“Oh, wouldn’t you like to find out now?” He leans closer, and his voice drops a few octaves. “Tell me exactly what you need. Let’s see if I can deliver.”
When I don’t answer, he leans back in his seat. “Or maybe you should visit your secret boyfriend. I think he knowsexactlywhat you want and how to give it to you.”
Jax’s words are light as a feather, a caress of a lover’s hand.
Yet they land like a brutal slap across my face.
Alarm blares in my mind.Shit.
“What the fuck are you talking about? Me and Daegel, we’re not together anymore.”
Jax barks a laugh. “Don’t spin the bullshit with me. I saw you two at the Starless Night.” He crosses his arms and pins me with his gaze. “I wonder, what will Vera say once she finds out?”
“If you keep that big mouth of yours shut, she won’t.”
“You’re playing greedy. Want to have your cake and eat it.”
I don’t answer.
“It worries me, you know. What does it say about you as a person, if that’s the company you keep.”
I scoff. “You’re one to speak. Last time I checked, you’re one of Daegel’s bitches.”
Jax shakes his head, as if he’s disappointed in me. With a sigh, he rises to his feet and leaves me sitting alone with my plate of food.
Suddenly, the food tastes like ash in my mouth.
“Thanks for ruining my appetite, asshole,” I mutter and rise to my feet.
I carry the tray with the leftovers into the kitchen, where Vera’s personal cook sweeps it out of my hands and ushers me out of his space.
The moment I return to the main living area, there’s a knock on the door. My steps halt. I don’t know where the rest of the crew went, but nobody is coming to open the door.
Knock, knock.
I head for the door. When I open it, I find a tall Ezkai clad in Ezkai leathers standing there. His face is neutral, eyes revealing nothing, as he hands me a black silk envelope with a large gold wax stamp. I know the sigil of the Ezkai General well by now—the two dragons weaving together and spewing fire into the sky.
Before I can say anything, the Ezkai presses his fist to his heart, dips his chin, and walks away.
I close the door and lean my back against it. My heart thrashes in my chest.
With trembling fingers, I peel off the wax seal and slide a piece of matching white silk paper out of the envelope. It’s soft to the touch.
In the middle is a date stamped in red ink, five days from today. Under it, in the most beautiful letters, there’s a riddle weaving across the page in the same red ink:
Blood earns you passage.
Brilliance earns you glory.
I fall to either blade or mind?—
but only one path proves wisdom.
Show me which one you walk,
make the gods bow to your name.
Finally, the moment has come.
