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Kyer’s smile wasn’t nearly as infectious as it normally was. “Why’s that?”

Lily glanced out the window, praying Luka’s clothing was staying in place so he didn’t have an outburst. “He doesn’t want to, and I’d like him to stay with me for all the reasons you might’ve heard already.” She vaguely gestured to Draven behind her. “So I’d like to discuss other options.”

“Your options are very limited,” Maude spoke up, her voice as pointed as her features. “You’ve done enough to shame Rimore and Zaitrerin. You will not be welcomed back, and certainly not with that incarnation.”

“I’m not asking for a welcome.”

“You’re mistaken.” Maude unfurled herself from the wall and took a step forward. “This is your only choice.”

Lily’s regard for that didn’t last long. “You were kind enough to bring me here in one piece, hope I would make this deal, and then”—she lifted her palms, questioning—“leave me alone outside of a town swarming with Reatian soul eaters? Even if Amalia wants nothing to do with me, I don’t imagine she wants the Wraith in Brialis’ hands.”

“Ah. Good point.” Kyer grinned. He sagged back in his chair. “What do you want then?”

Keep going. “I want sanctuary for Luka. In Rimore or Zaitrerin if Tyrsia’s Imordials are so kind. He stays with me, even if it’s in their prison, and I’ll be a good lap dog for the Argents.”

The room stewed in her demand, searching for a trace of authenticity, including Lily.

Sterling broke the stale air with a hearty laugh. “So that’s it? You’re on board?”

She lifted a shoulder, more truth behind the action than they would believe.

“Saints’ sake, you could do the bare minimum and try to take this seriously,” Maude exclaimed.

“What makes you think I’m not?”

“Don’t feed us more stag shit, Lilith,” Maude spat. “Don’t stand there and tell us you’re doing this out of moral responsibility. You only want what’s best for you, and I bet that’s exactly why you’re still hanging onto him.”

The room seemed to get warmer while Lily mulled over the truth behind that accusation. “It’s not like that now.”

Maude shook her head. “You’re only thinking of saving your own skin. You don’t care about what Amalia wants to do, what happens to him, or what we need you for. You never have and never will.”

The slow, aching stabbing from a rusty nail might have hurt less.

“If I didn’t care about what was best for him, I’d take your deal. I wish I could give him up!” she admitted through clenched teeth. “But. I. Can’t. He didn’t leave me, and I won’t leave him.” Lily’s eyes widened, and she sucked in a breath to compose herself in front of those who would never have left her. “Luka deserves a chance, and I’m going to give him one. If he doesn’t want to go back to Ironfall, then I won’t make him.” In the frigid air she created, she pulled out her chair and sat in it with all her feigned confidence. “The beast in the gorge has my full cooperation as long as no harm comes to Luka.”

Maude only started steaming, but Kyer lifted a quieting palm, breaking Lily down with his furrowed brows.

“I’ll vouch for him in Rimore, only after you help us clean this mess you brought to Markoth,” he bargained.

Lily leaned forward and glanced to the doorway; sweaty hands bunched in front of her mouth, but she nodded. Slowly at first, then deliberate as she found Kyer’s soul.

“This is a mistake,” Maude snarled.

“Enough.” Kyer’s retort was sharp and authoritative. “We treat the boy as collateral. And Zaitrerin is off the table. Not without Argent approval. It’ll be Rimore or nothing.”

“Alright,” Lily breathed. “I’ll take it.”

Without so much as a second to regroup herself, her momentary accord was broken with a slithery voice. “Tell us why Luka doesn’t want to return to Ironfall.”

Lily’s stomach clenched. She twisted her head over her shoulder to Draven who hadn’t moved. He gave her no emotion behind his demand, but his gaze didn’t pull away from hers as he waited for those answers she could no longer keep to herself.

Good choices, Lils. Make them for Luka.

She turned back to Kyer, sheepishly. “Maybe the details are a little important.”

Chapter Eighteen

“And you’re sure Brialis is the one who got Luka out of Failen?”