Vincent
Iwas restless and agitated, waiting for your return. I didn’t want to believe our allies would turn against us. Not when we were so close. But you had a sixth sense when it came to predicting trouble, and just when I was about to go looking for you myself, trouble came to my door—several beating hearts and footfalls trying, and failing, to be silent.
I froze where I lay in bed and waited for the knock on our door, so loud that it rattled the frame.
“Henri?” If it was you, you weren’t alone. I didn’t move, didn’t even go for my weapons, though I probably should have. After a series of thuds, the door was forced open with some sort of implement. From the other side of the manor, I heard another commotion, which meant they were likely forcing their way into Lucian’s sleeping quarters as well.
“Hyas?” I sat up in bed. He assessed me swiftly, then surveyed my surroundings, probably looking for you. With a jerk of his thumb, he sent a team of warborn soldiers to search the other rooms.
“What are you looking for?” I said, feigning ignorance.
“Where’s Henri?” he asked.
“He couldn’t sleep. He said he was going to walk the vineyard.”
“He’s not here, sir,” one of the soldiers confirmed. “But the sunborn’s human relation is in his room.”
“Take a team to the vineyard,” Hyas said. “Leave someone behind in case he comes back. Remember his powers. Don’t look him in the eye or let him get a word in. As for the human…”
“He’s not a threat,” I said to Hyas, who was now close enough for me to lay one hand on his arm. I reached out to him with my seduction. “My father is harmless and should stay in his rooms. Put a guard at his door if you must. He’ll only get in the way.”
Hyas hesitated, then relayed the order to his soldiers. I breathed a sigh of relief. If only I could compel him to do the same with you.
“What’s going on, Hyas? Are we under attack?” I forced myself to remain calm and my voice not to quaver.
Hyas sat on the edge of my bed and took a moment to smooth down my hair. I didn’t care for the familiarity of his touch or the way he felt entitled to my personal space.
“There are things happening now that are out of your control,” Hyas said to me as though speaking to a child. “You’re not going to agree with a lot of what I do, but I hope that by the end of all of this …” He drew his thumb along my jaw, then tugged at my lower lip. I swallowed and tried to give the impression of wide-eyed innocence. “I’d like for us to be friends.”
I didn’t want to be his friend, not in the way Hyas was intimating, not if the warborn were behind this coup. If that’s what this was, then we were truly fucked.
“I think we could be friends,” I said very steadily while I rubbed his arm, letting my thrall unfurl like petals to the morning light. “If you don’t hurt Henri.”
Hyas squinted, not liking that condition. Instead of responding, he stood and offered me his hand. I was naked under the covers, as I’d been when you left.
“Get dressed,” Hyas said, appraising me with a lusty expression. “No weapons.”
Could I distract him long enough to tear out his jugular with my teeth? As if sensing my dark intent, his soldiers stepped closer, weapons drawn. Hyas held up one hand to halt them.
“No need for that. Vincent knows better than to pick a fight with someone bigger than him. Isn’t that right?”
I nodded slowly and licked the edges of my teeth, telling myself to wait for the right opportunity. Timing and patience.
“Have you thought this through, Hyas?” I asked while locating the pants I’d discarded earlier that night. I didn’t know the extent of his plan, but there might still be an opportunity to turn back.
“The fate of the tribes is no longer your concern.”
“Have I done something to upset you?”
Hyas held up my breastplate. “This too, for your protection.”
“Why would I need protection?” I asked, still clinging to the hope that he hadn’t betrayed us.
“You’re following my orders now, not asking questions.” He fit the breastplate around me, then strapped the leathers over my shoulder and around my ribs. His breath was on my neck as he worked, his heartbeat at my back. “You smell like him,” he said, then presented me with a set of handcuffs. Made of gold, they appeared both ornamental and functional.
“Are those really necessary? I don’t have any powers. Or weapons.”
“I’m not taking any chances with you.”
