Theira flashed him a grin. “Indeed. It took as long as it did because I had to keep them from finding out what I was actually doing. But when I managed it, Tychon was in a difficult position. He’d already rewarded me with the biggest jewel he could part with, and since I’d delivered both a second victory, and a bigger one, he had to top the previous reward. So he offered me a boon. And I took it.”
It took Varius a second. “You just resigned? At court, to his face?”
Theira’s grin grew wicked. “Indeed,” she said again, this time in a lower voice thatdid thingsto his now-responsive loins. “And since the Sorcerer Ascendant knew I wouldn’t dare if I didn’t believe, in that moment, that I could back it up, he let me go, fully intending to make me pay later once he’d worked out what I’d planned.”
“And did he?”
“No. I didn’t have anything there.”
Varius stared, and then started laughing helplessly. “You beautiful liar. You spent years on a reputation to make him believe it long enough for you to get somewhere youdidhave spells ready.”
An insane risk.
More insane than running away to the door of your lifelong enemy.
She’dplannedher gamble, and her escape, and made it.
Theira’s eyes were bright over her mug of tea. “And now here I am.”
And then the light in her eyes faded.
Here she was, in an empty house. Full of books about crafts just in case she ever needed to learn something, because she couldn’t count on anyone helping her. Varius could come to her, but where couldshego?
To him.
The thought surged through him with the force of an avalanche.
She’d worked, and she’d tried, and somehow she’d still found herself in a situation where she’d escaped but was still trapped. Where no one took care of her, and she didn’t even expect it.
He wanted her to believe that she should expect it.
And that from him, she could.
“Here you are,” Varius echoed, and drained his tea without breaking eye contact.
Let her see that he wasn’t afraid of who she was, and that he’d take her as she was.
“Let me clean up,” he told her.
Theira waved him off. “Not necessary. I can—“
“I know youcan,“ Varius practically growled.
She blinked at him, apparently nonplussed.
And then her head whipped around.
To the door.
Theira stood slowly, rising to her full height, and Varius watched her bearing transform her from a woman eating breakfast to a goddess ready for battle.
Gods curse it. He’d known they’d come, but here in Theira’s kitchen he’d allowed himself to begin to hope they’d have more time.
She hadn’t, he realized now.
That’s why she was dressed for war.
“Well, well,” the Sorceress Transcendent purred. “We have company.”
