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“You’re telling me you didn’t intentionally kidnap the empress’ son by killing one of her foxes in broad daylight?”
He meant the Stalker for the red shade of her eyes. “That’s right.”
“What was he doing in Reave?”
“I don’t know,” Lily said, swallowing down the taste of the lie. “He doesn’t either.”
“Then what happened? Exactly?”
“I was on my way to leaving when I”—she thrust a lost hand in Luka’s general direction—“found him. Most of the details aren’t important.”
“Mhm.” Kyer paused, leaning back in his chair. “What about that… device?” Lily narrowed her eyes, puzzled. Kyer lifted a hand, making a circle with his middle finger and thumb. “About this big.”
“The graft?”
“That’s the one! Fascinating things. I hadn’t heard of them until this whole kerfuffle started. Whereabouts did you get it?”
“I bought it.”
“You can just buy them?” Kyer asked as if he could spend ages on this topic alone. “Have any more?” She shook her head, and he hummed, disappointed. “And the Stalker you killed? Was she your reason for leaving?”
“No.”
“She must’ve been in your way, at the very least.”
“Her and a couple others, yes.”
Kyer’s eyes widened. “You killed more?”
“What? No! I—I killed her, and only her, then I took Luka. I’m sorry about it, but what’s done is done. Can we move along with going over what you’re expecting from me.”
“I don’t expect much.” Kyer almost laughed. He jutted a thumb toward the window. “I understand you’re fond of the boy?”
She frowned. “You could say that.”
“Perfect. Now, I don’t know if you remember since you were, what? No more than ten years old? But Markoth is where the Swarm found you and your family.” Lily flicked a glance to Mia. “You can imagine Brialis is pretty upset you ran off with her only child. Try as she may, she can’t beat down Rimore’s door, so she’s been coming for those associated with you, however little she may know.”
Guilt and curiosity slapped at Lily like a restless tide.
“Normally, Markoth’s agreement with Reatia’s administration keeps their souls out of the empire’s interest, but the empress is under the impression they’ve been hiding you both, and their people have suffered for it. Lucky for all, I’ve brokered a little something that I think will get everyone what they want.” Kyer picked up a pen and tapped it on the table. “There’s this real bastard that’s moved in. He killed Mia’s husband and is now occupying the town as a part of the empire, threatening to send off plenty of Dusk souls to Failen for power. If we agree to hand over a perfectly healthy incarnation, which looks to be the case, and you publicly abdicate yourself from Rimore, everything goes back to normal. You’re officially no longer our problem and on your own. The kid goes back where he belongs, and Markoth is free.”
Lily’s heart kicked from a gallop to a sprint. Returning Luka was the last thing she thought they’d do, considering Draven confirmed that he was more use alive as nothing more than a collection tank for the Guardian until it was whole.
Then there were the scars on his arms—
Oh, shit! It’d been so long since she had to think about it, but now in the midst of bargaining for Luka’s future, it all bubbled back up to the surface. It took quite a bit of prying over time, but she managed to squeeze the origin of the marks out of Luka, and it confirmed her initial suspicions upon seeing them for the first time last year.
Reatia was taking his blood.
For what, and why, Luka didn’t know. But he mentioned doctors.
And Neir, holding him down—
“What do you think?” Kyer asked.
Lily bit back her rising temper. “Can we go over this as privately as possible?”
Kyer cocked a bothered head, but he kindly asked Mia—and only Mia—to step outside. Lily was hoping Sterling, Maude, and Draven would follow, leaving just her and Kyer, but they didn’t. When all was still, and eyes were on her from all angles, she played the role of Imordial. “Luka is not going back to Failen.”
