Ryland snorted before I did. “Thatcold was worth the shorter trip,” he tossed his well-worn pack on the ground and adjusted the straps. “Though it’s not much warmer here. This winter has been the worst I can remember.” He gave me the side eye. “Maybe the queen can do something about that?”
“Anaria has better things to do than making sure you two assholes are toasty warm. She has a kingdom to run, millions of Fae to keep safe.” I adjusted my own pack, nodded my thanks to Zephryn, then started jogging toward a stand of trees. “If you don’t want to get flattened, I’d suggest putting some distance between you and him.”
They took one look at the breadth of Zephryn’s black, leathery wings and hoofed it across the clearing, their frantic haste lifting my mood.
Because even though I was here with two of the worst people in the world, even though I had no idea of what we were facing…I was finally free of grinding duty and schedules and walls. Finally, I could do something nobody else could.
Kill a prince.
Save a kingdom.
Get the revenge I’d been craving for a hundred years.
Zeph reared back, his black-scaled chest bunching as he raised his enormous wings, then slammed them down, a vortex of snow and ice and dirt exploding around him. He rose slowly, majestically, the spectacular sight taking my mind off what we were facing for a few awe-filled seconds.
The dragon was so big he blocked out the sky, the heavy thump of his wingbeats echoing in my chest like a second heartbeat as he climbed, all brawn and black scales and bellowing fire, until he was swallowed up by the dark fume drifting off the top of the ward.
Tristan already circled overhead, his lithe, sinuous form threading through the clouds, little more than shadow.
The moment Zephryn joined him, they disappeared to the north, and Ryland whirled, dropping his pack, his hand on the hilt of his sword. “I see that fucking look on your face. Just so you know, Lyrae, your queen gave her word you wouldn’t kill either of us. We have guarantees.”
I lowered my eyes to his pathetic little knife, my smile very clearly saying,are you sure about that?
“Relax. What do I get out of murdering either of you right now? Ineedyou, remember, since you’re bothexpert trackersand all.” I jerked my head to the billowing ward that filled the whole of my vision. “So get to it, then.Track.”
Ryland didn’t budge. “Normally, a queen’s oath would be good enough, but in this case…” His tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip and fuck me if a carnal shiver didn’t kiss its way up my spine.
To make matters worse, I stood downwind, and every fresh breeze hit me full in the face with his scent—the smell of leather and woodsmoke, memories rising unchecked, every cell in my being crackling with rage and unwanted lust.
“In this case, I’ll need to hear it from you. Since your queen’s word is law, swear you will honor Queen Anaria’s sacred decree, as a loyal member of her court. Say the words, Lyrae, or we go no further.”
Clever, clever bastard, using ancient, binding words to hobble me.
“Done. You’re safe as newborns with me.” I waved my hand in the air. “Now can we…”
“Fuckingsaythem,” he ground out. “Or I swear by the Old Gods, slay us both here and spare us the agony of waiting to feel your knife slide between our ribs. Because Iknow that’s your plan. I know when we least expect it, you’ll strike, and my guess is, we’ll never see you coming.”
I should tell him the Old Gods are well and truly dead, but…Ryland wouldn’t believe me, and this little game we were currently playing was suddenly so much more delicious.
This bastard really thought I’d give him my fucking word?
Like I owed him a single, fucking thing?
Once, he and Varian—and my sister—were the only people I’d trusted in the entire world.
But those days were over, and we weren’t in the Citadelle anymore, nor under the watchful eye of the queen and her seer. No, I was in charge now. I made the rules, I decided who lived or died, I was the law of this place, just like Ryland used to be.
The King of Southwell, they’d called him, once.
Leader of our gang of petty thieves and criminals, but those days were long over, too.
“Is that an invitation, Ryland?” I smiled before I could stop myself, and whatever they saw in my face sent Varian backing out of the way, Ryland’s sword hissing out of its scabbard.
“You sanctimoniousbastards,” I purred, hatred running through my veins, stronger than adrenaline. “You wantmyword before you’ll keep your oath to the queen?Mine? How dare you ask me for anything? Youabandonedme. Walked away and left me as a distraction for the Shadow King’s soldiers to find. For them tobreak, while you made a clean escape.”
For a moment, I couldn’t think past the rage churning in my gut.
“And you, Varian Kronos. Selling my sister to the Fae King.” Despite my best efforts, my voice dropped, nothingbut a husk of sound. “Ariel was your friend, once, and you delivered her into a monster’s hands and the gallows and for what? A pocketful of gold?”
