Chemaine caught Dahlia’s eye. “Allium is stealing people’s children and sending them into the Asteran fields to keep the soldiers and people in line and frighten any who think to desert.”
She gasped.
The pollen of the flowers burned the lungs, eyes, and skin. Most of the workers went blind first, then numb, and eventually drowned in their own blood. It was a gruesome, painful death for the rare jewellike dye.
Children.
This was not her fight, but she could not get Cosmos’ face out of her mind. He could have been one of those stolen children or one of the young soldiers drafted into the war. Allium and Randa were killing their own people with their greed.
“Not only that.” Chemaine stared down Lia. “Randa has taken wives, sons, and daughters and sold them into the flesh trade for control and coin to fund this war. It’s ugly.”
Ugly was too flowery of a word for what the monarchs had done.
Despicable. Vile.Evil.
Enough was enough.
Dahlia smiled at Bacti, enjoying the way his grin dimmed.
“I’ll do it.”
Today, she took her power back and maybe earned a little redemption.
Chapter Thirty-Three
NEVE
It tookeverything in Neve’s power not to press his traitorous throbbingsoravagainst his wife while glaring at Bacti. The lavender male was too interested in Neve’s mate.
While he didn’t disagree with what the little human had volunteered to do, his soul was screaming not to let thevallesleave his sight. It was a tough balance not letting the bond take charge. Especially since he was the only one tethered to another person. His wife seemed completely indifferent to him.
A blessing and a curse.
On one hand, he was thankful that he did not have to contend with her arousal. The tiniest perfume of it that first morning imprinted on his mind. It was only her fear that had broken the spell, or he was sure he would have taken her right on the table in the mating madness.
But on the other hand, it rankled that she was so indifferent. She’d turned into an ice queen. Granted, each night when he crawled into the furs that smelled deliciously like her, sherolled toward him in her sleep and curled into his side like she belonged there.
She does.
Irritation thrummed in his veins. He exhaled slowly, trying not to prickle at the way Bacti stared at Neve’s pretty little wife. The urge to attack him was getting worse each second. That would not help anything.
He lifted thevallesfrom his lap and set her on her feet and stood, towering over the table. “We bid you goodnight.” Neve swept around the table, lifted the tent flap, and waited for his wife.
She murmured polite goodbyes before gliding across the room with pink cheeks.
“It was wonderful to see you again,” chirped Bacti as she reached the exit.
Qovving bentai.
Neve quickly followed after her and nodded to the Haunts stationed outside. Neve’s brows arched when she signed for them to have a good night.
That was new.
Lia led them up the looping pathway but paused at the first intersection. She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Which way, my lord?”
Olwen and Flyka shadowed them, and he just wanted some space.
“Right.” He stalked past Dahlia but couldn’t help capturing her hand. Her cool fingers laced through his, and the bond quieted a touch. He prowled through the snowy corridors but slowed when she huffed, almost jogging to keep up with him. “Your legs are short,” he grunted.
