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He’d made an effort to dress, but his shoulders were so wide they rent the fabric, white tufts of fur poking through. His furry, clawed feet clicked on the floor when he prowled out of the shadows, and only then did I notice his stomach was hollowed out beneath a billowing shirt, leather breeches hung loose on emaciated thighs.
“His name was Julian. Perhaps you knew him?”
I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. Fear sent magic streaming out of me, lighting up the darkness with stars, which only made the male look ten times bigger and meaner.
My breathing turned ragged.This had to be Julian’s father. And once he discovered who’d killed his son…Tavion’s wrath would seem gentle by comparison.
The male ran his taloned hand through the star-filled air, white light reflected in those bright blue eyes as the weight of his attention crushed me. “My eldest son worshipped you; did you know that? Julian thought you would save the world.”
I couldn’t answer that. Could do nothing but swallow down my fear, as he narrowed his eyes. “So tell me…However did you manage to get my youngest son to marry you, when it’s perfectly clear how much you despise him?”
3
ANARIA
The silence stretched out until it became deafening.
I cleared my throat. “I don’t despise him. Tavion only married me to save me from a worse fate.” I winced at my piss-poor choice of words. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it to come out like that.”
“Actually, I think that’s exactly what you meant.”
Since this was my first conversation with anyone outside our conspiracy group, I had no idea what the rules were. Did Tavion’s father even know why we were here? Or where we were going? Telling him…would put him in danger, possibly cost him his life. But he waited expectantly enough I couldn’t say nothing.
“My father planned to marry me off to some horrid male from the Shadowlands. Tavion stepped in and saved me. I am very grateful he intervened.” I even managed a shaky smile, eyeing the distance between me and the front door.
“Well, that cost you, didn’t it?” The male bared his teeth in a grin that only made him look more fearsome. “I wondered what my son needed the money for. I guess now I know.”
Another of my questions answered.The Montgomerys are an ancient family and our roots run deep in Solarys soil. You do your bloodline no disservice in joining the two.I’d thought Tavion was full of shite when he’d boasted to the king, but apparently…he wasn’t.
I didn’t know if I could outrun Tavion’s father, but my magic would slow him down…though I’d risk turning myself—and him—into monsters. A shite choice, but one I’d make if things got desperate enough.
“And this magic you possess?” he prodded, tilting his head in that unnerving manner as stars danced around his head. “I haven’t seen this strong of magic in an age, and certainly never expected it from a wee girl.”
My temper flared at thewee girlcomment, but I was more concerned about how much he’d already discovered in a matter of minutes. My name. My magic.
Holy gods, he knew enough to get us all killed.
“Something I’m still trying to figure out.” Fear gnawed at my insides, like those rats in the prison, while I searched for some way out of this before I was forced to do something I’d regret.
“Indeed.” He raised his head and sniffed the air, his nose flaring as if he scented my terror. And how couldn’t he? Sweat dripped down my back; my knees were so weak I wondered if they’d give out.
A long, horrible pause as we stared at each other, then his shoulders slumped.
“I’m a piss-poor host, aren’t I? Welcome to my home, Anaria Centaria. I expect you’re starving if you came all the way from Blackcastle. If I know my brother and my son, they will take their time driving the king’s protectors off Montgomery lands. Let’s find you something to eat, while you tell me about Julian.” His eyes met mine and something died inside me at the utter devastation burning there.
“Tell me how my son died, because I haven’t been able to sleep for months, not knowing.”
* * *
Regret twistedinside me like a kite in the wind, but I followed Tavion’s father down the dark hall, theclick,click,clickof his claws on the black stone floors matching the thudding of my aching heart.
If I told him the truth, then he’d kill me and…I blew out a breath.
Who the fuck knew what would happen then?
“I’m not going to harm you, so stop worrying. My fighting days are long over, and in five hundred years, I’ve never hurt a single woman…nor anywee girls.” He glanced back over his shoulder, pale eyes gleaming. “I know exactly what Julian was mixed up in, though I’m surprised he was able to talk Tavion into such nonsense.”
I clamped my lips together, hating I could be read so easily, and by a complete stranger, no less.
