CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Death comes for the snake and its books. Hurry.
—Correspondence from White Hawk to Sea Spear. 50thof Summer, 071.3E.
Ezrich and Evony’s reunion should have brought tears to my eyes. But that delicate, soft part of me crouched beneath a wall of steel-lined shields. There was no choice. To fight for what mattered, to bear the scars of the decisions I made, those I’d yet to make, there was no room for it.
I left the brother and sister embracing in the courtyard, with Tiberius standing guard over Evony only a few strides away, before storming into the makeshift war room at the prison.
Lieutenant Einar threw me a disgusted glare as I swung the doors open, interrupting the six men who sat around the table, deep in discussion.
Ronan’s eyes shot to mine. His light brows pinched in reproach. “How can we help you, Lyvia?”
I slid my gaze back to Einar, ignoring Astraeus entirely, who sat in the corner, one ankle crossed over the other. I could feelhis insufferable smirk from across the room as he took in my disheveled look.
I’d spent one more night on the cliffs with Evony, attempting to communicate with Gork, who seemed to be the leader of the little army of beasts. From what I could glean, the Stone Witch was gone, and with my assurance Evony would remain safe, Gork would allow the Rising forces to pass through.
My eyes locked on Einar. “Who was the commanding officer of the first scouting party sent to Skyscape Pass?”
He glanced at Ronan before turning back to me. “Their captain was with them, he reported to Tertius.”
“Where would I find Tertius?”
Einar stood, frowning at me. “And why would you need that information?”
I cocked my head. “Your men are dead, and your captain is to blame, as he allowed them to steal from and attempt to take advantage of a young girl. A sixteen-year-oldgirl. I’d have a word with his superior.”
Einar’s throat bobbed as Ronan swore, letting out an aggravated sigh.
“I don’t trust her speaking to any of my men without supervision. She’s dangerous.” Einar jabbed a thick finger at me from across the room as a smile played on my lips.
Yes, I was dangerous. Dangerous when I was angry. And my bloodraged.
Ronan sighed. “For fuck’s sake.” He scanned the map in front of him, eyeing all the little pieces representing Rising and Sultiran forces, scattered across the battlements like pieces of a mehena board.
My eyes drifted to the fifty pawns in the southern part of the Crimson Sea.
“I’ll accompany her,” Astraeus crooned from the corner.
My jaw ached as my molars scraped against each other.
“I’ll find Vulcan or Nis,” I said to Ronan.
“Vulcan and Nerissa are in the village training a fearsome group of ladies,” Astraeus purred from behind as he sauntered over.
Ronan’s brows pinched, as if in apology. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
I left without a word. Astraeus kept pace with me at an annoying level of ease until I threw open the doors to the mess room, where a group of commanding officers sat at small tables.
Astraeus crossed his arms, leaning against the wall as I strode to the center of the room, letting my eyes simmer and darkness flood my veins.
“Tertius?” I called to the group.
While nobody said a word, several eyes shot to a portly man to my left. I sent a ribbon of darkness spearing through the room, a thick, black snake with golden eyes forming as it coiled around him, squeezing tightly.
“Your men are dead,” I seethed as silence cleaved the room. “The captain leading your men sent to Skyscape Pass decided their fate when he allowed ill-begotten behavior to take place.”
I envisioned those terrifying moments in the festival tents at the Sun Dance celebration all those years ago as I let the snake tighten, my power a steady stream. The commanding officer’s face reddened. A gasp sounded from behind, followed by a quiet snicker as Carina and Kresida arrived.
