Carmine sipped at his drink. “We are yet to be mated. You know what I will demand for her release.”
I said the words anyway. “You want to complete the mating ritual.”
The mating ritual that I would end.
And that made me pause. Because Icouldjust end it. Doing so would be harder, and more perilous, and I’d be out for the count for far longer than if I did so after only three of the seven rituals.
But I could.
What was more… he knew that. Carmine was using his biggest bargaining chip, and he knew that I could still sever the mating. This was all Carmine had. Hehopedthat I would feel too much or be too afraid to sever things later. Perhaps I’d like my new power. Perhaps Carmine hoped to find another way to control me by then.
“Yes,” he said. “That is what I want. That is what I have wanted since I met you.”
I snorted and shook my head.
“Amused, enamai?”
“More than a little.”
Carmine sipped again. “Unexpected. I’d expected to enjoy your rage all night with you in that dress.”
“And Tygrio’s blood all over me?”
His lips curved. “That too.”
I lifted a shoulder. “I’m surprised that you’re only asking for this.”
Carmine’s smirk widened. He was too clever not to sense the lure of my words. “Shall I play along, my queen? Maybe I shall.Whyare you surprised?”
I met his gaze. “Because whatever mating we share, no matter if it’s three rituals strong or seven, it is temporary.”
Carmine lost his smile. “Our deal would of course be for a permanent arrangement.”
I picked up his smile and let it curvemylips. “Of course,enamai.Okay, I agree. Let’s get started.”
Four more rounds remained—intention, scales, iron heart, and smoke. I said, “Intention is next. Our wedding day—sorry, that’s not what you call it here. I used to dream of our union. Of course, your mother is away, but that works for me too. Let’s elope.”
He contemplated me over his whiskey. “You would join with me for immortality?”
“Immortality? Mother be, Carmine. I told you this was temporary. I’m not ecstatic about faking my way through our mating ritual, but this is something I’ll agree to.”
Carmine wasn’t fooled for a second. But he was intrigued because the weakness in his bargaining was clear to both of us. “Tell me, then, Syera. You are so eager to do so. What would you like to bargain?”
He’d given me the answer already. “You’ve seemed a little out of sorts lately,” I said, then stage whispered, “With the gates. Things aren’t going so well? Those magus barriers are something. They’re creative too. There really is very little that a group of magus in a coven can’t achieve. And then there are all the other covens that they’re connected to.”
Carmine’s gaze grew icy.
I dipped my head. “Oh good. I’m talking to the stronger one again.”
He leaned back. “Make your offer.”
I peered at the painting over the empty fireplace. “You have studied each species, and you likely know a lot of Vissimo and Luthers, but magus are notoriously secretive.”
“We captured a magus for a time,” Carmine replied. “He was a grimoire. We learned much from him.”
Doubtful.If they’d caught a grimoire, then that magus would have learned far more from them. “Did you release the grimoire?”
A pause. “He escaped during your father’s reign.”
