Hermes draped an arm over Sonah’s shoulders, the heavy appendage making her dip a little as she scowled up at the god.
“Come, Terena. Your sister awaits.”
Still, Terena did not move. Sonah made to remove Hermes’s arm, but it was like trying to move a boulder.
“If it’s me you want,” Terena called out, “I’ll come. But only if you let Sonah go.”
“Where is the tracker?”
Terena’s eyes narrowed. “Who?”
Hermes leaned forward. “Don’t be coy. She was with you in Ravos. Bring her here.”
“Vassori’s gone,” Ren said in a loud voice.
“What?”
Ren shrugged, her eyes shifting to Sonah. Giving her a small smile, her sister turned her attention back to Hermes. “You’re surprised? She betrayed me. And she also has the Amulet of Kaïra. How did she know where to find it, I wonder? Perhaps you told her? Was that your plan all along? Why you wanted me to find her?”
“I was ready to forgive you for your insolence back at Ravos,” Hermes snarled. “But I cannot forgive incompetence. I wantedyouto find her because she askedfor you!” He stepped off the dais, hands balled at his sides.
“Well, now she’s gone and so is the amulet.”
Hermes looked like he might faint. Sonah edged away from him.
“Vassori has the amulet?”
“Aye,” Terena said, her gaze shifting to Sonah. “And someone who can wield it. The real Sonah Yahn.”
“Impossible,” Hermes said, his face slack.
“And yet,” Ren scoffed, spreading her arms as she sneered. “Cassandra has seen it.”
Hermes’s head snapped up at that, looking beyond Ren, searching the room. “Bring the seer forward. Now!”
Sonah’s gaze caught on the blonde woman struggling against her captors as they brought her toward the dais. Ren lunged for them, grabbing hold of the woman’s hand before they were torn apart by more of the god’s soldiers.
The woman was thrown to the ground, her sharp cries loud in the cavernous room. Rydon shouted and sprang forward, as did Ren. Both were stopped before they could reach her.
The woman raised terrified eyes to Hermes when he stepped forward to loom over her.
“Hello, Cassandra,” Hermes murmured, his silken voice soft. “What a surprise to find you here.”
The woman averted her gaze.
“You’ve seen the amulet?”
The woman nodded. “Aye.”
“And the woman who has it? Is what my niece says true?”
“It is.”
Hermes threw back his head and laughed.
Startled, Sonah looked over at Ren, who frowned at the god’s mirth.
“Well. We’ll deal with that shortly. For now…” Hermes gestured to some of his men.
