Page 86 of Marked By the Dark Lord
I shrugged, not caving.
“You attacked my men,” she said. “On my land. They are considered an extension of my persona. Given your status within House Duloke—whether you like it or not—that could be seen as an act of war.”
“So, go to war then,” I said bluntly. “It doesn’t benefit you in any way. Even with Kraw’ok in charge, you’re still weaker, albeitonly barely. You might be able to use your superior intellect and experience to outmaneuver him, but it would have to be by enough to win swiftly. Otherwise, they will grind you down.”
The Dark Lady leaned back, crossing her legs with a flourish. “Your tactical analysis is impressive. Even for one gone so long.”
“I like to stay informed,” I replied.
“I could use one such as you.”
I laughed. “Just kill me now. Your offer is generous,” I added to assuage any insult, “of that there is no doubt. But I do not wish to live amid a den of vipers who would sooner see me dead than use my help. Thank you, but no.”
“Then what shall I do with you? In the past, I have had others executed for such offenses.”
Taking a deep breath, rolling my head from side to side, I locked gazes with her. “You could try that,” I said, the barest hint of a challenge underscoring my words. “But you know as well as I do that there’s no guarantee you would win.”
The Dark Lady might have an edge in raw power, but she had sat on her throne for a long time. Her combat skills were not up to par. Not enough, I would wager, to offset the power differences between us.
“I must do something,” she said. “I would appear weak if I let such a thing slip by.”
“Of course. Youcouldtry to have me executed,” I said slowly, a plan forming. “Or …”
“You have an alternative suggestion?”
“I might,” I said. “Mila is a half-breed. Of your house.”
“Yes,” the Dark Lady said tightly. “Her appearance raises many questions. The potential that a traitor is still amid my ranks is … irritating.”
“Then let me rid you of two problems,” I suggested, not quite able to believe that I was thinking of going ahead with the plan.
Not because it wouldn’t succeed. There was a high likelihood I could pull it off. That wasn’t it, but rather what my pulling it off would mean.
For Milaandme.
“I’m listening,” the Dark Lady said, leaning forward as her lips curled upward in a wicked smile.
And so, in slow terms at first, but with growing confidence, I set the future of Mila and myself into stone.
I just had to hope she was interested in the idea.
Chapter Forty-One
Mila
One thing I had learned about the Great Houses of the Fae was that Duloke was supposed to be the strongest, “most grand” of them all. That was what I’d been told by several people. If that were the case, I had to wonder how.
“Talk about depressing,” I muttered as we stepped through a portal into a dark-lit hallway, the walls and floor barely visible. Far in the distance, a single torch flickered pitifully, its light struggling to keep back the dark. The walls were dank, and I was sure if I reached out to run a finger along them, they would be covered in slime. “You live here?”
Kraw’ok sniffed haughtily. “Idon’t.”
“Ah, we’re in the dungeons then, are we? Dank, dark, and depressing. Got it. Gonna throw me in a cell and forget about me until I’m nothing but bones?”
The head of House Duloke looked down at me. I shivered, trying to shove aside the eerie similarities between him and hisbrother. There was no mistaking them for anything but brothers. Korr’ok was taller, more muscular, and with less of a hatred-filled sneer permanently etched onto his face, but the jaw lines and strong, straight nose were clearly family traits.
“Do you ever stop running your mouth?”
“Not until it’s fit,” I snarked back under my breath.
