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Any moment now, I expect he’ll pull away.
But he doesn’t.
And neither do I.
As we march up the grand staircase and through the open castle doors, I can’t help but notice there are bits of the Fae Isles woven into the architecture. It’s in the arched windows and the high ceilings, lined with beams stretched open like a ribcage. Even the fanciful decor, the gilded chandeliers, and buttery soft rugs scream fae luxury. Though where the Fae Isles is alive with fresh flowers, nearly all the florals at this estate are dried and pressed behind glass.
In the study, Quill and Riven immediately begin to argue in the corner of the room, their words lost over the sound of crashing waves pouring in through the open windows, as Rory and I sit on opposite settees. From where he lies next to me, Achlys eyes Florin curiously. The cat, however, simply blinks lazily at him from Rory’s lap.
“So, Rory, how did you and Quill meet?” I ask, taking a sip of tea from the porcelain cup I retrieved from the trolley that wheeled itself into the room a few minutes ago.
She smooths her hand over Florin’s black fur. “The former vampire supreme… Mihal. Did you know him?” I nod. She’s quiet, as if waiting for me to elaborate on how precisely I knew him, but when I don’t, she says, “Well, he tasked Quill with assassinating me.”
My brows lift before I can stop them. “Why would he do that?”
“He claimed he didn’t want the mortal kings to obtain any more power, but Quill suspects it was just to mess with him.”
I blink, processing this information. The only way for the mortal kings to obtain more power against creatures is through an ancient blood sacrifice ritual performed by witches to create hunters—those who bolster mortal armies and protect mortalkind with the spirit and strength of the First Hunter. I will my hands not to shake as I set the teacup back on its matching saucer on the table between us.
“Were you…” I pause, unsure how to finish my question.
Thankfully, I don’t have to.
“I was.” Rory scoots Florin from her lap and holds out her wrists, pointing to each scar as if they’re simultaneously a badge of honor and a brutal reminder of the mortal kings’ cruelty. “Adelphi’s Sacrifice.”
My stomach churns at seeing each silver slice, and I reach for the ribbon around my throat.
I feel it when it happens—the weight of Riven’s gaze landing on me. When I look up and across the room, I meet his eyes. His carefully constructed mask of indifference is in place, but there is a question swirling in those blue depths that is unmistakable.
Are you all right, little witch?
I swallow and look away.
“We don’t have to talk about it,” I say, hoping she takes the offered out.
“Oh, I don’t mind.” Rory falls back against the chaise and laughs softly. “I wouldn’t be sitting here today if Quill and his kindred hadn’t crashed the ceremony and turned me.”
“I’m sorry,” I blurt out.
If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t have—
“Don’t be,” she says, waving away my apology. “I’ve never been this content. I have a family—a true family—and a mate. I’m going to outlive my awful father, the king of Adelphi, and I find so much joy in sending him letters detailing how happy I am and how Quill and I are behind all of Adelphi’s misfortunes.” She giggles. “After I killed my sister, I contemplated killing him. But then I thought about how much it’d hurt him to have to live and know everything being taken away from him, slowly but surely, is because of me.” Her eyes lock with mine. “I’m only telling you all of this so you understand... there’s no need to be sorry for me.”
I stare at her, this strong-willed vampire, in awe. “That’s…”
“Psychotic?”
“Diabolical.” I laugh. “But in the best way?”
“Oh, it gets better. We keep sabotaging his trade plans and spiriting away other sacrifices by sending them to the charter school I founded. With every misfortune, the kingdom turns against him more and more. There have been protests all across Adelphi calling for his dethronement.” Her lips curve into a proud smile. “Best of all? As of right now, Adelphi doesn’t have any victims of age to be slaughtered for at least another decade. By then, I’m sure I’ll have driven him mad, if the kingdom doesn’t execute him first.”
I’m stunned. This is all wonderful to hear.
“Wow.” I take a sip of tea. “What about the other kingdoms? Are you targeting them as well?”
“We’re trying.” Her smile slips just a little. “It’s tricky enough sneaking into the kingdom I grew up in, let alone kingdoms we aren’t as familiar with. But we’ve harbored some runaways from all over, and we’re working with them to flesh out maps and general layouts so we can cause more mayhem.” She scoops Florin up and cradles her. “But enough about strategy! What’s it like in the Fae Isles? Riven’s yet to let me visit.”
At the mention of the fae king, my gaze drifts back over to him. He’s still deep in conversation with Quill, and I can’t hear a word of it. There’s a furrow between his brows, a tautness in his shoulders.
