That kind of power is in the blood.
I blinked at him as his words jogged the memory of Hypatia’s words. Was it a sign to trust him?
“You do not crave more power?”
“Darling, if I could give what I have away to someone who would not end the Four Courts with it, then I would,” Rian informed me with a humourless smirk. “I am more of a lover than a villain; although I have never been afraid to be villainous when it proves necessary.”
Before I could stop myself, I glanced across the tent toward Ornella, who stood next to the grumpy blond man with her arms crossed. She met my gaze and rolled her eyes with one of her typically dramatic sighs.
“He does not lie. It’s annoying.”
Rian remained serious although his mouth curved with the threat of a smile at one corner.
“Give the miserable traitor to me, and I will even spare your precious king,” he suggested when I began to chew my lip with my indecision.
Nowthatwas an offer that I could not refuse.
“Done.”
“Amira!” Orion hissed at me.
“For Riordan.Done,” I insisted to Rian.
“His safety is only guaranteed as long as the king does not threaten my family again,” Rian cautioned me firmly, and I nodded in agreement.
“And what… about the recompense for Sage?” I asked hesitantly. The Wild Hunt undoubtedly felt that Riordan was responsible for the rider’s death. So I imagined this would be a more personally demanding price to pay.
Sure enough, Rian’s eyes hardened again in accusation as hiseyes shifted between me and Orion.
“Do you know what they wanted with him?” he asked, his voice a deadly rumble.
“No,” I admitted honestly and shook my head.
“Did you even think to ask them?” Ornella butted in, her voice shaking with fury. “Did you not stop to wonder whether they might want to fuckinghurthim?”
“She did ask them! She had concerns,” Orion spoke up in my defense, but Ornella merely scoffed at him.
“Sylvan Elves are not supposed to come to the mortal plane and interfere here, but I will not be taken off guard by them again,” Rian advised me significantly.
He wanted to know whether he should expect more interference from the elves, but I hesitated to tell him the truth that the Sylvan could only come once. There was no denying that they might make a nice deterrent if Rian had any aspirations of conquering the Vale. But despite every reason not to, I actually believed him when he said that all he wanted was for his people to be safe. And if we were going to build trust between the Vale and Autumn Court, then we were going to have to start with honesty.
“It was a one-time deal,” I admitted.
“And yet their bright shields continue to block your realm from my Seer,” Rian mused suspiciously.
“That is… I suppose that is a lasting boon of our first bargain with them,” I guessed, and Rian hummed as his eyes flickered over both of us in resentment.
“Ishoulddrag you both before Riordan and force him to watch me drain the life out of you,” he admitted with a viciousness that belied his beautiful smile. “But as much pleasure as I would take in that, it would only incite even more bloodshed. We need to bring peace and unity to the fey realms so we can finally turn our attention to the war that really matters.”
“If it is peace you want, then taking us was a mistake. Riordan will be coming here for us,” Orion told Rian before I could askwhat war really mattered.
“He has been given the message that if he comes here or makes any more deals with fey monarchs, then Iwillflay the flesh off both your bones,” Rian assured him.
I shivered at the promise that rang with the same truth with which he had informed me that he would give up all of his power to someone else if he could.
“Then what is the recompense for the Light Wraith?” Orion demanded, and I realized that Rian had not actually named his price for that. But I found that I knew what he would say before he even spoke the words.
You must lose love to gain the forgiveness that will save your world.
