She shrugs. “Or auction you off to the highest bidder. If Vod wants you, you mustbe valuable.”
Fan-fucking-tastic.
“Either way, I suppose I should be thanking you. You’re going to make me very, very rich.”
No. Absolutely not.
“Kylian is going down,” I warn, my fingers curling into fists. “You hand us over to him, and I will have a debt to repay you.”
Easy, Zadyn warns.
“You? You’re nothing,” she scoffs.
“I am the last Blackblood witch,” I declare, my words coming out stronger and steadier than I feel. “If I were you, I wouldn’t want to get on my bad side.”
She eyes me doubtfully, an amused expression on her face.
“It’s the truth,” Zadyn says, earning her gaze. Her head angles back to me.
“Where’s your dragon then?”
“Oh, she’s here, circling overhead. Waiting for the perfect moment to torch this piece of shit boat. I hear termite-infested wood is highly flammable. Hope you have insurance.”
“I have all the insurance I need in this room.” She laughs, crossing her arms. “But now I’m intrigued.”
“As am I. Hey, what’s with the petting zoo downstairs?” Kai asks. “Got a kink for farm animals? Don’t worry, I don’t judge.”
“I’m in the business of stealing and selling. Goods are goods. And your flyer didn’t specify dead or alive, so I’d mind my tongue, little prince.”
“Oh, there’s nothing little about me. Would you like me to prove it? More than happy to.”
“Bronyn’s right, you really don’t shut up, do you? Bronyn, please shut the princeling up.”
Jason Mamoa steps forward and stuffs a handkerchief in Kai’s mouth.
“Careful. He’s kind of into that sort of thing,” Dover warns.
“We have gold, you know,” Zadyn swoops in, steering us back on track. “And more diamonds than you could ever dream of.”
Eaton takes a slight step forward. “I’ll double whatever Vod isoffering. I’m a prince of Hyrax.”
The Pirate King groans, sinking back against the lip of her desk. “Good gods, not another one. Look. I don’t give a flying fuck about gold, and I already own enough diamonds to suffocate me. I want something…bigger. Better. Even more rare. If King Kylian wants you that badly, he may have to up the ante.”
Kai manages to spit the rag from his mouth. “Trust me, I know my brother. He doesn’t take kindly to extortion.”
“I’ve been bartering since I could walk. I’ll get more than you lot are worth.”
“He’ll kill you,” Kai rushes to explain, momentarily sober.
She laughs, tossing her head back. “Sweet of you to be concerned, but I’m untouchable. Your big brother relies on me too much. As do the rest of the royals.”
We exchange a confused look.
“What are you talking about?” Zadyn asks.
“Do you know what the largest trading port in all of Solterre is?” she muses.
“Bleakwater Bay,” he answers.
