Page 182 of Spring Guardians & Songbirds

“How is that working for you? I mean, in regard to getting the sceptre pieces. Being green and ugly certainly must do you some favours to find them.” If I had to give up a layer of my own lies to unmask his so be it.

His feet stopped again, and with him so did I. There it was. Tight mouth, glaring eyes and sharp breaths. Like a fox caught on a snare.

I put a hand over my mouth and gave him an innocent smile. “Oh, you never mentioned the sceptre, did you?”

He bowed his head. “Thank you for the dance.”

“Most welcome,” I said, bowing back. “Ah, Maskan is lovely this time of the year, is it not? The Azar unburnt Isles flourish in March. Had mangoes on the Maskan temple terrace about fourteen years ago at this time. You should definitely visit, Demir. Though I’d suggest you take a guide. Maskan is certainly not just outside Heyes.” This idiot was not from Seraphim.

Those dull green eyes twitched, and he’d grit his jaw so tight I could almost hear his teeth crush on one another. He cocked his head to the side, dull eyes suddenly shining with menace. “That wasn’t smart, Princess.”

“Why?” I asked, batting my lashes. “Will you tell my father? Oh, do tell him, I beg of you. I’d like him to answer a few of my burning questions about the secret that you revealed to me during a night of passion we had in the Islines. Everyone must have heard me that night at the inn. Me and you, I mean. After all, you act all so enamoured with me, how could you have kept such a secret.” I put a hand on my chest, pulling my features to imitate pure distraught. “Oh, father, how could you keep this from me? Demir told me all about it. He told me everything. How could you?” When his face wore a layer of panic, I dropped my hand and gave him a smile. “And this can’t be all that much of a secret matter. Perhaps everyone knows even.” I raised a hand to stop a dancing individual who I had not the slightest clue who it was. “My excuses, fair sir. Do you happen to know about Aurora’s scep—”

“Enough,” Demir said, grabbing my wrist and glancing around for anyone who might have heard.

My smile was polite when I turned to him. “See, Demir dearest, one mouth of secrets can become a crowd’s gossip leaflets. And how jolly, everyone from every corner of this realm is gathered here in this very crowd for many days of celebration.”

“That wasn’t smart either.”

“Not an intelligence competition, dear. But I am still outrunning you. A secret for a secret?”

“This isn’t a child's game.”

“No, but it is mine. Tell me, how can a beast's blood make a witch stronger?”

He let out a furious sigh and cast another careful glance around us. “How would I know?”

I waved him off. “Never mind that. How does one find where the sceptre pieces are?”

The look on his face was ferocious. “Again, asking the wrong person.”

“I think not. But do point me to someone who might be willing to tell me.”

His mouth pursed tight, and he tugged tighter at my arm, bringing me closer to him. “Princess.”

“It’s Moregan isn’t it?”

He faltered a little. “Not sure what you are asking.”

“Huh.” A sliver of that familiar wind brushed my neck and I glanced around from the corner of my eyes. The same sensation I’d felt in Hanai began intensifying around me and my pulse raced. Morgan was up north. Why did I feel it here? “Let go of me, Demir. You’re bruising this precious Princess.”

He let go, looking around stunned as if he had just lost control without knowing.

Hells.

Flaming hells.

There were slashes in both his palms. One right across the bottom of his fingers and the other over his thumb. Identical in both hands.

Then it struck me.

In Hanai, the beast had grabbed my sword.

A lithe, bony hand rested on his shoulder and we both turned toward the interruption. “May I have a word,” Melanthe said, looking more dishevelled than normal. “Privately.”

Just like the sensation came, it faltered. And it confirmed my realisation.

The beast from Hanai wasn’t Moregan. It was Demir.