I groaned. “Jesus Christ, don’t you ever quit?”
“Has he made any overtures toward you?”
“I’m not discussing this with you or anyone else.” I grabbed my glass of wine and the nearest open bottle. “Forget about an alliance, because it’s never going to happen. Henri’s the only man I’ll ever want, and I’m not going to fake it with someone else. Period.”
I left the dining hall in a huff, then made my way past the warborn camp and toward the terraced hills of the vineyard. No sooner was I out in the open air when I heard footsteps behind me. I spun around to find Hyas approaching. Mater couldn’t have sunk her talons into him that quickly, could she?
“I haven’t decided yet which way I’ll be voting,” I said, hoping that was his reason for joining me on an evening stroll.
“I appreciate the update, but I was simply hoping to get some fresh air.” He glanced over. “And have this opportunity to speak with you in private. I rarely find you alone.”
Most of the time, you were right there by my side or at least, across the room, watching out for me. I wished you were there now. I loved the way you got all grumpy around Hyas, so adorably jealous.
“What did you want to talk about?”
“Your future.”
I sighed dramatically. “More advice from an elder statesman to the young dumb sunborn who doesn’t know any better.”
“Well,” he said with a smile. “I’ve never been much for politics, but I would like to throw my hat into the ring for an alliance.”
“There is no ring. And you can build as many bases as you want on sunborn territory if it means I don’t have to form an alliance with the warborn.”
“Am I that undesirable?” he asked with a wink, and for the first time, Hyas didn’t seem like a such a stone, cold bastard.
“It’s nothing personal. I just don’t see the need to jump into some quasi-marriage with another tribal member just to secure my political future. That sounds like hell for both of us.”
“I’m sure I could think of worse ways to spend my time,” he murmured. The little flirt. I was about to shut that shit down when he continued, “Tell me, Vincent. What do you want?”
I repeated it by rote. “I want to liberate our people and make Azrael pay for what he’s done to us.”
“After that. After Azrael is conquered and the Imperium is no more… what then?”
I’d been so focused on the short-term that I hadn’t really allowed myself to envision anything beyond vanquishing Azrael. I recalled our conversation, the one we’d had when you were too drunk to remember.
“I want to live with Henri on his islands until one of us drives the other crazy.” And even then, I just wanted to be with you. “I’m not that ambitious, Hyas. I don’t actually seek to rule.”
“That’s part of your charm. You’re not involved in this revolution to expand your own empire or gain influence over the other tribes.”
“I wouldn’t make a good military wife either. I’m incredibly needy.”
Hyas laughed. I was kind of surprised he had a sense of humor about it. He was usually so brash and bull-headed.
“Why don’t we table this discussion for now? But know that my door is open if you want to entertain the possibility. And if you do decide that an alliance is in your future, I would like you to consider me.”
He offered his hand, and I shook it, just like any other tribal business transaction. Only this time, he wasn’t trying to crush my bones. It was warm and almost… sensual? Hyas turned back toward the warborn camp, and I kept walking, more than a little suspicious that it had been Mater’s influence which sent him to me.
It was dark by the time I reached the vineyard. Moonlight bathed the terraced hills and glinted off the grape leaves. I’d met Stefan here a few times before, and soon enough I saw him emerge from the shadows. We walked farther into the dense grapevines, since neither of us wanted you or Lucian catching on to what we were up to.
“I saw you talking to my betrothed tonight at dinner,” I said as an opener.
“Betrothed?” He wrinkled his nose at the word.
“Mater wants me to fuck Orcus, so he’ll share his visions with me.”
Stefan blurted out a laugh, then covered his mouth daintily. I wondered about his upbringing. It seemed to me from his posh manners that he’d come from an affluent family, but if that was the case, how did he find himself a slave to the Imperium? I didn’t ask though, because I didn’t want to act like I had a right to his memories with his brother.
“I would not like fucking him,” Stefan said sincerely.
