“You’re focusing on the wrong things. Forget the logistics ofhow. What’s done, is done, and we made it back alive. Thank the Sisters. We should be talking about the army of Forgotten.About the fact that dreadbeasts are real, and we were forced to bring one down.”
She reached into the ether and one of its talons plunked onto the center of the table, wobbling back and forth as it settled.
“Who would go to such lengths to get us down there? What was their point? Whyus, and why now?”
The silence as Caius, Faldir, and Lyriat stared at the jagged spike—the others doing their best to look anywhere else—was one of the most gratifying sounds she’d ever heard.
“You want to uncoverpolitical subterfugeand find your imposter? Then start asking the right questions.”
Brand pulledthe quilt up around Luna’s chin, tucking it around her shoulders.
“I have to check on Fern,” she mumbled, the words slurred.
His heart flipped, eyes pricking. Half-asleep and dead on her feet, and she was still fighting. Only for others, though, never herself. It bothered him, even as a wave of pride swelled.
“Nyri and Bal are with her.” He pressed his lips to her forehead, tempted to linger. “Close your eyes. Rest. Your wellness is just as important, and you’ll need it to help her, yes?”
Her reply was a vague series of garbled sounds, and she was fast asleep before he straightened.
He wanted to stay—to stare down at her slack face squashed against the pillow, fingertips tangled in glinting strands of hair that refused to be tamed, and spend the night wondering what he’d done to deserve such a creature—but Magnus was waiting.
For what, Brand didn’t know. He’d been prowling out in the corridor for the last quarter hour, refusing to take the hint andgo away. Instead, the impatient ripple of his brother’s predatory power continued to seep under the door, demanding attention.
Whatever he wanted had better be bloody fucking important—and nought to do with that travesty of a meeting.
His hand trailed over her leg as he walked away. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
He slipped out of Luna’s room, the door latching softly behind him, and turned to his brother.
“What the fuck was that?”
Brand called on his remaining patience, rubbing a palm along one horn. “An unfortunate example of the hazy power dynamics between Imperials and the realms they serve?”
“Don’t get fucking cute with me, you wee shite,” Mag growled, pushing past him and stalking down the corridor. “That was a mess down there, and you know it. Come on.”
He did. If not for the note he’d spotted on Luna’s nightstand, he’d be raging his way back to the great hall and plowing his fist straight into Lyriat’s face. “All is not as it seems. Let’s leave it at that.”
“Ach, you don’t say. Was it Lyriat’s new personality, or theimposterpart that tipped you off?”
“Very funny,” Brand deadpanned, raising a brow. “Where are we going?”
Mag ran a hand through his flaxen hair with a sigh. “In case you were looking to add to the nonsense, the first of the messengers has returned. Well, aside from the one sent to fetch Caius, obviously.”
Brand’s heart kicked up. He’d put the messengers out of his mind, knowing the responses would take more time than he had the mental space to worry about. The odds that the first would come back tonight, after everything… Fucking uncanny.
What were theymissing?
“Which realm, and what did they say?” he asked, nodding to the guards as they pushed into the great hall.
“See for your damned self.”
The rich scent of grilled fish and roasted vegetables hit him, the fare passing by on large platters. Most of the Horned City was probably having supper down in the square, drinking and dancing as anticipation for the Occurrence reached a fever pitch, but the hall was still swarming—except for one empty corner.
“Vann?”
A warm grin spread across Mag’s face in answer.
The Demons closest to Valandyrian aht Bordoroth, Second Imperial Son, gave him a wide berth, lost somewhere between awe and unease. They were well aware of who was among them—hence the sharp murmurs and wary looks being tossed over their shoulders in his direction.
