“Oh shit,” Alistair says, very eloquently summarizing what we’re all feeling.
Draven massages his brow and mutters, “Fuck.” Then he stands up as well and rolls his shoulders back. And within seconds, the Commander of the Dread Legion is standing there, exuding power and control. “Alright, we need to get to the Gold Clan first.”
“How?” Diana demands. “Westill don’t know where they are.”
“So we do what everyone does when they don’t know where they’re going but don’t want to admit that,” I say.
They all turn to look at me in silent question.
I frown at them in confusion, because I thought the answer to that would be obvious, but I explain anyway. “We follow someone who does.”
“Sneaky.” Lyra grins. “I like it.”
Draven lets out a low chuckle. “Alright, let’s do it. Bane andJessina know where the Gold Clan is, or they will soon at least, so we just follow them there and then steal the Gold Clan first.” He shifts his gaze to Diana. “That plan enough for you?”
She tilts her head to the side as if considering but then finally nods.
“Good.” Draven looks to Orion. “Where’s my armor?”
“In the room I allowed you to stay in last time,” the Unseelie King replies.
Draven dips his chin in acknowledgement and then starts towards the door. But he only makes it two steps before someone else speaks up.
“So,” Isera begins. Still leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, she slides her gaze to Orion. “Does this mean that you’re still with us?”
“Even though you lied and trapped me in a fake bargain?” he finishes for her, his black and silver eyes sharp.
Isera says nothing. Only continues watching him in silence.
Tension crackles like lightning in the otherwise bright and airy room. Everyone else is frozen on the floor, watching the two of them as they stare each other down.
“Perhaps,” Orion finally replies, but he draws out the word, making it sound like the answer depends on what he gets in return.
Isera clenches her jaw for a few seconds. It looks like she has to force her next words out of her mouth. “What do you want?”
A slow smirk curves Orion’s lips as he lets the silence stretch, and his eyes glint dangerously as he keeps them locked on Isera. “I want you to say please. I want you to admit that you cannot do this without me.”
“Please, Orion, we—” I begin, but he immediately cuts me off.
“No. Not you.” His eyes remain fixed on Isera. “Her.”
By the wall, Isera draws in a highly controlled breath. Lightning flickers in her blue and silver eyes as she holds his gaze. He just stares right back at her, daring her to do it.
A low growl comes from her chest. Then she opens her mouth.
“Not from over there,” Orion says before the first word can leave her lips. “I want you to look me in the eye properly.”
Grinding her teeth, she glares at him while a muscle flickers in her jaw. But Orion doesn’t back down. Instead, he raises his hand and curls a commanding finger at her. She lets out a soft snarl.
With jerky movements, she pushes off from the wall and stalks across the floor until she is standing right in front of him. Since he is taller than her, she has to crane her neck to make eye contact with him, which is no doubt what he wanted. She draws in another controlled breath.
“Please, Orion,” she forces out. “We can’t do this without you.”
The smirk on his face turns positively villainous. “Perfect.”
“So you’re with us?”
“Of course I am.” His eyes gleam in the bright sunlight that falls in through the windows. “If the Icehearts are going after the Gold Clan, my court is in danger too. And the best way to protect it is by helping you succeed in your mission to get them first.”
