Airia curled her finger toward him. “You’re sure?”
Reyla stepped between us and the Liege. “Don’t lay a hand on anyone in this room.” Flames of her magic swirled around her, lifting her hair and making the air crackle.
The Liege’s skeletal hand snagged Reyla’s wrist, and he flipped her arm over with surprising ease, revealing her pale, smooth skin. “No mark.”
She struggled to break free but couldn’t. “I’m not anyone’s bonded mate.”
“No, no you aren’t.” His head tilted. “Would you like to know where to find them? I’ll give you clues for the right price.”
She jerked away and rubbed the spot he’d touched. “Find what?”
“You will soon hold many pieces, both simple and grand, all with the potential to end or begin. I can show you the right ones.”
A subtle quiver rippled through her frame, and she clutched the arm of a nearby chair tight enough to blanche her fingers. “No deal.”
He sucked in a raspy breath. “Too bad. It would’ve made things much easier for you.”
“What are you talking about?” she shrieked, her face flashing florid.
“Promise first, and secrets will follow.”
“No deal!” Spooked, she backed away to stand behind Vexxion, peering past him at the Liege.
“What about you, precious younger sister?” the Liege askedLayla. “Do you wish to know if the child you carry will live long enough to feel the sun warming his face?”
Her hands covered her belly protectively, and when she met my eyes, the shock I felt at this announcement was mirrored there.
“I’m not pregnant,” she said. “It’s too soon.”
“Will his father be able to claim him, or will he one day belong to his grandsire?” The Liege pointed to her belly. “Surely you’d like to make a deal.”
“Stay away from me.” She backed around a table and snatched a blade up from its surface, brandishing it in the air. “I will not give in. I will not give in!”
“Enough,” I snarled. I studied each of my friends in turn. “Ignore him while I’m gone.” I flitted to our room and strode to the closet, where I tugged out the bag that even now thrummed.
Light glinted off something lying on the shelf where I’d placed the bag, and I stooped forward.
How had the mirror shards gotten here? I’d taken care to hide them with the rest of the stolen objects in one of the bureaus.
I’d planned to tell Vexxion about my latest visit to Ivenrail’s bedroom. My aunt must know. Had the crown responded to her call, or had she found it inside my suite?
Should I flit to the parlor or deal with the shards right now? They’d revealed themselves for a reason.
Look and you will finally see,the fairy told me. Was she referring to the mirror?
With a shake of my head, I tightened my grip on the bagand flitted back to the parlor, finding Vexxion holding the Liege in place with his threads while the others crowded around them both, brandishing knives and swords.
“Let’s kill him,” Zayde snapped, his face overcome with fury. “Then we don’t need to fulfill bargains.”
“Your mate wears one of my collars,” the Liege said in a voice as crisp as a long-dead corpse. “Do you dare trust it’ll remain there after my death?”
Zayde nudged Layla behind him. “Don’t threaten us.”
“Never threats. Only bargains.” The Liege’s head snapped around, his unseen face pointing my way, though his focus had dropped to the bag that pulsed with hideous glee in my hand. The throb vibrated through the cloth, sinking into my bones with a splintering pain. If I gave him the hearts, would that make him more powerful? I had enough threats to deal with already.
But I’d promised. “I’ll give these to you if you tell Vexxion your deal with him is complete.”
“He offered blood,” the Liege said.
