She suddenly felt sick.
“He despises Shadowbloods. But not because he fears us. Helongsfor what we have, deep down. He has everything any man could ever want. Servants and riches and power and brides, countless lovers beyond that… but he does not havethis.”Azariah held up her gloved hands, her dark eyes wide. She looked at Sonara next. “I saw you in that throne room. I was there when you stole the sword,in a secret chamber beneath his dais, when you so fearsomely slew a room full of my father’s men. It was my job, held in chains, to always be on lookout. To protect my father with my dark power, should there ever be a threat that his men would not be able to handle. But I stood idly by in the shadows when you attacked. I let you live. And in that moment… I wanted to bewithyou, walking out those doors. So that night I escaped the palace with Thali’s help, and sought out an old companion of mine.”
Markam raised his glass, already empty of its contents.
Azariah nodded at Sonara. “I then joined with Markam and Jaxon to come find you.”
“But why?” Sonara asked. “Whyme?”
“My dear Devil.” Azariah’s dark eyes narrowed as she took a sip of her own drink and patted her lips with a silk handkerchief, the picture of a princess. “I am here to ask for your help. To hire you for a job that will work against my father’s might, for he is about to write the pages of a story that will damn Dohrsar, and all of its kingdoms, for eternity.” She paused, eyeing the rest of the room as she leaned closer. “But before I give the details, I must have your oath of silence. I have journeyed far to pass along this message, for I believe you three may be some of the only few in the Deadlands up for the job. And I can pay you handsomely. Thali?”
Her guardian lifted a second silk pouch, carefully spilling its contents onto the wooden table.
Diamonds tumbled out like delicate raindrops. They caught the sunlight from the holes in the curtains, sent it sparkling in fractals as if the diamonds themselves were miniature stars. They were perfect, each one of their facets. Andmassive,some of the largest Sonara had ever seen.They rivaled the very ones that sat upon Jira’s ringed fingers. With them, she’d be rich.
Not just rich.
Wealthy.
Among them, a fat golden ring that Sonara would recognize anywhere, for that very ring, days ago, had been pressed tight against her skin as the king gripped her wrist like a vice, and demanded she be sent to Deadwood to die.
It was his seal.
“I stole it myself,” Azariah said. “As proof of my lineage, should you question me.”
Sonara’s eyes narrowed as she leaned forward to investigate further.
“Some of the finest craftsmanship I have ever seen,” Markam said, turning to glance at Sonara and Jaxon. “If you won’t trust my word, at least believe that the ring is real. And she is who she says she is.”
“I can offer this as an advance payment,” Azariah said, holding out a hand to the diamonds, “if you agree to take the job. And I can offer ten times this amount once the job is completed. Diamonds enough to fill an entire barrel.”
Sonara’s face remained impassive, but her blood hummed at the thought of so many diamonds. But working for the king’s daughter, foranyonewith his blood made her feel sick. As if the oil she’d drunk was getting to her, too fast, too soon.
Azariah’s smile fell. She chewed on her bottom lip, the first sign of nerves since she’d begun speaking.
“Markam?” Sonara asked. She quickly nodded at Jaxon to stay put. “A word?”
Markam yelped as she grabbed his shirt collar and hauled him with her out the double doors of the saloon. She stormed outside, where she promptly shoved him up against the wall. Dust rained down from the ceiling above.
The steeds tied up at the railing barely lifted their heads, as if they were used to drunken patrons stumbling out of the saloon at a moment’s notice.
“What the hell are you up to?” Sonara growled softly. She pressed him harder against the wall. “Why would you ever want to ally yourself with the Princess of the Deadlands?”
His breath tickled her lips as he leaned forward. “Need you even ask? She’s the wealthiest mark we’ll ever find.”
“You’re lying.”
His aura reeked of it.
She recoiled, yanking him with her before shoving him against the wall again. He only chuckled.
“Come on, Sunny. It’s a game.”
“It’s always been a game with you.” She narrowed her eyes. “You want me to pay off the debt? We’ll sell the damned sword. Split our profit three ways, just as you wanted, and then Jax and I can go free. Never see or speak to you again.”
“The sword hardly counts as payment,” Markam said.
“And why is that?” Sonara asked.
