“Ex-lord,” Skartovius points out, “current fugitive on the run, and the perfect target for Liolen to capture and hand over to Aramastun for loyalty points.”
I lift my hands from the table. “It can’t beme, can it?”
“No! It shouldn’t beanyof us, you fucking brat!” Skartovius yells. He’s immediately annoyed at this line of thinking. “There’s no reason we need to meet with Liolen Sesk.”
I glance at Vallan beside me. “How did Vallan bring down Overlord Barnabac, hmm? By meeting with him. Day in, day out.”
“Out of compulsion to do so, silverblood,” he grunts.
“Still. Without that connection, thatcloseness, we would have never gotten as far as you did. Skar, I’m sure you can do the same with Liolen.”
The nobleblood clenches his jaw and presses his fingers to the thin bridge of his nose. “At the very least, it should be Vallan going with me. With his bloodsight, he can tell when you’re in trouble. With my shadowwalking, I can bring us to you in a heartbeat if anything goes awry for you in Nuhav.”
Skartovius’ prudent suggestion has everyone else nodding along. His words ring true, of course, because he’s smart and having two of my strongest mates together while meeting with Liolen Sesk is a huge boon.
I’m not going to let him off that easy. Because the point isn’t about the meeting with Liolen Sesk, in my mind. Skar knowsthat. It’s about having some “alone time” with Lukain so the two of them can hash out their differences and hopefully return to me as allies rather than unwitting enemies.
Ineedmy mates to trust each other for this to work and for our goals to see fruition.
Against the wave of nodding faces, I go against the tide and shake my head. “You’ve all called me the leader of this outfit. That’s my decision. Palacia will go with you, because she might be able to relate to Liolen as an interfolk.” I cringe, peeking over Zefyra’s shoulder, and add, “I hope that wasn’t insulting. Sorry if it was, Pala.”
She shrugs. “I don’t care where I go.”
I wish all my mates were as compliant as her. Of course, she’s also not my mate, and doesn’t want to be hitched to my side at all times.Right?
“That leaves Garro and Vall with me,” I announce, and sit back in my seat, trying not to act smug. “We will go to Nuhav to find my mother and the rest of the Chained Sisters.”
Zefyra gives me an impressed pout. “I like the way you run your company, Sister Sephania. Like a true leader. Even if your ideas are shit.”
I bark a laugh. Garro cracks a smile. Vallan grunts.
Inclining my chin to Zefyra, I say, “That leaves one last point, Zef. Can you point on a map where you hid the Chained Sisters?”
She smiles. “You know the popular tavern with the cock on the front, in the south?”
My eyebrows lift. “The cock?”
“The rooster. Crowing chicken. Whatever it is.”
I nod. “Right.”
“Down the street is a smaller brothel tended by a man named Kep. Real pleasant fucker.”
You mean the brothel where I fucked Garroway on the roof? Where we killed Pukren the flesh-trader? Where we first ranacross Sister Cyprilis? Where we nearly came to blows with ol’ Kep and his younger workers trying to save vampiress Cy?“The name rings a bell,” I say flatly.
“In the basement of the brothel, that’s where you’ll find the Chained Sisters.” She dips her chin. “Unchained, I assure you.”
I chew the inside of my cheek, thinking it over. “You’ve told this grand story, Zefyra. What I want to know is howyoumanaged to bring an army of girls and women into Nuhav and under the Floorboards.”
“I’m good at being invisible.”
I snort. “That explanation isn’t going to work forever, old friend.”
“For now it’s going to have to.”
Our eyes lock. We’re equal in terms of audacity. I have to say I enjoy rapping with her. “Fine. For now,” I relent. My eyes swivel to Skartovius, who is still steaming over his job placement with his half-brother. “You want to make yourself useful to our cause, love? Then why don’t you throw a shadow on the wall over there and help portal us to the cock bar.”
Chapter 12
