Izzy looked at Luka, taking in the worry lines on his face and the abundance of scales lining his throat. He wasn’t going to like her going back there.
He wants to protect us.
For the first time, she believed that was true, but this was the path they were on. “I’ll go back to the clinic tomorrow, keeplooking. There must be something we’re missing. If I can find it, maybe we can salvage some small part of this.”
“You can’t be serious,” Luka muttered. “Rayandieddoing this!”
“It’s our best chance.” She met his stormy gaze, his beast glittering in his eyes. “I know you want to keep me safe. I understand that?—”
Luka’s expression softened slightly. “I’ve always wanted to keep you safe.” He let out a rough breath. “If you have to go back there, I can send a squad?—”
“No squad. Whoever is leading this smuggling ring clearly has resources and contacts. They could get to my brother and to Narya, and they know how to avoid both the city guards and the castle guards. They’ll see a squad a mile away.” She laid her hand over his. “Luka, the assassin left Narya’s body there for you to find on purpose. They are actively trying to destroy this treaty and start a war! And whether it goes ahead or not, we still have to find them and stop them.”
“She’s right,” Shane said quietly from the casement.
Luka turned his scowl on the prince, his glare as icy as the freezing currents of the Hugaebian Deep. “Your support for this idea doesnothingto reassure me.”
Izzy touched his arm, drawing his attention back to her. “I’ll be safe enough in the castle?—”
“Like Narya was?” Luka growled.
“Narya didn’t know she was in danger,” Izzy argued.
“And outside the castle? Are you going to live here forever?” Something flashed in his eyes, something she couldn’t identify. It faded as she shook her head.
“I’ll have to go back to my shop, to my clinics. But you….” How much could she ask of him, especially now? He couldn’t leave the castle; his whole life was there. “You could send aguard, someone you trust, to watch over the shop until this is resolved.”
Luka pulled away and folded his arms over his chest. “I don’t like anything about this.”
Danikha nodded gravely, agreeing with Luka. “Your brother has already given his life, Izabel. I can’t ask you to take this risk.”
Izzy straightened her spine. “I’moffering.”
“I don’t want—” Luka started.
“It’s not up to you,” Izzy said firmly.
“I’m the knight?—”
“No.” Danikha stopped him with a raised hand. “Donottry to pull rank.” She gestured toward her son. “We already know how poorly that will end for you.”
“I understand that this is dangerous,” Izzy reassured the queen—and Luka. “But we can’t have a physik, ahealer, killing our people. If we can catch this person and end this danger, I will have done my job.” She smiled sadly. “And if it helps save the treaty and the lives of our people, then there’s no choice.” She didn’t add that this could also save Luka, that she would do anything to ensure that he was never blamed for Narya’s death, but it was true, nonetheless.
Luka’s beast growled unhappily beside her, but he didn’t argue.
Danikha stood and bowed formally to Izzy, her expression grim. “Thank you, Izabel. I accept your generosity and courage. I agree to this plan.”
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Idon’tacceptthis horrible plan.I’ll destroy it all. I’ll rain fire down on everyone until Izabel is safe.
It was hard enough to keep his beast under control when they disagreed. Right now, Luka agreed almost entirely.
Images of unleashing a torrent of fire flashed through his mind, and he had to breathe slowly and force himself to loosen his tight grip on her hand. He didn’t let her go. He had no intention of releasing her, but he didn’t want to crush her fingers either.
He could hardly remember leaving the queen’s rooms. After Izabel offered to continue Rayan’s investigation—after she tried to sacrifice herselfagain—the world had gone a little blurry.
