“We didn’t make love,” Baz protested immediately. “This has nothing to do with love.”
I snorted. Duh.
Once again, all Bazrian eyes landed on me.
“Well, whatever it is,” Ed continued, “now’s not the time for it.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Baz said. “You think this is what I wanted?”
“We don’t know what you want anymore,” Zi said. “Your reaction to your intended assassin isn’t at all what we expected.” She ran another finger along the edge of one of her mordaris. When more blood beaded, she licked it clean. “You should have had her head mounted on a pike before the day was out.”
“Yeah,” Lev said. “Instead, you mounted her. That’s the kind of shit I’m supposed to do, not you.”
“Like I said”—Baz uncrossed and crossed his arms in the opposite direction, setting the rope to swinging—“not planned. Doesn’t mean I’m not in control as usual.”
Moncho scoffed. “You didn’t look in control when I walked in on you with your dick waving about. Or did you confuse it with your sword? I realize it’s just as mighty looking…”
“Really, Monch?”
“Really, Baz.” Moncho spread his legs wider than hip-width apart and crossed his arms, mirroring Baz’s posture. “We got thirteen prissy-ass nobles running amok through the castle, all whining about the scary shadows that are gonna gobble them up.”
“If only,” Lev said with an eyeroll.
“For once, I don’t think they’re exaggerating,” Aziza said. “The castle is scary, and you all know I don’t scare easily.”
Lev grunted. “You don’t scare at all. Not ever.”
Aziza tried to hide a smile behind a curtain of shiny, straight black hair. “Your advances scare me, Lev. Every time I turn around you’re trying to jump my skeleton.”
“Damn right I am, Zi. It’s a sexy-ass skeleton you got.”
Aziza hid another smile.
Moncho looked Baz in the eyes. “Lest you forget, we don’t just have skittish nobles on our hands. Terencia is—” He flicked his eyes to me, then appeared to censor what he’d been about to say. “Terencia is asking for the emperor and for you. She doesn’t care about the parvtit, but she’s got plenty to say about Junot.”
“I don’t blame her,” Baz said, looking to Lev. “What about the two feeders she asked for?”
“Was able to scrounge up one male. Plenty of females in the kitchens, once Mauldrene let me find them. But only the one guy.”
“She wants two.”
“I know. I’ll do it.”
Zi sat up straight. “You can’t. We’ll find someone in Galmeen.”
“There’s no time for that, not with all that’s going on. And if it’s not me, you know she’ll be coming for Baz.”
My frame stiffened before I made myself relax.
“Still,” Aziza said.
Lev shrugged like it didn’t matter. “If it’s me or him, you can’t blame me.”
Zi shook her head in waves of silky black.
“Sent the one guy to her alone since we didn’t know where the fuck you were, Baz. But I’m gonna have to go to her soon or she’ll, you know, go all fiery on us.”
Baz breathed so loudly I glanced up at him. His nostrils were flared, his jaw clenched, his muscles bulging. He was all strong, sexy man. My core clenched at the sight, dammit, and I hurried to stare blandly at the nearest lumoon. A moment later, I heard seven sänglures scent the air, no doubt noticing my sudden arousal. For fuck’s sake. I crossed my legs tightly.
