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But that thing inside me that had shattered when they’d beaten Rafe into unconsciousness was still broken and hurting.
And it had had enough.
I’dhad enough.
A red-hot fury clouded my vision. Without my volition, my hand shot out, latching onto her wrist.
“Rafe was defending me,” I said between clenched teeth. “Fromyourlieutenant.”
Victorine’s jaw dropped. I never talked to her like that. The fingers on my throat loosened.
I shoved her away, and she was stunned enough to allow it.
“Étanhumiliatedme—and you stood by and let him. Your own daughter. You should be thanking Rafe for standing up for me. Neither of you did.” I included Philippe in my scornful look. “What I want to know is what in the Dark Lady’s name is going on? Because Rafe was right, you broke the truce with the Krals. But why?”
Victorine exchanged a glance with her sire.
My mouth twisted. “Don’t hide behind Philippe. Why would he kidnap a Kral if not for you? And why is she here?” I jerked my chin at Lainey. “Rafe said you were working with Slayers, Inc., but I didn’t believe that either.”
“Zoe,” warned Jean-Michel.
At the same time, Philippe snapped, “That’s enough, Zoe.Tais-toi.”
My fangs pricked out. “Iwon’tbe quiet,” I said, my voice shaking with anger. “I’m through being quiet.”
I rounded on my mother. “I defended you. When Rafe told me you might be behind Zaquiel’s kidnapping, I was insulted. I told him he was wrong, that you wouldn’t have broken the truce. That you wanted peace as much as Karoly. So don’t you dare use Étan as an excuse to restart the blood feud. This is on you, not the Krals.”
Victorine finally regained her voice. “You ungrateful little viper.” She bit out each word separately. “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done for you.”
“Yeah? That’s not how it looks to me. Because when Karoly Kral finds out you’re behind Zaquiel’s kidnapping, he’s going to be out for blood—my blood. All you’ve done is make me a target. Again.”
“Then we’ll have to make sure he doesn’t find out,” Philippe inserted smoothly.
My heart stopped.
I stared at Philippe. It was a threat, pure and simple. Rafe wasn’t going to leave that cell alive.
But why had he said they might need Rafe?
Philippe nodded at Jean-Michel. “Take the princess to the yellow guest room.”
“Yes, m’sieur.” He set a hand on my arm.
I sucked in a breath and made a last-ditch effort to reason with Philippe and Victorine.
“Let Rafe go before it’s too late. And if you have his brother Zaquiel, let him go, too. You can’t get away with keeping them prisoner. Karoly knows they’re in Paris. If you continue with this, hewillretaliate.”
Philippe moved a shoulder in a very French shrug. “I’m counting on it.”
I was still trying to figure out what that meant when Jean-Michel hustled me out of the salon.
20
RAFE
Philippe’s people frog-marched me down two flights of stairs.
I fought to clear my head, but powering a detailed glamour like I had, down to the clothes Zaq had last been seen wearing, was a hell of an energy suck. Suffering a beat down by cold-eyed professionals didn’t help.
