“If he did, he never shared them with me.” Silence passed between them, broken moments later when Peter spoke. “Though, I will admit I’m glad I was able to avenge my mother. It makes those centuries of sleep almost worth it.”
Tate shook her head. “I really hope you’re the only child of those four I meet. Suze and Trace wouldn’t have sent their children into slumber, would they?”
Peter’s expression was heartfelt. “God, I hope not. That person was a complete asshole.”
* * *
It turned out Night really did swallow the warp stone, despite Peter’s admonishments to the contrary.
With Peter guiding him, Night was able to transport those who’d survived to the lawn of the palace, still stained with blood and strewn with the bodies of those responsible for the failed rebellion.
Blade lifted his head to take in their sudden arrival, his lips quirking. Seeing where he was looking the blond Lucius looked up, letting out a sudden laugh while the other Lucius lifted one eyebrow.
“I don’t feel so bad now about the role we had to play,” the blond Lucius said. “You lot look like you’ve tangled with a pack of wolves.”
“Feels like it too,” Dewdrop shot back.
Tate regarded the unexpected trio. “You don’t look so good yourselves.”
None of the men were spotless. Bruises dotted their faces, and the brown-haired Lucius had his arm in a sling and tied to his body. Blood stained their clothes and the way they moved said they’d taken a beating.
“Next time you want to ask us to distract a minor goddess while you stage a foolhardy invasion—don’t,” the blond Lucius said, wincing as he took a step forward.
The brown-haired Lucius focused on Thaddeus. “I take it the problem with the tunnels has been resolved?”
To Tate’s surprise, Thaddeus nodded. “You can return to your courts. The empire thanks you for your service.”
The blond Lucius scoffed as he sauntered away. “As if we ever cared about that.”
The brown-haired Lucius flicked a look at Tyne standing at the back of their group and shook his head. “You play in dangerous waters.”
“Don’t we all,” Thaddeus said as the second Lucius followed the first.
Blade sauntered after them, stopping next to Roslyn. “I’ll be sure to let you know when I’m ready to collect on my debt.”
Roslyn’s face was stony as he kissed her on the cheek and followed the two Lucius’s.
Tate stared at Roslyn. “What’s that about?”
“There was a price to be paid for their help.”
Tate should have expected that. It was the Night Court after all. They weren’t exactly in the habit of performing altruistic acts.
“Do you need my help?” Tate asked after a long pause.
Truly, it should have been her debt since she was the one who instructed Roslyn to ask for that favor.
Roslyn shook her head. “Only I can pay it.”
Tate didn’t argue as she looked after the trio, wondering if she should interfere.
Roslyn flashed her a smile. “Truly Tate, considering the outcome, it’s a debt I am more than willing to take on.”
Dewdrop let out a harrumph. “There are stories about Blade and his debts. I don’t think it’ll be as easy as you think it is to pay.”
After that, Ben took charge of the remainder of the Lord Provost’s guard. Those who hadn’t been killed when Nathan kidnapped the others because they were attending to other duties on the opposite side of the palace.
A few of those guards rushed their injured Lord Provost toward the healers. Roslyn and the duke, each supporting the other, hobbled after them with Archie acting as escort.
