“Your family,” Selene murmured quietly. “I am very sorry to tell you, thatfamilyof yours doesn’t place as much value on you as you apparently hold for them.”
Jordana’s chin came up in challenge. “What are you talking about?”
“I offered to let you go. All the Order had to do was bring me the crystal that belongs to me.”
“You did what?” Her expression was incredulous, her tone edged with disgust. “Tell me they didn’t agree to that.”
“They did agree, Jordana, but then they sent a ruse instead. All they delivered was lies.”
“What are you talking about? Who did they send here?” Panic rose in her voice. “Was it Nathan? Is he here? No, he can’t be here . . . I would feel him in my blood.”
Of course, she would. Because Jordana had bound herself to a Breed warrior by blood and vow. As unfathomable as it seemed, it was obvious she loved her mate deeply. It was a feeling Selene had never known in all of her immortal existence.
She slowly shook her head. “No, he was not the one they sent. It was Darion Thorne.”
“Dare came for me? Where is he, Selene? I want to see my friend right now.”
“That won’t be possible.”
“Oh, God. What have you done?”
“Don’t worry, he’s alive . . . for now. But he’s not going anywhere. He betrayed me and there is a price to be paid for that. He had a chance to bring me the crystal, but he brought only deceit, despite knowing your freedom was at stake.”
Instead of reacting with disappointment or hurt, Jordana let out a sharp laugh. “I’m glad Darion didn’t give in to your demands. I’mrelieved. No one trusts you with another crystal, least of all any of us. All you’ll do is use it to make war on the Order and our world.”
“That’s not true.” Selene frowned, taken aback by the accusation. “It’s the Breed who threatens us, our peaceful way of life. They’re no better than the monsters they came from, terrorizing and killing, turning their streets red with bloodshed and violence.”
“Not the Order,” Jordana replied vehemently. “All we want is peace. We’ll fight for it. We’ll die for it if that’s what it takes.”
We.Not they. Had the warriors and the male she’d taken as her mate corrupted Jordana’s reason so much she couldn’t accept the truth? Or was her faith in their honor simply that strong?
Jordana paced forward a step. “If you value peace as much as you claim, then let me go. Release Darion and me now.”
Selene stared into those pleading blue eyes that looked so much like Soraya’s. Even if she wanted to give Jordana her freedom, she couldn’t. Darion Thorne had tied her hands with his betrayal.
“I’m sorry,” she said gently. “I cannot do that. I won’t reward the Order’s deceit. It would only encourage more of the same.”
“Or it might help show them that you could possibly be an ally, not an enemy.”
Selene sighed, loathing this impasse that stood between her and her only kin. “You are free to walk about the palace and grounds as you wish, Jordana, but go no farther. You won’t get past the veil.”
“What about Darion?”
“What about him?”
“He can’t survive here, Selene. The unrelenting light is one thing, but unless you mean to starve him to death, he’ll need to feed. Without nourishment--without drinking blood from an open vein--he’ll die.”
“How long?” Selene asked, curious in spite of herself.
“A week, possibly less.”
He had been in the east tower for three days and counting. If she wanted to bargain him back to the Order for their crystal, she needed to keep him alive. No matter how he irritated her simply with his presence, she didn’t intend for him to die.
Selene recoiled at the idea of Darion’s fangs tearing into someone’s throat, but she could see Jordana truly was concerned about him. She cared for him, had called Darion her friend.
If she could give Jordana nothing else, she could give her this.
“Tell me what he needs,” she murmured stiffly.
