“Edrin’s dead, so at least that’s sorted,” Dax said without any emotion.
Lioran’s lips parted in shock for a moment. Then he shook his head. “Better than the liver and that rotten leg of his getting him first. At least he didn’t suffer much.”
“Excuse me if I don’t have pity for a man who walked over his own dead soldiers,” I said and meant every single word. “What happens to your Clan now? His?”
Lioran sighed, deflating. Then he shrugged. “I guess the Blood Brotherhood can deal with them.”
I gaped at him. “Just like that? Flinging the responsibility of thousands onto someone else?”
“They’ll fare better in your hands than Beren’s.”
“You will as well,” I said.“You hadn’t even thought about your people, did you?”
“What do you want me to say, Huntress?” he spit out. “No, I didn’t think about them. Yes, I know I’m safer as your prisoner than Beren’s ally. At least I know you won’t draw out my death.”
“We’re still debating,” Dax drawled.
“No, Lioran. We won’t kill you, you’re much more valuable to us alive.” Ryker leaned over until his mouth was right next to Lioran’s ear. The man trembled. “Because Beren doesn’t know you’ve changed allegiances and he will not find out if you do what you’re told.”
Chapter 85
Allie
“You really think Lioran will debase himself with actual effort and put his own life at risk?” I asked as Ryker and I finally retreated to our rooms.
I wanted to wash the battle and ash off my skin and silence Lioran’s words still slithering in my ear.
But I knew they would haunt me until the world was right once more.
As soon as Silas took the throne, he tried to make a pact with the Northern Clans.
Abominations.
A darkness has taken hold of him.
“Either he spies and gets us more information or he spends the rest of his days down in the dungeon,” Ryker said.
“You mean with a roof over his head, water, three meals a day, and warriors guarding him?” I huffed. “Sounds like torture.”
“For a man so consumed with pride and the sound of his own voice, it is.” Ryker opened the door to my room for me to step inside. “Wait until the wine pangs hit.”
“That’s just it–” I walked in, gesturing as wildly as I always felt the need to, but restrained myself.
Not in front of Ryker, though. For some inexplicable reason, he liked me when I was too much or unreasonable or when I laughed at the weirdest moments. “–time is not on our side. Especially now that–”
I was halfway across the room when I noticed Ryker wasn’t by my side. I turned, only to see him leaning against one side of the doorframe, hands crossed, looking at me.
I steadied my hands on my hips. “You want me to ask, don’t you?”
He sighed dramatically, a playful glimmer in his eyes that only I was privy to. “As always, I don’t want to intrude on your space.”
I rolled my eyes, just as playfully, and marched toward the door between our rooms, opening it wide. “Our room. Our space.”
An open smile lit up his exhausted face.
But he still didn’t move, the bastard.
“Come in.” I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I want to ask you something.”
