She did no such thing. “We risked our lives for this information. You put your son in harm’s way. Captain Valkip nearlydiedto make sure you were warned before something worse happened.”
“I saidsit down,” the king growled again. This time, Boelyn stepped closer with his sword drawn.
Brela jabbed a finger at the king. “They are going to unleash shadow hell on us if we don’t stop them. They will continue to kill my people—“
“I don’t care about those filthy cultists,” King Ingram snarled.
Serill reacted faster than he thought possible. Faster than Boelyn could aim his blade and faster than the clamoring soldiers who chased after her. As Brela lunged for the king, Serill roared.
“STOP.”
She froze immediately. So did everyone in the room, including Boelyn and his father.
Serill carefully surveyed the soldiers from where he stood. Watched Boelyn’s jaw drop more and more with each breath. Even the king could only stare, his face pale.
Brela was inches from the king’s desk, reaching for his throat. She’d covered ten feet in a blink. No one would have made it to her in time to take her down. She didn’t even have a weapon drawn, yet no one could have stopped her.
Except him, and she’d known. She’d played them all perfectly.
Empress of Chaos.
Serill swallowed and kept his shoulders back as he glared at Brela. “I will not warn you again.”
She stepped back slightly and dipped her chin. “Apologies, Your Highness.”
Four hells, she was good.
Serill turned to his father. “Enough with the games. Brela did more to protect our people in the last few weeks than we’ve done in years. She saved my life and Cason’s, and has just gotten us information that will help our entire kingdom prepare for a war we didn’t know was coming.” He folded his arms. “Give her the other half.”
His father swallowed, nostrils flaring as he glared between Brela and him. The king had just lost his advantage, and he was going to hold on to every last ounce of power he had left to wield.
Finally, he motioned to Boelyn. Sword still drawn, Boelyn retrieved another coin purse from the desk drawer and chucked it at Brela. She didn’t snarl this time as she caught it, checking the amount and nodding to Serill.
“Thank you,” Serill said to the entire room, though he meant it more for Brela. He nodded slightly to his father. “I hope you will take this threat seriously. We should begin talking strategy and how to warn the other kingdoms—“
“I will not discuss the business of our kingdom in front of this cultist,” the king growled.
Brela only glared at the man.
Serill fought the urge to snarl. “Fine. Then I hope you’ll give me a few minutes to escort Brela out of this room.”
The king leveled a stare at Brela, then gave a sly grin. “Spend your money wisely, Night Terror. I’m sure you deserve everything that’s coming with your newfound freedom.”
Before Serill could read the strange smile, the king waved his hand and dismissed them. Serill roped his arm through Brela’s, partly dragging her with him. As the doors shut behind them, Brela spun out of his grip and stuck her tongue out at the closed office.
“Feel better?” Serill asked, folding his arms.
She shrugged. “A little bit.” Her eyes flicked to his as a grin spread over her face. “You continue to surprise me. That was utterlybrilliant, Prince.”
He couldn’t help his own smile. “You are something else, Brela.”
Weaving her fingers into his with a chuckle, she practically skipped with him down the hall. “Those soldiers loved you before, but,oh,you just doubled their respect for you. And yourfather. Just… perfection.”
“One day, you’ll have to tell me how you can scheme and plan things so perfectly. How long have you been planning that little stunt?”
Brela wiggled her brows. “Since the day before we left Aelstow.”
“Seriously?”
