“Everybody is a monster in their own way.”
“Talk for yourself,” I mutter. “Did these side effects turn you into an asshole?”
“That is a subjective descriptor,” Heka replies levelly. “I would never have allowed the little prince to have been so sloppy when I was his tutor. The side effects are more like daytime illusions. Those missing dreams force themselves onto you through hallucinations. It would break a weak mind.”
“Not yours then?”
When he bares his teeth, I’m not sure if it’s meant to be a smile or a threat. “I’m the smartest vampire mage in Sheut. Mine was probably already broken.”
Okay, not what I was expecting.
I glance toward the door.
Could I make it? The shifter side in me feels close to the skin. But I am still not as fast as a vampire, even a scholar like this one.
“You don’t need to be frightened of me.” Heka saunters around the table, and I press my back to it. Fear surges through me, and I force myself to keep my breathing steady. I don’t want to trigger my pinion feather to thinking I am in peril and have a half asleep and confused Daire dragged through a portal to protect me. “It is an honor that the future Queen has come to visit my special House of Life; almost no one does. Also, it is an honor because it means that my ex-student has spoken about me. What has he said, hmm? Was he pleased with the bracelets that I created for him?”
I nod.
So, Heka craves admiration and respect for his brilliance and magic, even if he doesn’t care about the rest of the court.
I can work with that.
I’ve come to think that Alphas have a greater praise kink than Omegas.
Or possibly, simply bigger egos.
“He was impressed.” I smile, allowing my hand to fall from the hilt of my dagger. “They work to stop Dove’s skin burning.”
“I knew it,” Heka declares, puffing out his chest.
“Lanlin wondered, however, why you hadn’t made more progress on removing the iron or the mask,” I add, casually. “I mean, he did say that he knew how fucking hard the problem was to solve. Don’t panic. He didn’t blame you. It’s just that he thought you were smart enough to have worked out a solution. Oh, well.”
Heka’s expression clouds for a moment, before he snarls. “Iamsmart enough. I’m the only person in the realms who has cracked a way to combat metallicum magic. But the prince?—”
“King,” I correct.
“He is sentimental and led by his knot. He does not know just how devastating that fae’s magic would be when unleashed. Is he truly ready to know the truth? I can’t be responsible for being the one who unleashes him on this kingdom.”
Then he falls silent like he knows he has been goaded into saying more than he intended to.
He doesn’t know about Daire’s disguise and secret identity, right?
“Have a thing against fae, huh?” I attempt to reach for the talisman again. “Dove is a featherglass. Your King knows that already and kicked his arse when they sparred. Even if you free some of Dove’s magic, Lanlin can destroy entire armies — Dove isn’t the one with the deadly magic here.”
Heka’s lips slowly curl into a smile. “I see why he is attracted to an Omega like you. Clever thing. What are you trying to reach behind your back?”
“Nothing,” I say too quickly.
“This?” Heka snatches the glinting object off the table.
Then he holds it up between us.
I can feel the powerful magic thrumming off it.
Spellbound, I study the tiny stone.
It is smooth, dense, and dark as the Void. It has been shaped like a scarab beetle.
