We?
Arkyn arches a brow, digs into his pocket, and pulls out the small smog-filled jar he found amongst Kaan’s belongings, setting it on his deskfor later inspection. “After the moonfalls,” he murmurs, flicking the beads dangling down the side. An action that draws Sereme’s keen gaze. “Once the dust settles.”
Falls prophesied to be any dae. Maybe eventhisdae.
Anxious to end this before the big event, Arkyn dashes his hand toward the exit. “Now find somewhere else to be. I’m about to host a battle the world will sing about foreons.”
Sereme hesitates, her attention darting to theotherdoor. The one that leads to Arkyn’s sleepsuite. A door she no doubt anticipated him herding her toward after they finished their meal.
Something she shouldn’t have expected.
As Arkyn knows, expectations are often the cause of great pain and disappointment. A lesson he learned when his pah brought down his boot upon a most precious egg.
“And what of Raeve?”
A tilt of Arkyn’s head as the fire writhing in the hearth seems to lean into the conversation. “She will be the main act, of course.”
Sereme’s eyes harden. “And after that? What will you do with her then?”
Arkyn raises a brow and sits deeper into his seat, deciding the fight can wait, given this conversation suddenly grew intriguing enough to pique his otherwise frayed interest.
He lets the silence speak for him, waiting for Sereme to grow uncomfortable enough to submit herself into elaboration.
It doesn’t take long.
“You’ve gotten what you wanted,” she snips past tight lips. “I feel it’s time to cut her free, before she turns her blades onus.”
Again, Arkyn dances his fingers across the tips of his crown. “Your attitude has shifted since you lost control over her.”
Sereme scoffs. “The wordcontrolis one I’d use lightly. Yes, she’s been a valuable asset, but everything has a shelf life. She’s grown bold from the lengthened leash. She’s powerful, unpredictable, dare I sayrabidat times.”
Little does Sereme know, that’s exactly what Arkyn loves about his Fire Lark. The moments her eyes ink over and she unleashes that savage bloodlust in its full glory. Something that always makes him feel as though he’s a little less alone in his depravity.
There’s a reason he makes his disciples wear masks: so he can’t see the emotions that sizzle in their eyes, nor the way they twitch when he opens his mouth to speak. The opinions of others burn almost as much as the phantom sear of his scars that often haunt him in his slumber.
“I know what you have planned, Arkyn. But I fear it’ll only rile the beast.” Sereme reaches across the table and flattens her hand on it, brow pinched. “So long as Raeve’s here, we’rebothin danger.”
Arkyn tilts his head. “What would you have me do?”
“Put her down,” she snarls, as though the words were already coiled on her tongue, ready to pounce. “Once she steps into that pit, don’t let her out again. Keep summoning the razah until there’snothingleft of her.”
Arkyn looks at the ornate bottle hanging from the chain strung around Sereme’s thin neck, wondering if she mourns the loss of the bind. As Raeve’s handler, she was indispensable. But now?
She’s nothing but an easy target his Fire Lark is itching to sink her claws into. Sereme, it seems, has realized that.
“This is the moment, Arkyn.Everythingwe’ve been working toward these many phases. You have the Burn King. A powerful army prepared to overthrow the capital that now stands with no crown. Coffersfullof bloodstone and gold.” Her other hand comes up to grip the bottle. “You have yourqueen, ready to take the throne beside you.”
Arkyn’s fingers still their quiet strum.
Sereme doesn’t seem to notice the way his eyes darken. If she did, she’d do as he earlier suggested andleave.
Fast.
“My queen, you say?”
A firm nod. “But there’s no room for three on that throne. I will not share an armrest with Raeve. It’s time to take what’s yours by birthright and keep the monsters stuffed in the dark where they belong.”
The commanding clip of Sereme’s tone does nothing to soften his regard. Instead, it deepens the hole she’s shoveling.
