"If he tries anything, he'll find out the torturous ways the Honest once gathered information on our enemies."
Nyssa almost smiled up at him. "Please read me those stories later," she asked of him.
His lip quirked. "Of course, why didn't I think to show our Princess the book on torture techniques first when she arrived?" he mocked.
She nearly kissed him but instead reached out for his bruised hand. "Are you okay?"
"No," he admitted. "That man has been a thorn in my side for years. When you told us he was dead, I was actually relieved." He paused and glanced back at Gail, watching Bala help him back inside the tent. "I don't like his being here."
"Sounds like we don't have a choice."
Nadir settled in front of her, his hand wrapping around her cheek. "Tell me you're okay," he whispered.
Nyssa couldn’t. Seeing Gail again had caused her stomach to flip. All she could see was the memory of the Infi taking over Gail's face and watching the smile rise in that Infi's eyes as his throat was cut. The images made her bite back the emotion in her chest.
"I can't," she admitted quietly. "Can we talk about it later?"
"Yeah."
"Whoa—what did I miss?" Dorian announced as he threw back the tent door and emerged with Reverie and Corbin in tow. "Dammit, I missed the action. What happened?"
A slow grin spread on Nadir's face, and Nyssa knew what he was thinking without a word. "No—“ she pointed her finger in his face. "Nadir—don’t—“
"Oh, I'm doing it—Hey Prince, do you know this man?" Nadir asked as he whirled around, nodding towards Gail.
"Nadir, don’t—“
"Tell me," Dorian said, eyes wandering over Gail.
"It's handled," Nyssa interjected.
"Who is he?"
"Nadir,stop—“ Bala straightened, eyes wide.
"That's the man that kidnapped your sister and took her to Man," Nadir finished.
The room froze for the longest second Nyssa had ever experienced.
His head snapped in Gail's direction.
Dorian lunged.
Form spreading on his hands, Dorian hardly got three steps in before Bala's wind swept the room. But Dorian didn't seem to care. His form dwindled, and he jumped over Bala, launching and railing his fist into Gail's jaw.
Bala glared at Reverie and Corbin."Do something!"
Reverie shook her head, arms over her chest. "You want me to stop him from going off on the man that kidnapped his sister? After the turmoil I've watched him settle through worrying about her? No," she argued. "I'll pull him off when the man's almost dead." She leaned in towards Corbin. "Also, this is really hot,” she whispered.
Corbin scratched his neck.
"Corbin!" Bala shouted, trying to grab Dorian's wailing arms.
Corbin grunted, but he stepped forward at her demand and wrapped his arms under Dorian's. Dorian kicked Gail as Corbin hauled him to his feet and pushed him away. Bala shoved Dorian's chest when he started forward again.
"Enough!" she demanded. "Both of you."
"Gail deserves every bit of it after the way he treated Draven all those years,” Nadir snapped. “After what he wanted to do to Aydra when she was injured. After what he did toyouwith walking out of your kingdom and threatening your crown.”
