The sorts of things? As if I were running through the city playing pranks. Stealing purses! I’d just been tortured, and watched my best friend murdered, and she was acting like I’d been an insolent brat in need of a scolding.
“I think we sorted him out,” the Bastardmaker said, winking at her, his eyes dipping to my crotch. “We can sort him out more if needed.”
My unbroken hand clenched painfully.
“Well, Arkturion, you must be exhausted. Not to worry, I’ll deal with him.”
The Bastardmaker nodded. “I have one more loose end to tie up here before I find my bed.” My chest tightened.
“Just need to make sure one more time, that your grandson isn’t hiding any dangerous criminals from us. We wouldn’t want that, would we? Not when he’s promised to be a good boy.”
“He’ll comply,” my grandmother said quickly, her eyes narrowing on me.
The Bastardmaker opened his belt pocket, retrieving a single clear stone. White clouds began to fill the center.
One of the vadati stones Lady Kenna had sent us. That one was mine and Galen’s. And it connected us to the other fugitives the Emperor sought. The other traitors of the Empire.
“Time to try this again,” he sneered, his eyes locking with mine. “Hold out your hand.”
I felt like a fucking dog, lifting my palm up, following every order.
He dropped the stone instead of handing it to me.
“Hold it to your mouth,” he said. “And call your friends.”
“You know they won’t answer,” I said. “They know I’m compromised.”
“They knew you were. Now make them believe you’re not,” he said. “Cry. Lie. Blubber like a baby. Just do it.”Or else.I could hear the unspoken threat at the end. The threat he was now openly making in front of my grandmother. “Julianna first,” he barked.
My throat dried as I pulled the vadati to my mouth, and said, “Julianna.” My voice was hoarse and shaking. I knew they couldhear the tears I’d shed underneath. I didn’t even have to act. The stone filled with white fog, and a tinge of blue. Fuck. It was connecting, just like it had when they made me do it last time.
“Again,” the Bastardmaker hissed, his voice low.
“Julianna,” I cried, my heart hammering. “Are you there? It’s Tristan. Please. Please answer me. Please.” Blue light filled my palm.
No. No. No.
“Get her to answer,” the Bastardmaker gritted.
“Do it,” my grandmother hissed, her eyes flashing with anger.
I let out a shaky exhale. “Julianna, I need to know where you are. I-I escaped the Palace. I tried to tell you before, but if you didn’t hear me last time, Galen’s—G-G—” Real tears fell. “Galen’s dead—” My voice cracked. I’d been instructed to tell them, to make sure they knew. And every time I had to say it, it was like the moment was happening all over again. “Please, help me. I don’t know where to go. Where to hide. Help me.” I shuddered, no longer acting. “I’m so scared. Help me.”
The vadati cleared, all the light fading.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
“Keep going,” he said. “Call Dario.”
So I did. The same thing happened. And again when I tried Meera, and then Aiden, the rest of my co-conspirators now. The stone connected each time, meaning that they were together, that they still had at least one of the stones. But they weren’t answering me. No matter how much I begged, how hard I cried, or how desperate my pleas became.
The Bastardmaker wiped his mouth in annoyance, looking between me and my grandmother. “Lady Lyriana,” he said, “call her.”
My throat bobbed. “But she’s missing.”
“So we’ll find her. The little bitch knows you.” He scratched at his arm. “She ran with you. Call her.”
“And say what?”
