That, Nadi hadn’t expected. She blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Whoever sent you—whatever your purpose—I assume it involves tearing my family apart in some fashion. Either because Raziel wants you to, or because you’re doing it on your own.” Lana’s smile was almost genuine now. “Which aligns perfectly with my own interests.”
Nadi glanced over at Azazel.
“Don’t worry about him.” She waved her hand. “He’s furniture.”
Nadi felt a pang of sympathy for Azazel once more. But she had to focus on her own situation at the moment. Turning her attention back to Lana, she considered the woman’s words. “You want me to tear apart your family?”
“Not my entire family. Just a few…specific members.” Lana traced the rim of her teacup with one perfectly manicured finger. “I have a proposition for you.”
The game board just kept growing more and more complex. “I’m listening.”
“You and Raziel are set to assassinate Braen. A deed that my mother has designed to punish my dear brother for his lack of loyalty. Killing the only one who has ever truly loved him…how wonderful.” Her smile turned sharp. “But what if, during this confrontation,bothmen were to tragically perish?”
Nadi kept her expression carefully blank. That was new subtext to process, but she couldn’t do it now. “And how would that benefit me?”
“Mm. I knew I liked you.” Lana chuckled. “With Raziel gone, his seat at the family table would be empty, wouldn’t it?” Her eyes gleamed with cold calculation. “A seat I could ensure goesto his poor, grieving widow. Coupled with Mael’s overtures to you, you would be sitting quite nicely with Raziel dead and gone, wouldn’t you?”
What thefuckwas wrong with this family? But with all the pieces seemingly shifting their positions on the board, Nadi now had all three siblings with doors open to her. Andherspecifically. Mael’s offer was tempting enough on its own. But now? She would be positioned exactly where she needed to be to continue dismantling the Nostroms from within—with Lana’s blessing and Mael’s protection.
Raziel was now clearly the poorest choice. Thewrongchoice. The one holding none of the cards in his hand and yet believing he was bluffing them all.
Fuck.
“Why would you do this if you suspect I’m not who I claim to be?” Nadi asked, setting her tea aside. “If you know I likely came here for revenge of some kind? How can you be so sure it stops with him?”
Lana sighed, a theatrical sound that did nothing to mask the very real cynicism beneath it. “Because I’m sick of playing my family’s games. Sick of being the pretty face, the bargaining chip, theSweetheart Mistress.” She practically spat the title. “I want to play my own games. Wield my own power. And I’m willing to buy my supporters by any means necessary.”
“And I would be one of those supporters.”
“Yes. But you would be beside me as my partner, not some subordinate. Whoever you are, you’ve impressed me.” Lana’s smile returned. “With your talents, and my resources, we could reshape the whole metropolis. Whatever you’re after, whatever my family did to hurt you—I can guarantee I wasn’t a direct part in it.”
No. She hadn’t been. Lana’s only sin against the Iltanis was one of blood relation. Lana had plenty of crimes of her own—flesh trading most notoriously—but nothing against her own family.
It was tempting. Moons, it was tempting. A clear path to completing her mission, without the complication of her growing feelings for Raziel. A way to justify everything she’d done, everything she’d sacrificed.
“And what would you gain from this arrangement?” It was a struggle to keep her tone curious rather than suspicious. “Volencia seems well on her way to removing Raziel without any help.”
“For all her cruelty, Mother is too sentimental.” She sighed. “Fine. All good business relationships are built on a little bit of trust. I’m searching forfreedom,‘Monica,’ like I suspect we all are in the end.” Lana’s face briefly showed something that looked almost like genuine emotion. “A chance to step out fromdear motherVolencia’s shadow. To be more than just the pretty daughter who sells flesh and spreads her legs for political advantage.”
The raw honesty in her voice was startling. For a moment, Nadi could almost believe her. And maybe she did.
Then, Lana’s mask slipped back into place, the vulnerability gone as quickly as it had appeared. “So, do we have a deal?”
“I’ll need to think about it,” Nadi replied cautiously. “This is…a lot to consider.”
“Of course.” Lana’s smile was understanding, though her eyes remained calculating. “But don’t think too long. Our window of opportunity is narrow.” She stood, signaling the end of their meeting. “Oh, and Monica? If I were you, I wouldn’t mention to Raziel that we spoke. He can be so possessive of his toys.”
Nadi rose as well, forcing herself to smile through gritted teeth. “Thank you for the tea, Lana. If he knows where I was, I’ll tell him I was giving wedding advice.”
“Naturally. Hopefully, mine ends better than yours.” Lana gestured toward the door. “I’m sure you can find your way out.”
The drive back to Raziel’s home gave Nadi time to process what had just happened. Lana knew that she wasn’t the real Monica Valan. That she had infiltrated the Nostrom family for some purpose of her own. Who and what she really was, still remained a mystery, at least.
And instead of exposing her, Lana wanted to use her.
It aligned perfectly with Nadi’s original plan—kill Raziel, work her way through the rest of the family, avenge the massacre of her clan. She should have been elated at this unexpected opportunity. It was perfect.Flawless.Let Raziel kill Braen. Then, kill Raziel.
