“Mattia?” I hold his confused blue stare. “Your allegiance . . . where does it lie?”
“With Lorcan Ríhbiadh and the Crows. What sort of question is that?”
“Then you’re welcome to stay; Antoni’s not.”
Mattia gasps. “He let you live underhisroof when you returned to the Fae Lands, Fal.”
“Because I didn’t wish to bury a knife in his throat.”
Mattia pales, his eyes whipping to Antoni’s stony profile, and then he’s taking a step back. “You wish to bury a knife in Fallon’s throat?”
“No.”
The blond’s thick eyebrows knit on his tall forehead. “Then I don’t—”
Sybille pulls him aside to explain all I told her.
As the silence festers, I slide my teeth. “Why come here, Antoni?”
“I came to have a discussion with Lorcan. And I—”
“No.”
“—will leave after he and I—”
“No.”
“—talk. I wasn’t aware audiences with the Sky King went through you now, Fal.”
“I will let him know that you wish to speak to him. If he cares for a conversation, he’ll seek you out. Can someone please fucking fly Antoni out of the castle?”
I start to turn, but Antoni’s callous laughter stops me. “How unforgiving you’ve become.”
“That’s unfair.”
“Is it?”
I turn my head so fast in his direction that my neck cracks. “I saved you, Antoni, but now I choose to save my mate and our people.”
“I didn’t come here to murder anyone. If you don’t believe me, feed me salt, Fallon.”
“You may have decided it was wiser to align yourself with Lore for now, but what happens once the war is over?”
“I don’t know.” He sheathes his dagger. “Maybe I’ll buy a boat and live on a part of the ocean that’s under no one’s jurisdiction.”
Or maybe you will plant an obsidian blade through my mate’s back.
I hear I’m missing quite the showdown, Behach Éan.
I snap walls up around my thoughts before Lore can catch the scene that still haunts me. He may know Antoni loathes him, but I’d prefer he didn’t find out about the sea captain’s design on Luce.
You’re not missing a thing.I glance around the Sky Tavern for a swirl of smoke or feathers, but the air remains clear and motionless save for the heated breaths escaping from my flaring nostrils.
Are you certain, mo khrà?
Yep. Just stay at your meeting. I’ve got mine handled.
“Will someone please inform Lorcan Ríhbiadh that I wish to speak with him?” Antoni huffs.
