Page 13 of Sanctuary with Kings

"Yes. My house, which is underherrule, Conall. You know this."

I rose from my chair, Marius mirroring me, and stepped aside so I could peer out the open door to watch the trio.

Conall and Asterion both easily towered over Isabel, but her spine was straight and her chin was high as she glared up at them. I knew she didn't like me, didn't like my presence in the house and the fact that it brought Asterion and Marius inside, but I did admire her bravery against these powerful beings.

"Birsha's men are looking for this house. They suspect we have her now. The wards are up, but you know sooner or later, they'll find a crack," Conall said to Asterion, and there was no wild play in his tone or his hard expression now.

Asterion sighed, and Isabel's hands clenched. "I told you," she hissed.

"They will not get in," Asterion said slowly.

"Ast—"

"They will, and when they do, I know exactly where you'll be—protectingher. Not the others. And I'm sure Birsha's men know the same," Isabel said.

"If we lose the divinity—" Asterion started, and the word and its heavy meaning sent a shiver down my back. It'd been alongtime since anyone had called me that.

"It's bad enough that you come and go. Thathedoes," Isabel said, pointing into my room. She glanced in briefly and caught my eye, and the spite on her face was tucked away as she blinked at me. "And now you can't keep yourdogout of the house," she added, turning the glare back to Conall.

My eyes widened and Conall growled in answer, baring fangs.

"Isabel," Asterion warned.

She carried on, undaunted, "But he'sright. Eventually, Birsha's men will hammer at this house long enough. Or they'll find a spy, even a woman—a possibility you all are extremely blind to—and someone will get hurt. I've heard you say it: you're spread too thin."

I licked my lips and gave up any pretense of not being a part of the conversation. It wasaboutme. I reached the door and stopped as they turned their attention toward me.

"Please, don't worry—" Asterion started.

"Was the house in danger before I arrived?" I asked, gripping the handle of the door just to hold myself steady.

Conall and Asterion glanced at one another, and it was Conall who spoke first. "Birsha can find new whores easily enough. You are rare."

"No," Isabel answered me, more direct and honest, her arms crossing over her chest. "We have guards. Ones who stayoutside, but there's been no threat."

I nodded and turned to Asterion, whose brow was already furrowed. He'd taken his glamoured gloves off before dinner and hadn't put them back on to enter the hallway.

"I should leave," I said.

"No," he answered without pause.

"The other women—they're afraid of me too, aren't they?" I asked next.

Isabel's lips pursed. "Only that you bring them to the house," she said, glancing at Asterion and Conall.

"Youmuststay safe," Asterion pressed, inching toward me, still too gentle to reach out and clutch me.

"We could…take her to Wales," Conall said, and he smiled for the first time, winking at me, a sizzle of attraction answering the glance.

"They're not ready," Asterion said to him.

"Laszlo's no slouch. And sincedarlingIsabel can't stand the sight of us, you and I might come and go from there. We have a few other names we can call to London to fill our spots. And there's nothing out there. Less of Birsha's lot to hunt her, easier to hear news of strangers in the area. Easier to see them coming too."

"And the danger of traveling? Of taking her back out into the open now that we know they are searching for her with us?" Asterion asked.

"But it would be a danger only to me, instead of to all the women here, wouldn't it?" I asked.

Asterion's nostrils flared and he exhaled roughly. "A danger to you may amount to a danger to many others in the long run."

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