He looked toward Mireille, seeking backup to protest this disgusting display of affection, but she was all starry-eyed over the Prince and his Turned lover. Wistful in a way he’d never seen before.
It twisted him up inside.
“Pure dragon-fire to burn through the wards,” Ronin marveled. “How did no one know of this?”
Mireille scoffed. “There’s only one dragon in all of Ethyrios, and it’s been chained within Typhon Mountain for centuries. That’s how.”
Her snarky tone heated his blood, but he ignored it as he recounted Tristan’s crazy-ass plans. “So, we grab the name from the Koenig’s memory, you use that fancy cuff to tell Cael Zephyrus, and then he and the dragon come here with the Teles Chrysos to burn down the wards and free us? Any chance we can make this happen before Cassandra’s appeal in six days?”
Mireille cut in. “Don’t forget there’s still the blood vow to consider. Even if Cassandra’s free of the prison, she’ll beconnected to the Koenig until the bargain is fulfilled. One of them must die by the other’s hand.”
“I wouldn’t leave here without killing him anyway,” Cassandra said with a murderous sneer.
Ronin knew she was thinking of those humans down in the Kennel, knew she wouldn’t abandon them to torture and captivity. He admired her for it. Her training had been steadily progressing—especially since they’d added Silas to the roster—but she’d still need a miracle to defeat the Koenig.
Though, Prince Tristan fucking Erabis was sitting in their living room. Ifthatwasn’t a miracle, then they didn’t exist.
Tristan grimaced. “I hate the idea of you fighting him, Cass. But if we can bring down the wards beforehand, at least you’d have access to your wind.”
Cassandra bit her lip. “I don’t even know how to use it. It snuffed out as soon as I was Turned.”
“That might help, actually,” Tristan chuckled. “Untamed elemental magic from a newly Turned Fae? Creator help him.”
“So, we stick to our training plan.” Mireille nodded toward Tristan. “With the addition of a fourth instructor.”
She wrapped slim fingers around her mug, and Ronin’s cock stirred. Not for a single moment these past few days had he forgotten how they’d felt on him. That glorious madness that had overtaken them during the sparring session. What he’d let her do to him.
I win.
She’d won something. But fuck if he knew what.
“We can use your camouflaging wings as well,” Mireille added, then told Tristan about the dance she’d arranged at World’s End tomorrow night. She turned to Ronin. “He can sneak into the office and search those ledgers while you’re downstairs distracting Wormwood. And you and I—” her gaze shot to Cassandra “—can take advantage of the night for a newpurpose. I’ll lure the Koenig into the back room for a private dance. Where I’ll dose him with a sleeping tonic so you can hunt through his memories for the dragon’s name.”
Ronin slammed his tea down, hard enough to spill and burn his fingers. “Absolutely not. A private dance? No way.”
Mireille threw her shoulders back, matching his fury. “Do you have a better idea of how to get Cassandra access to him before her appeal?”
Ronin doubled down. “He could hurt you—or worse—if you get caught. I don’t want you to do this.”
“I told you before and I’ll tell you again,” Mireille seethed, “it’s not your decision.”
Cassandra swiveled toward Ronin, Tristan’s fingers tangled in her hair. As if the Prince couldn’t stop himself from touching her. It ignited Ronin’s already combustible fury. “Ronin?—”
“Do whatever the fuck you all want!” he roared, and they flinched.
He was done with this fucking day, this fucking week.
This fuckinglife.
And if he had to be subjected to Tristan and Cass for one more second… The sight of them, reunited and so disgustingly in love, made him want to stab his other eye out.
He pushed up from the table, then stomped to his room, throwing the door open before Mireille’s voice stilled him.
“You’re bunking in my hallway now,” she called out. “We’re giving your room to these two.”
He whipped his head over his shoulder. “Are you serious?”
Tristan waggled his eyebrows. “Unless you want to sleep with me? Though I will warn you, friend, I’ve finally got my female back in my arms after too much time apart and I amready. I can’t promise I won’t roll over in the middle of the night and go to town on your leg.”
