“Why is she here?”
“She’s with us,” I say.
Azur glares at Mirella, who shows the palms of her hands. “The reason I followed Zorwal was to try to defeat him. I wasn’t working with him willingly.”
His stare doesn’t change. “Really? And does that wipe away all your years of cruelty? Your mockery?”
She steps back. “I never did anything to you.”
“You never even directed a word at me because I was too beneath you. But you know what? I wasn’t beneath you enough not to see the way you taunted others, the way you tormented Renel.”
Renel waves a hand. “Come on, now. As if you cared.”
“I do care,” Azur says. “Cruel people will be cruel. I won’t take her.”
I don’t think it’s fair, and say, “You can’t blame her for what she did as a child, when her mind was poisoned by Zorwal andwho knows who else. Whatever she did, she more than paid for it, and she’s not the same person.”
Azur tilts his head and narrows his eyes, as if it could help him see through her. “Is that so? Tell me, Mirella, are you a different person?”
She looks down, then faces him. “I think I am.”
“Why? What changed?” There’s a certain edge of mockery in his tone that I don’t like.
“I spent years on that dreadful island. Years. I didn’t hate being a bird, or monster bird. It felt good. But the loneliness…” She closes her eyes, perhaps unable to continue.
Azur raises a hand. “Oh, but that’s not an excuse. Cruelty can be quite a social activity, you see? You get to join others who are just as cruel as you, and then delight in terrorizing those you consider inferior. It can be quite a bonding experience. Isn’t that how you bonded with Marlak?”
She shakes her head. “We practiced magic together. That’s how we bonded.”
Azur sneers. “Yes. I saw you practicing quite a lot, practicing suffocating Renel—or making him float. Either him or some lower fae.”
Mirella takes a deep breath. “Fine, you don’t need to take me. Can you just tell Marlak where I am? And that I was never his enemy?”
“No.” I take her hand. “I’ll stay with you. We can go somewhere else.”
Azur shrugs. “That works.”
“No!” Tarlia steps close to Azur. “The Witch King is out there. Zorwal’s his accomplice, and she defied him. She could be in danger too.”
Azur closes his eyes. “The island’s compromised. Everyone’s at a house that’s connected to my family, and I don’t want her there.”
Mirella extends her hand. “Let’s make a deal. I can promise whatever you want. I need to see my brother.”
Azur points at Renel. “Look. Your brother’s right here. The way you pretend only Marlak is your brotheralsodisgusts me.”
Renel shrugs. “I don’t care, and don’t want anyone upset on my behalf. Especially you.”
Azur frowns and asks Renel, “Really? You want me to take her to my house?”
“She did help Tarlia escape. Regardless, aren’t you glad you don’t need to listen to my opinion anymore?”
“I’m more than thrilled,” Azur says, then glares at Mirella, and extends a hand. “Promise you won’t use your magic against me or Renel, and that you won’t try to contact Zorwal.”
She takes his hand. “I promise.”
He glances at Renel. “Don’t make me regret this.”
“Me?” Renel points at himself. “What did I do?”
