Release me.
Aya’s arms trembled as she gripped the mattress. Rash. She had been rash in attacking him – rash in trying to end him when there were still so many unanswered questions.
‘You think I’m going to just trust your word?’
‘You don’t really have a choice, do you?’ he snapped. ‘You don’t get to the Saj without me.’
Aya had no desire to see the Saj of the Maraciana. She knew exactly what they would tell her. And when they revealed that truth … when they sensed that there was something dark inside of her – something no saint could possibly have – what would she do then?
She’d never be able to return home again.
Will frowned, as if he could read the thoughts flitting through her mind. ‘Should I send word back to Gianna that you need extra motivation to complete your assignment? Perhaps she’ll rethink Tova’s comfort,’ he growled.
Aya bared her teeth as she stood. ‘You wouldn’t dare.’
Will bared his right back. ‘You’ve seen exactly what I’ll dare to do. Try this shit again, and I’ll send a godsdamn letter faster than you can bury your knife in my chest.’
Aya’s chest heaved as they stared each other down. He had her and he knew it. She’d never risk Tova. Which meant it didn’t matter what Aya believed – saint or not, she would go to the Saj. What other choice did she have?
Triumph gleamed in his eyes as he smirked. ‘Now that we understand each other, here’s how this is going to go: you’re going to stop trying to kill me, and you’re going to stay in this state-room until I can stand the godsdamn sight of you, and when that happens, you’re going to work on a plan with me, or on my oath, I will make Tova pay.’
He tossed the blade onto the floor between them. Aya glanced between him and the knife, her gaze wary.
‘Take it,’ he urged. ‘Consider it a peace offering. Like I said, if I had wanted you dead, I would’ve used it a long time ago.’
Aya snatched the blade off the ground. ‘I hope you rot in the seven hells,’ she hissed as he headed to the door.
Will let out a low, bitter chuckle, the sound skittering across her bones.
‘Trust me, love, I’m already there.’
Part Two
ENEMIES AND ALLIES
21
Aidon couldn’t stop thinking of blood.
It was almost as if he could hear the steady drip of it as he blocked his sister’s blow, the metal of her sword flashing in the bright sunlight that beat down on them.
It had been Josie’s idea to train on the small half-moon beach that sat on the far side of the cliffs. With the bluffs behind them and the ocean stretching for miles toward the horizon, there was little chance of anyone stumbling upon their session.
Aidon hadn’t bothered to object. Dominic hated to find Josie training, and given how furious their uncle was at the moment, Aidon wasn’t keen to do anything to worsen the king’s mood – even if the rivulets of sweat now pouring down his body had him regretting his decision even more.
Aidon hadn’t been in the throne-room when Peter, the King’s Second, read Queen Gianna’s letter. He and Peter had been friends since they were boys. Aidon knew him well enough to know he did not exaggerate when he said the queen had been thorough, both in the execution and her recounting of it.
A traitor’s death, she’d said, fit for those who conspired with the heretics. Aidon wasn’t sure if his uncle’s fury was because the queen had handled their tradesmen’s execution, or because, despite Tala’s Enforcer receiving confirmation that the two men acted alone, he was on his way to Trahir with the queen’s spymaster in tow.
The Queen’s Eyes.
At least now Aidon would finally be able to put a face to the name.
‘So they still think we’re involved,’ Josie said flatly as she parried. She barely showed a hint of sweat on her umber-brown skin, despite the heat and her light brown fighting leathers.
Ridiculous. She could out-train most of his troops.
‘Will was due here anyway to discuss trade terms, and they claim Gianna’s Third has business with the Saj of the Maraciana.’
