Still, that doesn’t make it any less surprising or astounding. I’ve learned a few helpful things in a matter of minutes, all of them startling.
Cordea sidles up next to us, sheathing her sword at her hip.
“Good work,” Vallan grunts to his lieutenant, in what I imagine is a rare compliment. “You held them off long enough.”
“Would have died if you lot hadn’t shown up,” Cordea answers in her silky voice. The beautiful vampiress nudges her chin at me. “She helped. Stupid of her, but helpful.”
I crack a coy smile. “I’ll put that on my tombstone, Cordea. ‘Stupid but helpful.’”
Garroway smiles. No one else does.
Vallan says, “Report. What’s happened here?”
Cordea clenches her sharp jaw. She cracks her neck left and right. “Exactly what you see. They’re Intelligence Ward fullbloods. Sent here at sundown to wreak havoc.”
“That’s all?” Skar asks. “Havoc was the mission?”
“No. I think not.” Cordea motions vaguely behind her. “Came looking for someone, it seems. These were just the bloodies left behind. Another vanguard unit already left before you arrived.”
The shadows jumping the mountains, holding bulging bags on their backs,I think. Worry sears through me. “Who were they after, Cordea?”
I already know. My heart sinks, because I already know and I haven’t seen her yet.
Cordea’s red gaze meets mine. “They came looking for your interfolk friend, princess. I assume they didn’t know what she looked like, exactly, so the fucking bastards took every yellow-haired miner they could wrangle. Knocked them out and took off before the first cries of alarm woke the rest of the camp. Including me.”
Fury spears into me, akin to what I imagine Vallan’s bloodrage is like. It’s joined by a dread feeling, a sinking sensation of anxiety.
Skar answers matter-of-factly. “Alacine Mortis has made her next play. Quicker than I thought she’d move given what happened at Trithea Plaza.”
Yes. Her next “play.” She took the one connection I have to the North Mines. She kidnapped Palacia.
Butwhy?
Chapter 29
Sephania
Hours later, I’m pacing the main conference room at Manor Marquin so hard my boots are going to put divots in the floorboards. Walking back and forth from one end of the long table to the other, I pick at my lip and stare at the ground. Frustration swells inside me. It’s so bad I feel I’m going to take flight like a fireball and burst through the high rafters into the night sky.
Vallan is perched against the far wall like an imposing statue, head swiveling to slowly follow my mad walk. Garroway sits at the table, head bowed forlornly, trying to avoid eye contact, as though he fears I’ll snap at him if he opens his trap. Skartovius stands behind me, arms crossed, a scowl on his handsome face.
I can’t stop thinking about Palacia and what I could have done differently. Perhaps if I hadn’t spoken with my mother for so long, I would have left the Chained Sisters earlier and could have helped thwart the initial attack.
No,I think, shaking my head.I only would have gotten into deeper shit. Those vampires meant business. They were on a mission.
Immediately upon entering the manor, Skartovius sent four vampires from his court to guard the North Mines from further attack.
Vallan says, “It won’t matter. They won’t be back. They got what they came for.”
“And more besides,” Garro adds in a morose mumble, “with the other halfkeepers they took trying to find Seph’s friend.”
“If it weren’t for us, you’d have been captured too, little temptress. Or dead.”
Skar’s words stop me cold, midstride. There’s a grating tone to his voice, the frustration behind his words enough to match my own.
I ignore him for now, flaring my nostrils and glancing over at Vallan. “There has to be more we can do. We can go find her!”
Vallan frowns, blinking at me like I’m dense. “One does not simply waltz into the Intelligence Ward without careful planning. Alacine Mortis has the place trapped up for anyone who dares enter her widow’s web.”
