The woman, Vassori, shared a grin with Xoran. The captain settled back on the sofa, his white teeth a deep contrast to his swarthy complexion.
“Sister? You look nothing alike!” Croak said, his voice shrill in his ears.
“What’s the matter, Croak? You don’t think she’s as pretty as I am?”
“I thought Serephina was your sister?” Croak replied with a mulish mien as he regarded the captain warily.
Vassori snorted while Xoran grinned. He winked at the tracker. “Serephina’s a lover. Never my sister.”
“You fucking snake,” Terena hissed, hot color flooding her face.
Croak smiled. It would delight him to no end to see his sister tear the bastard’s head off.
The captain shrugged, not realizing how close to death he stood. “I needed a way inside and Serephina was more than willing to oblige. Of course, I had to put up with her incessant whining about how it should be her son on the throne ratherthan Empress Adanna’s, but that only proved another useful bit of information I’ve been able to use against the little imbecile.”
“You’re not taking me back,” Terena said, inching forward to stand slightly in front of Croak. “You’ll die before that happens.”
“Stand down, Luca,” Xoran sighed in a bored voice, waving one of his burn-scarred hands. “I’m not here to take you back.”
“What is this, then?” Rydon growled, his voice low. Croak knew from experience it did not bode well for the snide captain.
“I have a proposition for you,” the captain answered, his black eyes not wavering from Terena.
“Another proposition? You and your sister are indeed cut from the same cloth.” Terena asked.
At the same time, Rydon shouted, “We don’t want shit from you!”
“How’d you even know we’d be here?” Croak asked. “Do your spies extend to Hermes’s court?”
“Court! Ha!” The tracker, Vassori, snorted. “He’s got nobles now?”
“I meant that… figuratively,” Croak grumbled.
“The how isn’t as important as the why,” Xoran drawled. He dipped his chin and looked at Terena again. “Isn’t that so, goddess?”
“Are you going to tell us, then?” Terena spat. “Or are you going to sit there all night looking pleased with yourself? What do you want?”
The captain clicked his tongue and dropped his gaze. Lifting his goblet to his lips, he looked up at Terena over the rim and said, “Vassori will pledge her sword to you, and only you. In exchange?—”
“Vassori already said?—”
“I said I’d come with you,” Vassori interrupted. She moved her knee to nudge Xoran’s. “But I will not pledge to you until you’ve agreed to my brother’s terms.”
“Let’s go,” Terena muttered, sheathing her swords and motioning to Rydon and Croak with her head. Rydon backed away, his sword still out as he watched the captain and the tracker. Croak shook his head, putting away his sword as he stepped back to follow Terena.
“Would you listen if I told you I can get Sonah Yahn back to you?”
Croak closed his eyes and tipped his head back.
“Terena—” Rydon started to say, his hand splayed on her bracer but she put her hand over his, her eyes on Xoran’s rat-face.
“You think to manipulate me,” Ren said quietly, her words carrying an edge of power she’d only begun to show in recent days. “You cannot. Even as we speak, Sonah is on her way here. I will find her in Calla, soon.”
Terena pivoted, and Xoran’s next words made Croak groan.
“Aye, you’d find her. But perhaps you’d rather not see Commander Antonius. I know you two were… something. And now…” he shrugged again, the smug bastard.
Croak swung around to his sister. “Don’t listen to this snake. He’s feeding on your?—”
