Shane put down his glass, face somber. “I wanted to protect my mother and sister—to keep them from worrying. But now we’ll have to warn them and increase their security. Iona has been leading the trade side of the negotiations… Fires of the Abyss. This changes everything.”
Thank the gods. Luka had expected more of an argument. He pulled his swirling thoughts together, forcing himself to focus. To be the knight commander they needed now. “Aiden and Kai, I want one of you among the guards with the royal family at all times. Cori, can you help me with the investigation? I’ve arranged for Dashiell to join us tomorrow, use him for any assistance you need. Go back and look at the mountain path in the daylight. After that, start checking who benefits from war, and look into who knew where Narya was and who had access to her.”
“Yes, Commander.” They stepped forward, eyes glinting with the presence of their beasts as they prepared to follow his orders. He rolled his shoulders back, settling into the role of lead officer.He was confident there. In control. He could make sure that Izzy and the royal family were safe.
“Izzy, I think it would be best if you went with Aiden and Kai. You can visit the princess for a couple of days. Stay with the royal family where we can keep you all safe.”
He expected her to agree, to go with her friends. But he should’ve known better. Izzy never followed his orders, and she always wanted to knowwhy.
“What about you?” she asked, eyes narrowed.
“I’m going with Shane to see the queen and tell her everything. If she agrees, we’ll wake Brigadier General Declan, the archthane’s most senior military aide, and ask him to call an emergency meeting with Batlok. We need to tell them the truth.”
“No. I agreed to tell my mother, not half the world.” Shane stood, scales flickering.
“This is the right thing to do,” Luka insisted.
Shane laughed bitterly. “You want us to take the body of a murdered young woman—one of the most high-ranking members of the delegation—to a man known for his ruthlessness, and then what? Explain that you found her on the banks of our most holy mountain. Claim that you just happened to be in the area and that you didn’t kill her for your prince who, by the way, was seen kissing her earlier? And you expect that he’ll simply agree to step back and let you investigate?”
“No,” Luka rumbled. “I expect he’ll demand more trade concessions, better terms, and find as many ways to humiliate us as possible.”
“Humiliate me, you mean?” Shane asked sourly.
“No,” Izzy disagreed. She tilted her head to the side as if listening to her beast. “Luka plans to take full responsibility. He thinks Batlok will humiliatehim.”
Luka dipped his chin. That was more or less what he expected. He had one job now: save the people he loved.
Izabel’s glare sharpened, her tone growing icy. “That’s not even it though, is it, Luka? You plan to take the blame. Either because you were there, or because you’re the knight commander and it’s your responsibility to keep everyone safe. You plan to give Batlok a convenient scapegoat for his rage… but you don’t expect to be humiliated. You expect to be punished. You plan to sacrifice yourself for the greater good. And, by martyring yourself, you hope to protect Shane… and maybe prevent a war.”
Luka grunted, pain spiraling through him. Of course Izzy knew his plan. No one had ever known him like she did. But someone had to protect them all. Shane, of course. Queen Danikha and Princess Iona. The people of Hugaeb, too. But even more importantly, he needed Izzy to be safe.
What if the talks broke down and they went back to war with Kwanam? What would happen when there were dead and wounded soldiers in their droves? He knew her. She would volunteer and get herself back on the frontline in a heartbeat. He had to protect her. She’d created a life for herself. She had a home now. A business, a relationship?—
You don’t know that.
He did know. He’d seen the man with his own eyes, and it had nearly destroyed him.
Over a year ago.
Exactly. A whole year of Izzy and Jak deepening their commitment. Luka knew he was right about this. He was alone. He’d cut himself off completely. Perhaps this was why the gods had led him down this path, so that he could step up now. He would protect her, if it was the last thing he did.
Don’t be an ass. The gods didn’t do this. I don’t agree?—
“No.” Izabel walked over to the sideboard and pulled out a glass. She grabbed the bottle Shane had left, poured herself a healthy glug of red wine, and then she smiled—if the grimacethat bared her teeth in his direction could be called a smile. “I won’t allow it.”
Thank fuck.
“No?” He prowled toward her, growling, even as his beast chortled. “What do you mean, ‘you won’t allow it’?”
Izzy took a long sip of her wine before replying extra slowly, as if she was explaining to an idiot. “I meant what I said. You’re notmycommander. I don’t have to do anything you say.” She waved the glass toward the others. “Honestly, I’m not sure you’re theirs either.”
There was a rumble of voices from behind him. Whether they agreed with her or disagreed, he couldn’t tell, and he wasn’t taking his eyes off her to check. “Izzy?—”
“Don’t ‘Izzy’ me. This is a stupid plan, and I won’t do it.”
She’s magnificent,his beast rumbled, happier than it had been in too long to remember, despite everything.
She was magnificent. But it wouldn’t matter if she was caught in a war, if she lost her friends because of it… or worse. She’d already mourned her brother because of him, and Luka would not—could not—allow her to be hurt again.
