The hum of voices began to dissipate, and with its absence came the even steps of a single set of boots striking the cobblestones.
Augustus turned, drawing his sword, ready to meet Thorne once and for all.
Except it wasn’t Thorne.
“Hello, Phya,” he said, lowering his sword arm. “I was just coming to see you.”
Taran Phya was a foot shorter than Augustus, though his presence put them on equal ground. His red velvet coat was embroidered with goldthread and buttoned to his neck, and his black boots were polished to a shine. Only the breeze ruffling his neatly combed, graying hair broke the window dressing of a man who was well put together.
The man was also very much alone. Augustus had been anxious for no reason.
Phya took a spin for the crowd before returning his attention to Augustus. His voice carried so that all might hear. “You got my message.”
Confusion interrupted Augustus’s thoughts. “Message?”
The man smiled. “When you didn’t return to face your punishment, I sent a message I knew you’d come running for.” He closed the distance with deliberate steps. “When the girl vanished from Thorne’s ship, I worried you wouldn’t show, but here you are.”
Heat tore up Augustus’s neck, and he tightened his grip on his sword. “Youhad Selene kidnapped?”
“It was written into the contract,” he said as if that were obvious. “And some men know whennotto adjust the details.”
Taran Phya turned to face his crowd. “One should not enter into a contract unless one is certain one can fulfill everysingledetail.”
Augustus couldn’t catch a breath, though his lungs worked hard to draw one. “I’m to be a lesson you teach, is that it? You had to bring my family’s fleet into this? An innocent woman?”
Phya returned his attention with a raised brow. “Your woman was unharmed?—”
“That depends on your definition of unharmed. I will never look at her without seeing Thorne’s mark upon her.”
The man raised open palms. “The delivery only required that she remain breathing. And I know what you’re going to say next”—he wagged a finger at Augustus—“I included a clause to protect Thorne in case she managed an escape. Had you rescued her, that would have been a different story.”
Phya’s gaze rose to the dead bodies. “The unfortunate circumstances regarding the Triarius Fleet, however, are not my doing. Tristan Thorne required funding and ships, and I was in just the right sort of mood to help.” His face flushed red, and his voice deepened to a near growl. Spittle sprayed with his next words. “Your parents thought to buy my leniency and forgiveness with aship? No one will dare make that mistake again.”
He paused his tirade to smooth his hair, and he yankeddown on his jacket. The color melted from his cheeks, and once again, Phya was back to his cool, collected self. “Your punishment will be made public, and it will be severe.”
Something moved behind the crowd—low to the ground, too fast to be a man. Augustus didn’t have time to look before the band of mercenaries closed in tight around him, drawing weapons.
He might kiss Blaze all over again for suggesting they hire these men.
Augustus grinned at Phya, who stoodall alone. “And who is going to enforce this punishment? You and what army?”
The long, thick blade of a broadsword appeared at Augustus’s neck from behind, and a steel breastplate pressed into his back.
Darian Kallos chuckled in Augustus’s ear, and his voice came in a low, amused growl. “Mine.”
Chapter
Thirty-Five
Acold chill caressed the back of Selene’s neck as they searched the rooftop for the man behind the Blade’s murder. He’dlaughedat what he’d done, and now the sound drifted away.
“He’s running,” Petrina said, her feet already moving to the other end of the alley.
Oskar nudged Selene after her. “Stay with Petrina. We’ll take care of the rest of them.”
She’d already forgotten about the two following on the ground. If they were anywhere near as good as the one from the rooftop?—
There were only two. Oskar had four Blades. Five men could handle them easily.
