I’ve heard that name susurrated parsimoniously around the Vahti. It’s forever accompanied by a beat of weighted silence and a quick press of lips, as though it isn’t a name but a curse. Sure enough, that’s exactly what happens to Behati whose lips thin and pupils retract.
“A shame we cannot drain her,” Kanti chirrups from right over my shoulder.
I jump, not having realized she’d crept so close, and shimmy away. When shadows churn beside me, I startle again, settling when they take the shape of my Crow guard.
“Geez”—Kanti blows air through lips slicked with a fresh coat of pink—“it wasn’t a threat, Mórrgaht.”
Did he speak into her mind? Fallon mentioned he could pour words inside the heads of non-Crows. Well, except into mine.
“I’m well aware of the reason the traitress must be kept alive,” Kanti continues.
This is the most information I’ve gathered on this Meriam: she’s a traitress of Priya’s bloodline.
Cathal fists his fingers, then stretches them, eliciting cracks. “In case you ever forget the reason, I’ll be glad to remind you.”
“Nowthatsounded like a threat,” Kanti whines. “But are we sure the spell endures? You know, since she doesn’t have blood magic?”
Meriam’s of Priya’s bloodline but doesn’t have magic? How’s that possible?
“It’s not a risk we’re willing to take.” Lorcan’s timbre is so dark and cold it thrusts a chill up my spine.
“Priya gave you an oath that no harm would befall Meriam, Mórrgaht.” Behati’s reminder seems to ease the Sky King’s tension.
“Are you ready?” he asks Kanti.
She flourishes a hand toward two giant trunks filled with her belongings. “All packed.” She leans over to kiss Behati’s cheeks. “You’ll have to send word of how tomorrow goes.” Her eyes flick to me. “Daya’s first swim with?—”
“Kanti.” Behati’s eyes widen, a warning for her to hush.
The tempo of my heart peaks anew. My first swim withwhat? Withwho?
“Oops.” Kanti shrugs and mentions how I surely have no clue whatshe’s going on about. She’s right, nevertheless, it irks me.“Off to conquer an enemy heart.” She flings me a smile that glows as bright as the moon moths fluttering around the Vahti. “Farewell, scaly one.”
I will not miss her.
“Shall we depart, Lore? I’m simply dying to set my eyes upon your kingdom!”
“Mórrgaht,” he says. “Not only am I your elder, but for the foreseeable future, I’ll also be your ruler.”
Her white smile loses much of its vigor. “You’ll still be my elder once I’m queen. Will you demand I call you by your title then,Mórrgaht?” She rolls the ‘R’s in his name, snapping them out disdainfully.
Queen?Queen of what?
Lorcan’s golden eyes flick toward Behati. “I wasn’t aware Priya was planning on abdicating.”
“Every good monarch needs to allow the next generation to rise at some point,” Behati says.
“And Priya’s thinking of naming Kanti as her successor?” One of Lorcan’s eyes spasms as though the news unsettles him.
I imagine it’s because it would mean the male Kanti’s destined to seduce would rule alongside her. I might not understand every intricacy about reigning, but I do understand that having an enemy guarding the Mahananda cannot possibly please the Crow King. I suddenly worry that sending her to Luce is a terrible idea. Especially since she knows what obsidian can do to Crows.
“She knows Shabbe and its people better than any other blood relative of Priya’s,” Behati says, her gaze drifting over a wing of the palace I’ve yet to explore before settling over me.
Kanti raises her chin, pride wafting off her sun-kissed skin like fragranced oil.
Lorcan frowns. “Correct me if I’m wrong, Behati, but I thought the incumbent queen could only volunteer a successor. Isn’t it ultimately the Cauldron’s choice?”
“That’s correct.”
