“We don’t have a choice.” The wire around Tavin’s words pulled taut. “The Oleander Gentry are about to own the throne. We all know how that ends.”
The prince had no answer for that.
Fie did. “Pull that ‘we’ out of your mouth. My kin got you to the allies you asked for. And your damnedalliesshot arrows through—” The words turned to gravel on her tongue.
Hangdog’s tooth stayed cold and quiet. Gone.
All of it was gone.
She had to get it back, she had to get them out, she had to get out—
“I’m sorry.” Jasimir’s hands tangled together, eyes scanning the dirt as if searching for words. “We… He said he’d take us in. I don’t know what happened, why… If I just had my fire, I could have—”
He meant it to be an apology. Something to pacify her. Instead, a snarling tiger in Fie roared free.
“I don’t give a damn,” she spat. “Those are my people, and I’m supposed to be their chief. And nowI’msupposed to abandon my kin,I’mthe one who has to save royals who haven’t lifted a finger to protect me or mine?” She tottered to her feet.
“Get scummed.” The ground swayed beneath her. She staggered toward the corridor anyway. “Both of you can get scummed.”
“Fie—”
“Look after your own,” she snarled. “And I’ll look after mine.”
Her hand closed around the bag of teeth.
Tavin’s hand closed around her good arm. “You’re going to get yourself killed.”
“I’m going to get my pa,” she shot back. “And I’m getting what’s left of my people. And I’m getting my damn cat. Let go before I make you.”
Tavin did, but only to slide past, planting himself between her and the way back.
“Move,” she snarled.
Tavin had that look on his face again, the one that left a thousand things unsaid. A hard edge cut through his voice. “None of us want this, Fie. Not for you, not for us. But Jas and I don’t have a chance against Rhusana without you. And neither do your people.”
Pain shot through Fie’s bloody hand as she snatched up Pa’s rag-swaddled sword and pointed the broken end at Tavin, loose threads trembling. “Don’t you dare.Youbrought my people into this. Don’t youdare.”
He didn’t stir, watching her. This time the look on his face said a solitary thing:
What do you want, Fie?
She knew full well how fast he could move. That if he wanted, Pa’s sword would be on the bricks and she’d be next to it. But he knew how many Phoenix teeth were in that bag. And if she wanted, she could light him ablaze, light this city ablaze, light Sabor ablaze from mountain to coast, all before she hit the ground.
Almost all of her wanted to. Wanted out, out of this city, out of the deal, out of the oath she’d danced her way into.
Crows had one rule.Look after your own.
Her own were on that bridge—
Her own were scattered across Sabor.
“Your father said to keep the oath,” Tavin said, staring down the broken end of the sword.
“Damn you,” Fie screamed.
He stepped away from the corridor.
What do you want, Fie?
