“Perhaps I’ll have a healer mend itjustenough,” Xyliria mused aloud. “Let her feel it every time she takes a step. Let it remind her?—”
“I’m the one who’ll be breaking her,” Ashterion said, pitch dropping to something cold and final. “Let me handle her.”
“You’re handling her,” she repeated, each syllable dripping with suspicion.
Ashterion turned to face his wife fully, his midnight-blue eyes hardening. “Yes. As we discussed. Or have you forgotten our arrangement already?”
“I forget nothing, husband.” Her voice was silk over venom. “I simply question your sudden... enthusiasm for the task.”
The doors opened with a low groan.
Ashterion didn’t need to look to know who it was.
Merrick.
He cursed internally.
I told him not to come himself. Fucking uncooperative fool.
Merrick strode in like he hadn’t ignored a direct order from his own gods-damned High Lord. He inclined his head to Xyliria with the barest hint of deference. “My lady,” he said smoothly. “After your recent... complication, I thought it prudent to personally review the security measures. Can’t be too careful when your new asset has already tried to flee.”
Xyliria barely looked up from her nails. “Yes, yes, lovely. Just don’t get in the way.”
Dismissed, Merrick turned to Ashterion with a knowing look. “Can you show me exactly where you found them?”
Ashterion’s eyes slid to Xyliria, who waved a hand without lifting her gaze. “Be back soon. We have guests arriving shortly. I don’t want them kept waiting.”
“Of course,” Ashterion said, rising fluidly to his feet. He didn’t wait for further dismissal. He was already moving, Merrick falling into step beside him as they strode out of the throne room.
They walked in silence down two halls, then a third.
It was Ashterion who broke first. “I told you to stay in the fucking city.”
“Yeah, well,” Merrick muttered without looking at him, “when have I ever been known for doing what I’m told?”
Ashterion exhaled sharply through his nose. “Do you have it?”
Merrick reached into his coat, pulling out a small, thick glass vial. The liquid inside was faintly luminescent, swirling silver against the dark.
“This is the one,” Merrick confirmed. “Belessa’s version. You were right. It’ll work faster than the others, even through the collar. What exactly are you doing, Ash?” He looked sideways at him. “Are you helping her now?”
“I’m not helping anyone,” Ashterion snapped. “I’m making sure Xyliria doesn’t get her claws into the damn human.”
Merrick didn’t respond at first.
He studied him, silent.
“Ash,” he said finally.
Ashterion’s shoulders tensed. “What?”
There was something in Merrick’s features, a flicker of that maddening empathy, of the loyalty Ashterion had never been able to scrub out of him. Something that might’ve once been faith.
But the moment passed.
“Nothing,” Merrick said. “Don’t worry about it.”
Ashterion narrowed his eyes. “Get back to the city. And don’t come back unless Ispecificallyask you to. Understand?”
