CHAPTER 27
KASIRA
DESSEN LUNGED FORWARD.
He seized Kasira’s wrist, clamping something metallic on her skin. In a shock of cold, the magic left her, and her knees buckled. Dessen wrenched her arm painfully behind her, his ragged nails cutting into her skin.
“Release her!” Allaster snarled.
Ambassador Vera’s cold laugh echoed in response. “You don’t know whom you defend, Librarian.”
Kasira’s mind couldn’t keep up with what was happening. It didn’t make any sense. Dessen should have been in a cell awaiting sentencing, and Vera—what was she doing?
The Ambassador dug a hand into Kasira’s hair, wrenching back her head. “Allow me to introduce Kasira Vitalis, con artist, convicted criminal, and deserter of the Malikinar.”
The words funneled through Kasira’s head, once, twice, but they refused to make any sense. Every part of her told her to run, but when she reached for the magic, she found nothing. Her power was gone, and she was surrounded by enemies, and Allaster was looking at her as if she had ripped his heart from his chest,and she didn’t know what was happening.
“Allaster—” she began, but Dessen thrust her to the ground. A boot connected with her ribs, sending her onto her back. Dessen freeda knife, holding it to her throat, and seven years of powerlessness pinned her to the spot with a fear so thick it clung to her like swamp scum.
This was it. It was over.
She was going back to Belvar. Back to the cloying darkness, to a quiet so complete, even the sound of her own breathing had been too much to bear.
“Where is Lady Eirlana, you bitch?” Dessen dug the blade into her skin hard enough to draw blood. “What did you do to her?”
They knew where Eirlana was. Knew that Kasira had no idea what had become of the noblewoman’s body. Why make a show of demanding that information from her? She clung to the question, desperate for an anchor in the roiling sea threatening to drag her under. There had to be an explanation for this, and her frantic mind churned in search of it.
Vera had revealed her true identity, but not that she was a spy. Perhaps this was just another move on the board? If she was right, then Vera could be trying to pull her out, or get her alone in order to speak to her. If she was wrong and she turned on Vera, telling Allaster the truth, he would strip her of her magic and title and hand her over to Kalthos.
If there was any rule of the con to live or die by, it was not to give up the game when it appeared that your cover was blown. Acting rashly would only dig her deeper, and her instincts told her something else was happening here. She had no choice but to play it out.
Dessen kicked her again, and she felt something crack. “Where is she?”
“She’s dead!” Kasira screamed, giving the only answer she had and praying it was correct. “All I did was take her place.”
“Enough!” Allaster shoved Dessen back, his magic-enhanced strength sending the Malik flying into the arms of the Kalish guards. Kasira unfurled and staggered to her feet, steadying herself against the wall. She dug her fingers under the cuff Dessen had latched on her wrist and stilled when she recognized the material: It was the same as Allaster’s jewelry.
Somehow, the substance was subduing her magic.
Allaster was staring at the cuff too, his pale eyes wide. “Henolite. How …?”
Dessen’s sneer only grew as Kasira’s fingers scrambled at the cuff. It required a key, and she had nothing to pick it with. Even Loraya’s hairpin she’d left in the drawer beside her bed, thinking it safer there now that she could summon it at will with magic. How complacent had she gotten here that she’d stopped keeping something as simple as a pick on her person?
“Detain her,” Vera ordered her soldiers.
Allaster stepped between them, an immovable wall. “No.”
“Perhaps you didn’t hear me, Librarian,” she intoned. “She is not Eirlana Corynth. I suspected it from the moment I saw her and have been investigating her since. She is an imposter, a fugitive of the law, who rightfully belongs to the Kalish authorities. She—”
“Is the Assistant Librarian of Amorlin and not under your jurisdiction,” Allaster interrupted in a tone that dared Vera to contradict him. “Eirlana Corynth or not, the Library chose her.Ichose her, and my authority on the matter supersedes yours.”
Kasira gaped at him. She didn’t know how she had expected him to react, but it wasn’t like this. The rush of warmth she felt at his defense of her turned cold when she realized the truth of why he’d claimed her: He thought that if he let them take her, Vera would replace her with another Assistant, one actually loyal to the Ambassador.
He was only protecting himself.
Is that why Vera had done this? To erase whatever doubt remained in Allaster’s mind that she was the Ambassador’s pawn? It would explain why she hadn’t told Kasira about it from the beginning. Just like with the Zeras, she had wanted Kasira’s genuine reaction. But why take such a big risk when Kasira had already gained Allaster’s trust?
“I think he’s grown attached to her.” Dessen’s laugh shuddered through her. “Perhaps you don’t understand what the Malikinar means, Librarian. Kasira here is abeast slayer.”
