you a long and prosperous life, Kitterny. Should we ever meet again however, you will find a very different reception.”
25. TAVIAS
Tavias grabbed Hauck before the male could yank open the door that closed behind Ettienne and Kit moments ago. It was just in time too, because one of the guards already had a knife at a girl’s throat.
“Is this one not to your liking then, my princes?” the guard said with steel subservience, the blade he held never wavering. The pale-faced blond human shook like a rabbit, silent tears already flowing rivers down her face. The guard inclined his head to Tavias. “Shall I cull her and be done with it?”
Stand down,Tavias ordered into Hauck’s mind.Ettienne will kill her if you don’t.
Hauck, who was fortunately less drunk than he appeared, growled, but backed away. The guard released the girl and slunk back into the shadows, as far from Hauck as the room allowed. He knew Hauck was a breath away from ripping his throat out and didn’t fully trust Tavias from keeping it from happening. But Tavias would. He had enough wits about him to keep from murdering innocents. Just barely, but enough.
Fury roared inside Tavias as he surveyed his brothers. Hauck now had a white-knuckled grip on a wooden chair, which was quickly sprouting roots into the floor. Cyril had quietly maneuvered himself between Hauck and the door, a precaution against further outbursts. He was calm. Always so rutting calm. Quinton lounged against the wall, shadows seeming to dance around him. A lone assassin whose missions always ended in death anyway.
“We will discuss this with Ettienne when he returns,” Tavias said, his voice betraying nothing of the thunder inside him.
“And if Kit is dead by then?” Hauck demanded.
“Then we’ll have one less problem on our hands,” Quinton said coolly.
“Quiet,” Tavias barked. Kit had been out of the room only a few minutes and they were already falling apart. Turning on each other. The threat of violence vibrated the air for a heartbeat and Tavias wasn’t sure he’d be able to contain the rage in the room, to keep his brothers from destroying each other. “He won’t kill her. Not yet. He wants our cooperation.”
No one had a reply to that. They were still standing there in silence when Ettienne returned a quarter hour later and swept his eyes over the pack. He shook his head at Tavias, disappointment dripping from his features.
“I’m aware of the bargain you’d made with the human,” Ettienne said.
“Freedom in exchange for her participation in the Equinox Trials. Am I correct in this?”
“You are,” said Tavias. “Where is Kit?”
Ettienne’s lips thinned. “It disgusts me to know my own sons schemed to sabotage our people’s sacred right.”
“Where is she?” Tavias demanded. Despite everything he’d shamed Hauck for, magic was already building up inside him. His wings threatened to erupt. If Ettienne hurt her… There would be no palace left by the time he finished that sentence. No palace, no pack, and very likely, no heir apparent. A growl he couldn’t contain rose in his chest and he didn’t need Cyril’s warning glare to know that lightning danced along his skin. His control snapped. His voice rose. “Where is she?”
“Kitteny is alive and well,” Ettienne said, unphased. Confident. “The shame you brought is not her fault. She has no history here. No loyalty. No bloodline.” Each of Ettienne’s words landed with a sting. “I would not punish her for your misdeeds. In fact, I did quite the opposite. I granted the girl that which you four dangled before her. Freedom.”
Tavias’s breath caught.
Ettienne continued into the room, inspecting the three kneeling maidens as he spoke. “Yirel and Jared are taking Kitterny to safe lodging. When I left the girl, she was contemplating returning to the human lands. What happened here?”
The last question was directed to the droplets of drying blood on the first maiden’s throat. The young woman still bawled silently, though she made no move against Ettienne’s manhandling. He released her without waiting for an answer and moved to the next.
“She accepted my offer gladly, if that matters to you,” Etienne continued. “Strangely enough, being free of four dragon fae who intended to put her through pain, torment, and near certain death was an easy sacrifice to accept. And I will now tell you the same thing I told her. There is one rule. One offense that will cause her life to be forfeit – contact with any of the four of you ever again.”
