“You will travel to the other three Temples of Letha throughout the colonies,” Maksym intoned between bites of his meal. The whining scrape of his knife and fork against the plate grated Xenia’s bones. “For obvious reasons, I will not be sending you back to the Temple in Thalenn. There’s no reason the Sisters in the other Temples would recognize you, right?”
Her mouth pulled down at the corners.
“I’ll take it from the look on your face that the answer is no,” Maksym said, chuckling. She wanted to smash his lips into his teeth.
“And what, exactly, am I supposed to do once I’m there?”
“You’ll be dressed as a Shrouded Sister, so you’ll blend right in. I’ve had Richelle’s robes tailored to fit you.”
Xenia shuddered that they’d taken her measurements while she was unconscious—yet another violation. “Why can’t she just help you herself?”
“She is far too important to our operation for such a dangerous task. You’ll need to convince four Sisters at each Temple to drink a bottle of tainted Delirium, then lead them off the grounds to where our guards will be waiting to retrieve them.”
Xenia scoffed. “How am I supposed to convince Shrouded Sisters to drink Delirium? We’re not even allowed to drink wine.”
Maksym shrugged. “You seem rather resourceful, Sister Cirillo. I’m sure you’ll figure something out.” He glanced sidelong at Alexei, who bent down and twisted Cael’s wing, wringing a roar of such devastating anguish from the Windrider that Xenia nearly vomited.
“Stop,” she whimpered. “I’ll do it. I’lldoit.”
Maksym laughed again, that clicking, rattling sound that held not an ounce of warmth or true merriment. “I knew you’d eventually see reason. I hope you enjoyed the meal.” He nodded towards Alexei. “Take them back to the cells.”
Maksym flung his folded napkin onto his plate, then drained the last dregs of his wine. “We will fetch you when it’s time for your first excursion.” He turned on his heel and strode out the door, leaving Xenia alone with Alexei and Cael.
For a split second, she considered jamming her dinner knife into Alexei’s throat.
But what good would that do?
Her lack of weaponry skills meant it was more likely she’d slice off her own hand. And Cael was so battered, he wouldn’t be any help. His swollen right wing hung at an awkward angle.
Alexei yanked Cael from the ground and Xenia rushed over, shoving the Deathstalker out of the way. “Don’t fucking touch him!” Alexei reared back, shock twisting his mangled features. “We’ll come willingly, butIwill help him back to the cells.”
Alexei shrugged, then held open the door.
Xenia cupped Cael’s face, and his stormy gray eyes popped open. “Can you get up?”
He moaned as she draped his arm over her shoulder and, using the wall for leverage, pushed them to stand. “Lean on me,” she said. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
As they hobbled into the hall, Cael leaned down to whisper in her ear. “If you ever meet my brothers, promise me you’ll eat like that. They’d love you.”
CHAPTERSIX
This ship only offers single bed rooms.”
Tristan held up his hands, trying not to show an ounce of delight as Cassandra narrowed her eyes. “And we were lucky to get the last two.”
Though the trip to Meridon to see the Artisan would have only taken a few hours as a flight, Tristan couldn’t carry Cassandra and both of their bags the entire way. Even with Hella, one of his fellow Vestian Guards, as back-up. So the trio had decided to book rooms on an overnight steamship instead.
“You could bunk up with Hella,” he offered.
Cassandra let out a huff of annoyance as she pushed past him into the cramped berth. To the right of the door was a small bureau topped with a mirror—the only piece of furniture besides the bed. Through the room’s sole, circular window, the setting sun cast a band of golden light over the sapphire waters of the Sea of Thetis.
“It’s only for one night,” she said, resigned. “You can keep your hands to yourself for one night, surely?”
“I don’t make promises I can’t keep, gorgeous.”
Cassandra flung her satchel onto the bed and began unpacking her belongings, refolding each piece before tucking it into the bureau.
“Why are you unpacking?” he asked, leaning a shoulder against the wall and crossing his arms. “We’re barely going to be on this ship for twelve hours.”
