Page 114 of A Throne of Blood & Vengeance

Warrick’s eyes burned with fury, but before he could say anything else, footsteps echoed down the stairwell, and a moment later, Bastian appeared.

In the dim lighting, his usually vertical pupils had rounded out, and he gave Warrick a brief warning look before turning his attention to us. While Warrick exuded a quiet deadliness, Bastian was all sleek underhandedness.

“Rynn,” he said smoothly, “I’m delighted that you’ve returned to us.”

“Oh go fuck yoursel—” Her words were cut off as Kieran clamped a hand over her mouth and pulled her snug against his chest. Both Velesians’ eyes narrowed at him holding her.

Shit.Diplomacy, I reminded myself.Don’t make things worse.

“Apologies, Bastian.” I stepped in front of Rynn. “She’s helping us with a minor issue in the Moroi realm.”

Sharp green eyes cut to me. “The minor issue being your aunt overthrowing the Sovereign House, seizing power, and according to a few rumors, being in possession of a Fae crown capable of controlling minds.”

“You have to admit, he has a way with words,” Kieran chimed in. “It’s kind of hot.”

I gave Kieran a scathing look over my shoulder before returning my focus to Bastian. “I have things under control.” Or, really, I had a vague outline of an absolutely insane plan that had a small chance of working.

The daemon is in the details, as the Fae used to say. I had no idea what a daemon was, but it sounded neat.

“Do you?” Bastian cocked his head at me.

“Yes.” I took a step back and heard Kieran drag Rynn towards the other room, where the mirror waited for us. “We have no interest in a war with the Velesians. Iwillhandle things in the Moroi realm.”

“The traitor stays,” Warrick said in a calm tone that I didn’t believe for a second.

“No.” I gave him a cool look. “Rynn’s with me.”

Aggression rolled off Warrick, but Bastian stepped in front of him in a move very similar to what I’d done to Rynn.

“What my friend means to say is that Rynn belongs with us,” Bastian said in that polite tone of his that I always found a little annoying. “She is a member of the Alpha Pack after all.”

“Is she?” I gave him a friendly smile. “Because yourfriendseems to feel otherwise.”

A muscle in Bastian’s face ticked before he could hide it. I stepped forward until I was less than a foot away from the barrier.

“It will solve a lot of problems if you release Rynn from your Pack,” I said quietly. “The Alpha Pack clearly doesn’t want her.” My eyes flicked briefly to where Warrick stood behind the panther shifter. “Just let her go.”

Bastian studied me, and for a second, I thought he was going to go for it before he dashed that hope. “That’s not possible, I’m afraid.”

“Why?” I ground out. “She doesn’t want to be here—you all don’t want her. This is an easy solution to a delicate situation, and you know it.”

“Do you need assistance with Carmilla?” Bastian asked. The change in topic threw me for a loop for a second.

“We’re not helping her,” Warrick growled.

A brief flicker of irritation rolled over Bastian’s eyes. It seemed the Alpha Pack wasn’t quite the cohesive unit I’d thought it was. If I wanted to destabilize the Velesian realm, I would have rejoiced in that observation, but despite my desire to free Rynn from them, I did want the Alpha Pack to succeed in holding power. If the Velesian realm fell to chaos, it would spill over into the Moroi realm.

Just as they needed me to hold my people together, I needed them to do the same.

“Like I said,” I told Bastian, ignoring Warrick, “I have it handled.”

He held my gaze for a long moment before dipping his head in acknowledgment. “Then I look forward to discussing future relations between the Velesians and the Moroi—with the new queen.”

It wasn’t a cold dread that settled in my gut at the inference of me becoming the Moroi Queen. Only acceptance. Perhaps a little reluctance, but acceptance all the same.

My people would survive. All of the Moon Blessed would. I didn’t give a single fuck about the Fae and whoever had banished them here. We would not be casualties of their bullshit.

“And I look forward to discussing our future alliance as well.” I nodded at him before turning and walking to the other room, where I heard Kieran and Rynn fiercely whispering to each other.

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