Page 27 of Darkest Heart

She arched a dark brow. “You do not like him?”

“I don’t, but no. It’s good that you don’t underestimate my reach. Now sit.” He gestured to the chair that one of his ‘cousins’, as they liked to call each other, sat in. The man quickly vacated, and Ravena sat between him and Erianna. “Messy business, the aniccipere.” He pulled out a cigarette, then stuck a match across the card, igniting the flame. Sucking in a deep breath of smoke, he exhaled a cloud. “But their so-called king can be useful.”

Erianna tensed, white knuckling the hilt of her dagger. “They are vile creatures.”

Salvor leaned forward, his stare boring into her, rooting her to him. “What would you say about us? Also, I’d put that dagger away if I were you. I know what it can do.”

With a sharp inhale, she dragged her fingers over the chair’s arm. I’d never seen her nervous before. Instinctively, I moved behind her chair, next to Zach.

He hiccupped a dry laugh, tapping the end of his cigarette on a glass ashtray. “It seems your friends are quite protective of you, but not their queen.” He gestured to Ravena, who crossed her legs.

I cleared my throat, staring him down. It didn’t matter how dangerous he was. I’d happily have my legs and arms torn off right now if it meant finding my wife. “What do you want?”

His smirk was discontenting. A madness leaked into the edges of his defined features, ready to snap at any moment. “You must be Sebastian Vangard, the prince by marriage,” he added with amusement. “Let the ladies do the talking. Your queen is the only one powerful enough here to give me anything useful, and Erianna can get me any information I need. Normally, she’s not so giving.”

My jaw locked, anger building as I watched his arrogant smile build, but I shut my mouth. Only for Olivia. If he wanted to speak to them only then fine. I’d happily stand by if it meant finding out where she was.

Ravena lit a cigarette of her own, a habit I had no idea she possessed. “Then tell me, what can I give you in exchange for information about my daughter?”

“You assume I know where she is?” His cheeks dimpled, his shoulders rolling back as a hint of white fangs poked out.

“I don’t doubt it.”

He whistled air between his teeth, tutting as he shook his head. “You see, if I tell you where she is, it will break my trust with the aniccipere.”

She knew better than to ask what business he had with them, although I desperately wanted to know. If we knew, then we could counteroffer. Zach side-eyed me, shaking his head gently as if he could read my mind.

Salvor continued. “Businesses are fickle,” he explained, finishing his cigarette. “If I break my word once, then I will be seen as unreliable, and that I am not.”

Erianna interjected. “A girl is missing. She’s barely twenty years old.”

He shrugged. “People go missing every day.”

“Good to know there’s still no heart in there.”

“It’s difficult to when I’ve torn out so many others.”

Ravena’s voice raised an entire octave. “So, this was a waste of fucking time, then. So much for the man who can make any deal.”

She jumped as a loud bang silenced the room. Salvor’s fist connecting with the table, the ashtray shattered over the ground. “Queen or not,” he warned, his face warping with anger, “I will have you killed, and your king will do nothing.” He leaned closer, his hot breath hitting her as he rose out of his chair. “Show some respect, you fucking bitch.”

“You led me on,” she snapped back. “You said I am the only one who can give you want you want.”

His fist connected with her chin, spattering blood from her mouth onto the floor.

Erianna stood, her dagger pointed at him. “Stop!”

His nostrils flared as he turned to her, his men gathering around him. I sped next to her. We couldn’t take them all down, but I would die before I let him hurt her. Ravena wiped the blood from her lips.

“Enough of this.” Zach waved his arms out, the room somehow seeming darker as we looked at one another. “We meant no harm. We’re just trying to find Olivia.” He touched Erianna’s shoulder, and she slowly lowered her blade. Zach continued. “You might not be able to tell us exactly where she is, but perhaps you could give us some direction on where we should be visiting next? I’m planning on taking a trip.”

Salvor exhaled loudly, a growl grumbling from his chest. Slowly, he lowered back into the chair, and Erianna and Ravena did the same. “I want the Elixir of Mortality.”

Erianna and Zach’s eyes both darted to me, then to Ravena. I’d wanted it for years. I’d have done anything to get my hands on it before meeting Olivia. Now I’d give it away in a heartbeat.

“I can steal it from my husband,” she said, raising her chin as if the hit he’d landed on her was nothing. “Tell us where we will… take our next trip. A nice destination, perhaps one in the south?” Her eyes widened, catching onto the lingo they used. “Then I will have the elixir delivered to you.”

He tilted his head, his dark hair tousled as he ran his fingers through it, his forehead wrinkling. He was Aslandian, or at least his heritage came from there going by his bronzed skin and full lips, but his eyes, they were from somewhere else. I’d seen the same color in Salvius, so he was definitely mixed. He glanced at me, his thick brows pulling together. “Why are you looking at me like a fucking whore?”

---