I snapped out my threads but kept them restrained—for now. “Tell us.”
Her chin lifted, and her gaze met Tempest’s. “Lord Kerune placed a collar around my throat.”
31
TEMPEST
Gasps rang out.
I recoiled on the sofa. “Hold her.” My strangled call echoed in the room.
Before anyone could act, Vexxion’s threads snapped around Airia, pinning her in place.
“Wait,” she cried. Her flinty gaze met mine. “Let me go. Please.”
Did I dare trust her? It couldn’t be a coincidence that everyone I’d worked with in Bledmire’s aerie was allied with someone high in Ivenrail’s court.
Someone betrayed you.Madrood’s words rang in my mind. Had Airia sent me to Prager?
“Are you reporting to him?” Brodine roared to his feet. “Have you been spying on us all this time and telling him everything?” He looked down at me. “We need to hold her, questionher. Find out what she’s told him. He could be coming for us already.”
“I suspect he’s watching us in some way already with or without Airia spying,” I said. “Sit down, Brodine. You’re blocking my view. She’s not going anywhere. Vexxion’s holding her with his threads.”
Grumbling, he dropped down on the sofa again, glaring at Airia.
“Vera can foretell the future,” I said. “She’s not the only fae with this ability. I’m sure the king has fae working with him who report everything they see.” I turned to Vexxion. “Does the king have many spies?”
“Their numbers continue to dwindle, strangely enough.” His grim smile rose. “A few have taken walks and didn’t return.”
I loved how vicious he could be. And how kind. He’d sacrificed himself for years to protect others, but that was only one of his facets I loved. He was complex and insightful, and oh, so conniving. I’d need his sharp edge if I was going to survive.
“What does that mean?” Brodine asked.
“Nothing,” I said, my gaze sweeping across my friends before landing on Airia. Tears welled in her eyes and trickled down her face, and I could see she was not only awaiting our judgment, but that she expected we’d condemn her.
“Release her,” I said softly.
When his threads slipped away, she sagged, stumbling down into a chair and placing her face in her palms. Lifting her head, she swiped away the tears.
“I can prove I’m loyal,” she said.
“How?” Reyla got up and started pacing. “He’s either on hisway here or he’s waiting nearby already with a huge, flying dreg army. The moment they find their way through our wards, he’ll attack. We’re not ready to take on a force like that. We need time to prepare.”
“He’s not out there,” Vera said in a sing-song voice. “Not yet. Though you’re correct that he’s gathering a huge force of flying dregs. The king is using power to craft as many as he can, some from the very wasteland as was rumored. There’s no stopping that. The Lieges, as nasty as they were, were the only barrier between us and them, and there aren’t many left. Kerune will attack, but we only have a short time to get ready.” Her eyes cleared, and she looked around at all of us while we stared at her. “It’s so rare for me to have a vision now. I’m old. Probably too old to be taking on something like this, but I’m here for you all. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure good triumphs over that evil fiend entrenched in the Bledmire throne.”
“What’s Kerune’s plan?” Brodine snarled at Airia. “Tell us.”
“He’s never confided in me.” Her pleading gaze met mine. “I know what you’re thinking. Will. Prenton. They were manipulated into trying to hurt you, but I’m not like them.” She rose to her feet and though her body wavered, her gaze remained strong. “I can prove it.” Reaching up to the nape of her neck, she twisted something.
A collar like the ones I’d placed around Brodine and Reyla’s neck slid away from her skin.
She lifted her chin, and her steely gaze traveled around the room, locking on each of us in turn before falling on Vexxion. “You’re not the only one who can make deals with Lieges.”
The room exploded, everyone shouting at the same time, most of them directing their fury at Airia.
She quietly slipped the collar back into place and sat, clearly awaiting our judgment.
Maybe she wasn’t my betrayer, though removing Kerune’s collar didn’t prove much other than that he couldn’t trace her here and she wasn’t subject to his whims.
