Nico snorted. “If you expect the Council to handle this, the cobra will slither free as he always does. I say we finish it ourselves, send a clear message to those who might be inclined to hurt innocents.”
Bane whispered, “We should not be the ones to take Azure’s life. That right belongs to the Dire Wolf, for it was his mate that has been harmed. Our goal should be to incapacitate and capture.”
“No one will take anyone’s life. We represent the Creator’s law, not our own vengeance,” Roan chided.
Nico pointed at Callon. “Does he look like he’s in a mood to dispense fair, even-handed justice?” At Roan’s exasperated look, Nico shrugged. “Face it, Cat Boy. If Azure dies accidentally falling on my knife, no one’s losing sleep over it.”
“Except Gage,” Bane insisted again. “The honor belongs to him.”
“Don’t call me Cat Boy.” Roan’s words held a hiss, which Nico thought sounded very cat-like indeed. He felt the jet begin to descend. “We’re here. Let’s just focus on finding him first.”
Nico gazed out the window as they flew low over a sprawling vineyard. Rows of grapes stretched out in endless undulatinglines.So the Silkies fancy themselves vintners as well as cloth peddlers now?He huffed under his breath. Once they had Azure’s location, the Council could handle the politics. Nico was here for the hunt and the kill. Justice would be served; he’d see to it one way or another. The snake king had hurt Nico’s people for the last time. And if the law refused to act, well, the Kingdom of Chaos had their own kind of justice.
The jet rolled to a stop on the vineyard’s small private runway. As they disembarked something sinister in the air clung to Nico like oil coating his skin. He gave a little shake, attempting to abate the feeling. Eventually, it dissipated. He looked up and saw a tall woman with dark hair pinned elegantly atop her head. She approached, flanked by two guards. Her dusky skin seemed to glow from within, and her amber eyes were sharply intelligent.
“Prince Callon, Bane, Shamans Nico and Roan,” she greeted them formally. “Glad to see you’ve arrived safe and sound. Welcome to our kingdom.”
Nico inclined his head. “Lyric, should I remind you that this isn’tyourkingdom? We are, of course, beholden to the Council first and owe loyalty to them before our respective assignments.”
The shaman heard a scoff next to him and looked over to see Roan cutting his eyes at Nico. “You are one to talk,Shaman.I don’t think I know of a shaman more devoted to his kingdom.”
“Chaos suits me.” Nico shrugged. “It’s just a happy coincidence that I was assigned to the best kingdom.” He turned his attention back to Lyric and eyed the woman. He was impressed with the power that shimmered around her slender form. Nico had always admired the strength she exhibited in their meetings, never caving to something she didn’t agree with. Lyric was bold and outspoken. Here was someone who might actually prove helpful in the hunt, or be a potential hindrance if shewasn’ton Team Take Azure Out Now.
A knowing look entered Lyric’s exotic eyes, no doubt understanding at least a little of what he thought. They’d known each other a very long time.
Nico grinned. “Let’s skip the pleasantries and petty posturing among kingdoms, shall we? We have a snake to catch.”
Her face didn’t change as he said the words, not even a twitch of her cheek. She had no “tell.” Nico’s grin widened. “Oh, yes, this could prove very interesting indeed,” he said, more to himself than anyone around him.
“Nico,” Roan snapped. “Can you not act like a weird psychopath for once?”
Nico raised his eyebrows, pulled one of his smaller blades from the thigh sheath, and began spinning it. “I’m just trying to make the best out of an unpleasant situation.”
Roan scowled. “Well, stop.”
Nico could tell Lyric was studying him, and her earlier amusement had faded. “You seem quite eager to spill blood, Nico.”
Nico chuckled. “Blood, guts, innards of any kind. I’m not picky, as long as those that deserve death get their opportunity to fall on my blade. The Kingdom of Chaos always collected on its debts, and the snake king's tab is long overdue.” Nico sheathed the small knife, humoring Roan’s request.
“But a true hunter knows patience.” Lyric turned, gesturing for them to follow. “Come, we have much to discuss.”
Nico ignored her words as he fell into step beside Callon and Roan, with Bane pulling up the rear. Lyric led them from the airfield toward a sprawling villa covered in flowering vines. The grounds were immaculately kept, fountains and benches artfully placed along wandering garden paths. It was breathtaking, and a tad ostentatious.
“Many view the KOS as hedonists obsessed with beauty and pleasure.” Nico wondered what Lyric saw on his face that madeit necessary to bring up the subject. Was he that readable? “They forget that silk must be spun and vines pruned to thrive.” Her eyes flashed knowingly. “Appearances deceive, especially here in the Kingdom of Silk. The spiders must be subtle to survive.”
When Nico looked closer, he realized there were hundreds of spider webs all wrapped around the vines. And within those webs were a multitude of captured insects.
“The Kingdom of Silk has no problems with insects damaging their crops. It’s one reason they’re among the most profitable vineyards in the US. You’ll find that King Aurelius and Queen Athena prefer to stay out of the drama of the other kingdoms. They like to focus on their own people, thriving without having to fight any others. I, of course, support their stance.” Lyric shook her head. “Getting mixed up in undignified business, such as that undertaken by Azure… Well, that’s not KOS’s style.”
“Undignified is putting it nicely,” Roan told her.
Nico appreciated the disgust in Lyric’s voice as she spoke about the serpent king. Perhaps she hadn’t drunk the Azure Kool Aid. Though he wouldn’t be so quick to cross off the Kingdom of Silk royals. Maybe some didn’t remember the time before they left Damaria, but Nico did. He remembered the alliance between KOV and KOS. He wasn’t fool enough to think there wasn’t still a remnant of cooperation between the two species, even if five hundred years had passed. Call it paranoia, or just the gift of an accurate gut, but Nico would bet his blades on it, and he loved his blades.There’s something spinning in this kingdom, and it’s not just the silk.Okay, now he was thinking up ridiculous metaphors. This acting sane thing that Roan wanted Nico to do was going to be harder than he thought.
Once inside, Lyric showed them to a solarium decorated in bright silks and plush cushions. A table laden with refreshments awaited. She pointed at the empty chairs and couches, motioning for them to make themselves comfortable. “Please.”
After they’d seated themselves amidst the pillows, she poured tea, the fragrant steam curling languidly. “Now, tell me of Azure. I, of course, have heard rumors, but I want the information from the horse’s mouth.” She cleared her throat. “Or the lion’s mouth, I suppose, is more appropriate. And I will tell you what whispers these vines have shared with me.”
As Callon brought her up to speed on Azure and his voodoo-fueled depravity, Nico’s gaze roamed the room. He wondered if they were being observed even now behind cleverly concealed screens or viewing spells. The Silkies did love their voyeurism. He blamed it on the number of eyes the arachnids had. It wasn’t healthy to see so much at one time. How could you savor the beauty of one rose if you were looking at hundreds of them all at the same time?
