Reid’s eyes darkened, anger playing on his clenched jaw, and he cursed through his teeth. The hand she wasn’t holding raised to rake through his short hair. He looked so strange in Asteryan fashion, his borrowed clothes one of the costumes all attendees wore. Gone were the sweeping, jewel-toned fabrics of Icruria, and she missed them.
“All right, what’s your plan?” he asked. Measured. Strategic. Calm. The same as she had always known him.
Vaasa bit her lip. “I don’t have one yet.”
His thick brow raised. “Oh.”
Vaasa stepped away just long enough to undo the ridiculous wings that covered her shoulders. Reid took them from her and placed them upon the bed. It caused her chest to tighten—in affection, in agony. It was the simplicity of him wanting to help her: a small task, yet something they could do together.
He approached again, his eyes scanning over her. “I—” He went utterly still. “What are those?” Reid demanded, hand raising to trail over her upper arm. Vaasa didn’t need to look to know he was referring to the small silvery scars that Lord Vlacik had left her with. The ones Ozik had allowed to remain on her, a subtle reminder of what could be inflicted upon her if she misbehaved. A story he could spin about what had happened in Icruria. “Don’t worry—”
“Donotavoid the question,” he demanded.
“Please,” Vaasa whispered.
Reid’s voice shook with grief and hatred. “Who cut you?”
“I don’t want to discuss it.”
“Was it Ozik?”
Vaasa shook her head. “Please—”
“Do they still live?”
Vaasa nodded.
His finger caught her chin and lifted her eyes to meet his, refusing to allow her to hide. “One more thing, and then you never have to speak of it again. A name. Just a name.”
Vaasa swallowed. “Lord Vlacik.”
Reid looked up at her, something blooming to life in his gaze. A familiarity. Of course—he had just met with the man. Vaasa went stiff, and by the way he pressed his lips together, she knew he hated to see her afraid. His composure melted then. Gone was the anger and the violence and the wolf. He replaced it with that gentle simmer—still a fire, yet one that was meant to keep her warm instead. He kept to his word; he didn’t speak as he checked both arms for the marks. “Did you get my message? The leather tie?” he finally asked.
Vaasa closed her eyes for only a moment, her heart thudding in her chest. “Yes,” she whispered, opening her eyes again. She reached into her pocket and extended the tie to him. “I did. I thought…” She gritted her teeth as she breathed in. “I thought it might be a trap. Is she really a merchant’s daughter?”
Reid shook his head. His fingers glided over the leather like it meant something precious to him, and then he pocketed it. “Sachia is a pirate and a witch, too. Her brother is in the prison. We’re trying to break him out. Koen is downstairs negotiating with a man named Lord Karev. Are you familiar with him?”
Koen was the other man, the lanky one. She had been right. “You’re masquerading as salt lords? Smuggling black powder?”
“How do you know that?”
“Lord Karev is meeting with an Icrurian. We’re at war, Reid. You had to know that would gather attention.” She raked a hand through her hair. “You have to stop. If Ozik catches wind—”
“Breathe, Wild One,” he murmured. “I know. We’re going to have to be careful, but there is no other way forward. I’ve considered my options all day. There are a hundred underhanded deals happening in this city as we speak. Hopefully we’ll just be another one. “Koen is using the name Remi LeTorneau, my grandfather. I’m supposedly his bodyguard.”
Vaasa pursed her lips. She had to tell him the truth of who he was bargaining with—about why it would never be just another deal. “Lord Karev is a frontrunner for the throne. Him and Lord Vlacik.”
Reid’s face darkened. “Sachia told me. Ambitious, aren’t these men? To try and steal someone else’s wife?”
Vaasa lay her hand on Reid’s cheek. “Can we communicate through Sachia? Do you think she would be willing?” A pirate witch. Vaasa could hardly wrap her mind around it. What she didn’t say floated between them:Can we trust her?
Reid’s jaw stayed tight, but he let out a small breath. “She will help us. She and Karev have a plan to seize control of the prison.”
Vaasa frowned. “Vlacik can get you further into that prison than Karev ever will.”
“Not after tonight.”
“What do you mean?”
