Page 115 of A Throne of Blood & Vengeance

“Samara,” Bastian said just as I was about to pass into the other room. I halted and looked back towards him. “We won’t let her go. She isours.”

Somewhere in front of me, Rynn let out a deep, rolling growl.

“Rynn belongs to no one but herself,” I told him simply. “I will not force her to return.”

“Even if it means war?” Bastian asked, and for the first time in our conversation, a hint of defiant rage crept into his tone.

“She is my best friend,” I told him simply. “Fucking try to take her from me. I’ll burn down your world.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Samara

“Okay . . . that could have gone better,”Kieran drawled once we stepped back through the mirror.

“Understatement,” Rynn growled.

Cali instantly perked up from where she’d been picking through the weapons table. “Do I get to kill the Alpha Pack?”

The leader part of me wanted to say no because the Alpha Pack was all that was keeping the Velesian realm somewhat stable and Cadecouldbe reasoned with. But then I thought about the hate brimming in Warrick’s eyes when he’d looked at Rynn, and the monster side of me rejoiced at the idea of Cali melting his fucking mind while carving him apart with her sword.

I didn’t understand why he’d been so hostile to my friend, especially since it seemed like that had been the first time they’d met in person. Now, I was even less excited about the idea of Rynn going back there. Before, she hadn’t been happy but was at least safe. I wasn’t sure if that was true anymore.

Rynn stared at the mirror with a defeated expression. “I love you both, but we all know I have to go back.”

“No,” I said firmly. “You don’t.”

She turned away from the mirror and gave me a sad smile. “I heard what you said to Bastian, and I have no doubt that you would burn down their realm, but I won’t be responsible for the Moroi and Velesian realms going to war. Both realms are already too precarious as it is. We need to figure out how to stabilize them, which means I have to go back—after I help you here.”

I deflated a little. As much as I hated to admit it, she was right.

“Fine, but I want a contract.”

“Of course you do.” Rynn rolled her eyes.

“Will they even be open to that?” Draven asked. “All my interactions with the Alpha Pack have been pretty hostile.”

“They never liked Queen Velika,” Vail said, not bothering to look away from the sword he was inspecting. “Bastian thought your mother smelled like—and these are his exact words—sour jealousy and rotting deceit with a hint of rancid insanity.”

Draven blinked. “Wow. That’s actually quite accurate.”

“Guess that explains why he spent more time with the other Houses,” Kieran mused. “But if we go back through the mirror and catch Bastian before he leaves, I think he’ll be willing to work with us. Rynn technicallyissupposed to be with them.” He gave my friend an apologetic look. “But we heard Warrick’s threat, so we have valid reasons to be concerned about Rynn’s welfare.”

“What threat?” Cali asked sharply, her golden eyes glowing slightly.

“We’ll handle it,” I said quickly before looking at Alaric, who was leaning back in a chair behind a table with five open books scattered in front of him. “Are you up for negotiating with Bastian?”

“Sure.” He raised his brows. “You don’t want to do it yourself?”

“I don’t think I’d be able to keep a cool head,” I admitted. “I trust you to do it.”

Something in his green eyes softened. I believed in him to keep my best friend safe, which was a bigger deal than me trusting him with my own life in a lot of ways.

“I’ll go with you,” Kieran said. “Bastian and I have always had good rapport.”

“Thank you.” Alaric nodded and rose to his feet, going to stand next to Kieran.

“Should I go too?” Rynn asked uncertainly. “It feels weird to make the two of you deal with my fucked-up situation.”

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