Raikin’s eyes became little more than slits. “Thank the Goddess after we are out of this mess. You of all people shouldn’t put your trust in Rylo. He is as slippery as a serpent and more mad than your previous stay.”
“I believe for once in our lives, Rylo and I have the same goal. He won’t stay loyal to me if Avery fails, but I will not let that happen. Do you have what I need?”
“Yes, it was challenging to procure. Especially without raising questions in the towers. I disguised myself enough that no one could recognize me as a Latian. I also got my hands on a Latian gown. Not in the same disguise, of course.”
Raikin handed over a small bundle to Savine. At least Avery would be armed with iron. He wouldn’t take any chances against their future.
Avery slipped out of the tub and wrapped herself in the silk robe. Peeking out of the room, she noticed Savine and Raikin talking on the balcony outside.
Only a few more hours remained until she would come face to face with Jasper. Her stomach flipped, and she tried to calm the shaking in her hands. She’d been struggling all day with keeping herself calm.Even during training, Avery had fumbled so many times as Savine tried to take her through some simple maneuvers.
She’d need pure luck tonight to succeed. Either that or help from that Goddess.
A knock brought her back to reality, and she opened the door to find Susan and Rue standing in the hallway.
A shriek escaped Avery’s mouth as she pulled her friends in close for a hug. All three women laughed as they held each other. Her heart thudded in her chest as she pulled back and looked them over. They were alive and safe.
“How did you get to my room?” Avery asked.
Savine came running into the room from the balcony. “Avery! I heard you—Oh! Susan, Rue. You’re here.”
“We are. We finally escaped our room,” Rue said. Savine and Raikin both cocked their heads and stared, like Susan and Rue performed something impossible.
Susan smiled. “It was Rue. Somehow, she convinced Selene to bring us to you. We’d heard rumors that something big was happening tonight, and we wanted to see you before this evening.”
Savine’s eyes widened. “That seems very out of character for her. Doing something just to be nice.”
“You convinced Selene? How? She wouldn’t budge when I tried to get you here earlier,” Avery said, looking at the shrewd smile on Rue’s face.
“She kept stopping by to check on us. So I just continued to sweet talk my way into letting us visit. Today, she walked into our room and told us to follow her quickly. I wasn’t sure what we were being led to, but she stopped at your door and told us you were in here. She said she would be back in thirty minutes,” Rue said as she turned her head to Avery, curls bouncing.
“Yes, well, we don’t have long,” Susan said. “We have been fed, clothed, and, relatively speaking, treated like guests. Guests that had no freedom or ability to leave our rooms. But still, I expected to end up in the Tower of Teeth. What does Rylo want with you?”
Avery wanted her friends to know all the details. “The King of Latiah is here. Rylo wants me to kill him tonight. Apparently, he hates Jasper as much as Savine does, but isn’t going to be as patient with me while I learn how to actually kill a powerful fae.”
Susan lifted a hand to her mouth. Her freckles starkly contrasted with her pale skin. “You have to kill Jasper tonight? Oh, Avery! What are you going to do?”
Savine crossed the room, sliding his hand around Avery’s waist. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t fail. I would like both of you to be there too. Raikin and Jay are here to help as well.”
Rue tilted her head, studying Savine and Avery. “Something’s happened between you two. I mean, something was obviously going on before we were taken, but what are we missing here?”
“I’m Savine’s soulmate!” Avery said. She flashed Savine a big grin, and he reciprocated with a smile that warmed Avery’s heart.
“Congratulations!” Susan and Rue said.
Susan turned her attention to Savine. Her jaw tightened, and a frown erased her smile. “Savine, I’ll fight with Avery.” Susan looked at Avery as she spoke, “I know about as much as you do when it comes to defending myself, Avery. But I’ve been practicing magic for years now. I mentioned the ancient witches formed a coven. I don’t know how it works, but I’ll help you tonight. We’ll get through this together.”
Rue gave Avery a sad, slight smile. “I can’t kill him. Goddess knows I wish I could. For all he did to my people and to our true king. But I won’t let him harm you.”
Savine nodded. “Alright then, let’s get ready to dethrone a king.”
Chapter fifty-seven
Avery
Despite the faint butterflies in her stomach, Avery entered the banquet room, standing straight and walking confidently. Wearing a forest green gown in the Latian style, she knew that her clothing would be an immediate insult to the King. Not only was she wearing clothing in his nation’s style, but she also wore the color of Latian royalty.
With a low cut front and back, the dress showed way more skin than what seemed to be acceptable by Nepheli standards. The fabric fit like a glove to her small frame. Long sleeves of lace had images of different plants in the fabric. Raikin had obviously gotten the dress tailored to her shorter stature, as it hit at her ankles. The right leg had a cut up to mid thigh that gave her more movement than the stifling Nepheli dresses. She felt like a sexy badass in the dress, and that definitely wasn’t hurting her confidence as she prepared to take down a king.
