He laughed, the sound bell-like, and disturbing. “You will kill me, my remembered Goddess,” he said. “You swore you would. But not today.” He lifted his hand, and pulled all the stars back through his palm. “You’d better go,” he said. “Quick. There’s company at the door.”
And just like that, a violent knock sounded above us.
I froze.
“More soturi?” I hissed. “I don’t understand, why are they back already?”
Mercurial smirked. “Why bother to come here at all?”
I glared at the Afeya—of course he’d answer a question with a question. “I know they’re looking for me. But they already questioned Sean and Branwyn.”
“Hmmm, so they did. Personally,” he twirled his hair between his fingers, “I don’t think they liked their answers very much. Besides, old Seany boy isn’t exactly a native of this country—nor without a criminal record. A false one created byDevon, but a record nonetheless. One your current Arkturion would be more than happy to dig up.”
The Bastardmaker. Fuck. But I had my answer. “It’s because he’s Glemarian. Because Rhyan was,” I gritted my teeth. “And because he was associated with me.” They’d be in danger as long as I remained here.
Mercurial nodded slowly, a feline smile spreading across his face. “Exactly. And, they’ll be a bit more thorough than the last time—since they’re out of leads and ghost sightings of you across the city. They’ll come down here this time,” he said. “Tear the place to shreds. Having been named a forsworn traitor by the Emperor himself, your Arkturion’s big brother, I’d run if I were you, Goddess.”
The knock sounded again, and I could hear footsteps coming down the stairs, light, and airy. Branwyn’s.
“Where’s Sean?” I asked, my heart thundering.
Mercurial laughed again. “Oh, Sean’s not here. He left in the middle of the night.”
“What! No! He wouldn’t. He was supposed to?—”
“Wait for you to give him an answer?” Mercurial laughed. “No. Sean’s many things, but like Rhyan, when he senses a problem, he can be a little … impulsive. Couldn’t wait for you. Anyway, I think we both know what you would’ve decided.”
“No,” I breathed. “No.”
Mercurial shook his head. “Sean will find him. I promise you that. He’s one of the best trackers in the Empire. In fact,” he examined his fingernails, changing the color from a cold silver gray, to a vibrant yellow. He flashed them at me, then blew the color off. “Sean was the only one capable of tracking Rhyan down when he was forsworn in the wild.” He laughed. “Your little Emperor should have hadhimhunting vorakh, instead of Lord Tristan.”
I gritted my teeth.
Branwyn opened the door. I could hear the creak from above.
“Move aside, woman,” shouted a soturion.
“Excuse me,” Branwyn said.
“I said, move!”
My eyes widened as I realized that if Sean was gone, Branwyn was alone, and unprotected. And if the soturi were from Ka Kormac she was in danger. Not just for harboring us. But for existing.
“How many?” I asked Mercurial. “How many are up there?”
Mercurial closed his eyes slowly, and tapped his chin. “Five. I think you can handle that.”
I looked at Auriel, and he nodded. “Just give me a sword.”
Mercurial laughed. “I’m surprised. Not trying to ask me for any favors. For any help. For Branwyn’s protection. Or to get word to Sean?”
I gritted my teeth. “I’ll do it myself. If you think I’m going to willingly work with you ever again, then you gravely miscalculated.”
“Choosing to work with me isn’t an option. You’re bound.”
“And Rhyan’s gone!” I shouted. “Considering my bargain with you was to protect him, to keep our relationship hidden, I’d say we’re done.”
He stepped forward, his hand on my heart.
