Her hand rested on mine a moment before she spoke again. “We trust the temple. Milgran has no idea that we’ve chosen a side different from his.”
My heart slammed against my ribs. “You want to be a spy?”
She tipped her hand. “Maybe a little. Maybe not go out on difficult missions, but I would not be opposed to slipping you and the temple a note to let you know we’ve heard something.”
“Having a note from my friend show up at the door wouldn’t be suspicious.”
A grin spread on Jallina’s face. “Exactly.”
I tapped a finger on the tabletop. “This could be dangerous.”
“Did you ever even suspect such an underground in S’Kir? It’s no more dangerous than the Breaker clearly aligning with the temple immediately, and seemingly, without thought.”
My lip twitched. “The Breaker?”
“The Breaker of the Spine.” Her eyebrow went up severely. “You teach the stories, Kimber. You must know about the Breaker of the Spine.”
I had never heard the phrase. I didn’t want to tell her that. It was a terrible omission in my education if I hadn’t, and it wasthisimportant. “Oh, yes. Of course. Sorry. I was focused on Antithesis.”
“So you won’t make it publicly known to Milgran that you’re aligned with the temple.”
“Not at all.”
Wrapping her hands around her mug of coffee once more, Jallina took a deep draught, and I could see the warmth comforted her.
I took on all the chill of the room at that moment.
A sigh escaped before I gave her my firm answer.
“Yes, then. Yes. Please send me information on them. And Milgran. But never at personal risk to you.”
“We must be seen together occasionally. Coffee, shopping, even visiting one another.”
My eyebrow went up this time. “You’ve thought about this.”
Trying not to smirk, she couldn’t quite school her expression. “S’Kir isn’t exactly the most exciting place. We’re happy, we’re content, but even a calm soul like mine needs an adventure once in a while.”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “This is probably more adventure than you really want to experience, Jalli.”
She waved me off with a flick of her wrist. “Feh. I’ll grow old and stale like my books if I don’t do something to help you and the temple.”
I let the words hang there a moment. In the next, I gave her a warning. “Just remember, we don’t know the game, never mind all the players. This is for keeps now.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
~ GWYNNORE ~
I somehow pulled my gun out and attempted to bring it up to the head of the person dragging me away.
Master Niallan slapped it away. “What the hell is your problem?”
“Someone just tried to kill me, you assbag.”
He dropped me to my feet and pushed me out the door of the celebration rooms and into the foyer. “You just beheaded two influential vampires in front of all of the castle and two thousand humans!”
Ugh. The Original was talking to me.
I tried to play nice. It wasn’t going to get any better with him, the situation not changing. He was the possible candidate for King.
