As Thyra did not yet know of the vampires, we suspected she had agreed to meet because she believed Neve wanted to speak about the heists. A reasonable assumption that we would leverage until the vampires arrived in the grand hall.
Caelo had woken up feeling nearly his old self, so my best friend, Luccan, Arie, Anna, Clemencia, my mate, and I walked to the meeting right as the scent of fried eggs filled the castle corridors. Rynni had, once again, been called to healing rebels, and Duran had decided to remain behindwith Thantrel. That latter turn of events I couldn’t quite fathom, as they usually squabbled, but Duran seemed to have been struck hard by Thantrel’s brokenhearted state.
Crisis can bring out the worst, or the best, in us all. And there are few life events more dire than a rejected mate bond.
Our escort led us to the grand hall. We were the first to arrive. I breathed deeply and tilted my chin up, preparing for a meeting that could either sour or sweeten our relationship with the rebels.
Even in the so-called grand hall, Valrun cried out for help. The soaring ceiling was open to the elements in three areas, all of which were, thankfully, at the far end of the room. Windows that had once been stained and beautiful were boarded up and the chandelier hung by a single chain.
“Fates, they need to work on this place,” Arie muttered. “A dunghole if I’ve ever seen one.”
“Would you like to supply the coin, lordling?” Thyra breezed in with two advisors at her side.
Neve nodded as they stopped before us, both groups a dozen paces from the door. “Thyra, Brynhild, Bac, good morning.”
“Is it good?” Thyra asked as the male shut the door behind them. “What did you need to call me for so early? And with so many?” Thyra gestured beyond Neve. “Can they not survive without you, sister?”
“They wished to stretch their legs.” Neve spoke as if three vampires wouldn’t appear at any moment, and we’d need these witnesses to vouch for them. “We’re planning to get breakfast together after the meeting.”
“Get on with it, then.” Thyra crossed her arms.
Neve cleared her throat. “Well, there are people I wish to introduce you to. They want to join me, and as I am in your keeping and hoping to work with you, that would mean them joining the rebellion too.” She carefully avoided the word alliance. Did she think it was too strong for her sister’s tastes? “I realize you’ll need to approve their presence.”
Thyra’s eyebrows arched. “How did you get a message out?”
She shot a glance at me, likely wondering if she needed to worry about the king arriving. Maybe she believed that his flying overhead on a gryphon had been down to me.
“I didn’t. They found me. They’ve—um—been looking for me for a while. However, they’re going to cause a stir around here, so we wanted a private meeting first.”
“A stir? Why?”
In answer, three figures dropped from above. They landed, lithe as snow leopards, behind Thyra, blocking the door.
Astril rose first, her eyes, now a vivid green thanks to the hours they’d spent feeding, locked on the rebellion leader. “We’re fae turned vampires.”
I sensed the spiking of magic in the air as it radiated from Thyra. Bac was calling his powers too, though neither had struck, so I did not know what magic they possessed.
“Vampires!” Thyra hissed. “You said you wished to work together, Neve, and you bring these bloodsuckers here!?”
Neve darted forward, putting herself between Thyra and the vampires. “Look, Thyra, they have wings! They were once fae of Winter’s Realm and turned against their will.”
Thyra sliced a glare in my mate’s direction. “And?”
“Their maker was Prince Gervais, so they no longer have a sire whom they must listen to. They wish to join us as protection. And they’ll help with the heists.”
“Last I heard, Red Assassins were following Neve. She just said you were following her, so are you Red Assassins?” Thyra directed the question to the sisters, who again were not dressed in the garb of their guild.
“We were of the guild and deserted the command to kill Princess Neve the moment we could.” Freyia held up her hands and stepped closer. “We don’t want to harm you or the rebels. We wish to make change in the kingdom in which we were born. To make it our home again.”
Thyra scoffed. “No fae will accept that.”
“They will if their leader, the fae they are fighting for to become queen, sets an example.”
Thyra glared at my mate, and I felt a rush of protection rise inside me. If she so much as moved a hairsbreadth toward Neve, I’d intervene.
But my mate’s twin stayed put, her stance hard as ice. “And that leader will be you, sister?”
“Me? A leader of the rebels? Please, Thyra, that could not be further from the truth.”
