Page 31 of The Myths of Ophelia
“I have no problem leaving your Bounty alive so long as she stays off Vercuella.” Meaning she lost nothing in this arrangement, but she did expose a weakness. Why? “I know of the magic you seek, Revered Alabath.”
There it was.
I didn’t allow myself to blanch. “The magic?”
“That which was left behind, which was locked away but lives in your veins.”
The emblems.
Tolek nearly growled beside me, his heated stare on the door hiding Lancaster from us. He appeared ready to break it down and fight the fae for sharing our secrets, but Ritalia only laughed. “Fear not, my hunter did not break your bargain. If he had, he would be dead upon this marble floor.”
“How do you know, then?” Ophelia asked.
“I will tell you once we are alone,” Ritalia said. “Your court and mine will both leave. I am going to briefly confer with my advisors and guards, but when I return, we will both have our answers.”
“You don’t visit with her alone, Alabath,” Tolek muttered, and Malakai grunted his agreement, but I was ahead of them.
“We will keep an equal number of council,” I stated. “After all, Your Majesty, the strongest rulers know when to listen to others. Isn’t that right?”
Ritalia smiled sweetly at my challenge, but the lines around her lips were tense. “That is wise. We each may keep one.”
I nodded, eyes flashing to Ezalia beside me. As the only other clan ruler, I was prepared to give her the honor of staying, butshe shook her head. With a silent but poignant flick of her brows over my shoulder, I knew what she intended.
I turned, finding Tol’s assured chocolate stare already on mine, and relief unwound within me.
“Tolek Vincienzo will act as my Second,” I declared to the queen.
“Lovely,” Ritalia sneered.
As the others left, I tried to catch Rina’s eye. Tried to tell her we’d figure this out, that this Bounty declaration meant nothing if she did not want it to. She’d been powerful enough as a human, she did not need some ancient bloodline if she wished to scorn it.
But Santorina’s stare was set on the antechamber, her emotions entirely closed off.
When the doors closed behind my friends with a bang, I felt further from her than ever.
Chapter Eleven
Malakai
Those doors closed,sealing us in an antechamber to wait for Ophelia and Tolek, and my chest tightened. I leaned my back against the wall, head thumping to the stone, and took deep breaths as I counted the flames flickering in the chandeliers.
There were so many candles in this fucking palace. Mystlight was so much easier.
How would they get extinguished tonight? Was someone expected to climb up there? There were no visible ladders or tools of any kind. Not a helpful thing to be seen. Sure as Spirits wouldn’t be my problem, but it seemed impractical.
I dragged my hand down my face.
“What in an Angel’s fuck are we doing here?” How had wegottenhere? Emblems and bargains and gods. That was the purpose behind us making a temporary peace with the fae, but this—us being separated—grated nails through my chest.
Locked in. We were locked in. No better than?—
I pushed off the wall and strode toward where the others consoled Santorina.
“I am fine,” she was assuring everyone, no heat or ice in her voice. She’d likely boil over later, but Rina always thought a few steps ahead. She was likely waiting for the right time.
“We need drinks,” Lyria chimed, drifting around the room and poking into cabinets.
“It’ll all be faerie wine,” Mila reminded her.
