Page 156 of Vicious Is My Throne

Bella smiled slightly. “If you need more information, you can ask Bexley hiding over there in the corner. How are you doing, Bex?”

Bexley crept into view. “Very well. How are things at Stormfall?”

“We miss you, Bex. But I’m glad you took our directive seriously and are doing everything in your power to assist Anaria in her quest.” Bexley winced as Bella’s face hardened. “You are doing everything possible, aren’t you Bex?”

The mage wilted under the weight of our stares, especially Anaria, who studied him with narrowed eyes. “You know I am,” he said stiffly, tugging on the collar of his robe. “But this hasn’t been easy.”

“It never is, Bex.” Bella folded her hands in front of her. “Bex will go with you to assist at Darkspire. The tower will give you anything you want. Weapons, food, maps, whatever you desire. And…wait.” Bella smiled serenely. “There is someone who would like to say hello.” Shadows moved behind her, then Lucius’s and Dane’s grinning faces filled the globe.

“Anaria, how has my son been treating you?” Lucius was…Lucius. No sign of fur or ears. Just a handsome Fae male with lines spreading from his green eyes and a smile on his face. “Like a queen, I hope?”

She laughed. “Other than his usual wickedness, he’s been behaving himself.” She leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, “Most of the time, anyway. You look good, Lucius.”

“I am.” His gaze lifted over Anaria’s shoulder to where his son stood, and his expression banked. “I am better than good. Hello, Tav. It’s good to see you, son.”

“Father.” Tavion’s smile was genuine, and even though Lucius’s face was shadowy, I swore there were tears in his eyes. “You made it. I was worried.”

“We really don’t have time for reunions,” Zorander grumbled, pulling me aside while Tavion traded war stories with his uncle. “Do you think this secret room is the reason the mage has been acting so squirrely?” His dark eyes were clear and focused, as if the old Zorander had been sharpened on a whetstone to a razor-sharp point.

“I thought I trusted him.” I kept my eyes pinned on Bex, Tristan watching him every bit as closely from the other side of the room. “But we’ve been burned before, and everyone has a price, Zor.”

“Don’t I fucking know it.” He flared his wings slightly, feathers rustling. Or maybe those were the knives concealed within the gleaming softness. “But a watchtower close to the Hammer? That news is better than anything I hoped for.”

“Did you find anything, Lucius? About the blood oath?” Anaria was asking. “I know that was a tall order…”

“We broke the Oracle’s hold over the coven,” Lucius told her excitedly. “Everyone’s marks are gone. You were right, the Oracle used the blood oath to put a trace of her magic into each member of the coven.”

I was half listening as Lucius and Bella explained how they’d figured it out, also watching the mage, trying to pinpoint what, exactly, he was up to. He hadn’t interfered. Hadn’t delayed or held us back. In fact, he’d done exactly what Bella asked.

Helped us at every turn.

Lucius and Bella finished up, then Anaria asked the question we’d all been dreading.

“How is Adele?” There was so much hesitant hope contained in those words I wanted to drive my fist into the wall. Because we all knew what the answer would be. Nothing good.

“She is settling in, learning to work with others,” Bella said a tad stiffly. “In time, she will find her purpose.”

“Thank you for giving my mother a place.” Anaria pressed her hand to her heart. “Even if she never says the words, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Tell her that I hope she finds her way.”

Zorander turned his back, muttering the same curse echoing inside me. “She’s too good for us, you know that? Too fucking good.” I nodded in agreement.

“We will arrange a distraction for the Oracle and draw her away from Blackcastle,” Bella was saying. “Give you as much time as possible.”

Anaria inclined her head. “Thank you. We’ll make this count,” she said, her voice thick.

“Oh, and Bexley?” Bella called, and the mage popped his head up. “I’m assuming you still have your Vitreglobe? Use that once you reach the watchtower, and we will send help if you call.”

And while the mage didn’t transform into a mouse, he shrank even smaller as every eye in the room landed on him.

66

TRISTAN

Iset the pile of folded clothes in front of Anaria, who was staring so deeply into the fire she hadn’t heard me come in.

“They aren’t much, but you can wear them until we leave for Darkspire.” Not able to help myself, I pushed her hair back to see her face. “They’re more comfortable to sleep in than your leathers.”

We’d left her precious boots behind in Varitus, and even now, Raziel was on the hunt for another pair, anything to get her through these next few days which were bound to be difficult.

---