"Did he? Since when did a Stormborn's authority outstrip the queen's?"
The bad blood between these two filled the air with thick, palpable tension. They glowered at each other with conviction—both thought they were in the right.
About what, though?
My teeth ground into my tongue. I knew I should keep silent. But a question rose in my throat and erupted from my lips.
"What was her crime?"
The Inquisitor gestured lazily to the burning corpse. "That foul blood was caught lying with another woman."
His sharp gaze studied me, as though waiting for me to condemn her. Or perhaps to defend her. Before I could think of a response, his eyes lifted off me to regard something behind us.
A horse and an elk rode to our side. Bláth and Liam.
"There you are!" Bláth said cheerily, throwing me a smile. She nodded at the Inquisitor. "My lord."
The Inquisitor hardly noticed her, gaze settling instead on Liam.
He stared for far too long—with barely concealed distaste.
Then, the gleam in his yellow eyes shifted. Disgust turned to recognition. He lifted his chin, studying Liam's features more intently.
No, no, no. There was nothing—nothing—any of us could do if the Inquisitors decided to take my brother.
Reese's voice cut through the air like a blade. "What the queen wants can wait. I'm needed down here until the border is secure."
The Inquisitor ripped his gaze from Liam. "True enough. It's hardly my place to encroach on a Paragon." Bowing his head, he shot one last glance at Liam before striding away.
My shoulders sagged in relief.
"Reesey," Bláth said quietly. "Are you in trouble?"
Reese spun on his heel. "It's not important right now."
She raised her eyebrows. "See? You're always head-butting politicians."
Exhaling, I looked up at my brother.
But everyone was gone. The street lay empty. Silence cut through the crowd's chatter, muting the world.
Startled, I stumbled back.
A man approached me from behind, purple cloak billowing in the breeze. Fire touched his fingertips, and he pressed them to a pipe before setting it in his mouth.
It was the fae. Vaf. Dark hair hung around his bronzed face. A mask concealed one half; the other was set with a beautiful golden eye.
"So many secrets.” He puffed out a ring of smoke. "How did you put it? 'like a group of foes, who did not yet know they should strike?'"
I stared at him in horror. How did he know my thoughts?
"You never knew the Inquisitors were after your brother.” The fae peered down at me. "Did you?"
"What?" I blurted out.
"It must sting to know you can't even trust Liam."
Staggering back, I spun around. Only an empty town greeted me.
