Page 70 of The Silver Spider
Kailigh would have stocked her arsenal and gone to war.
Etienne saw the answer in her face. “Exactly. The outcome would have been her death, or imprisonment. So, I did the one thing guaranteed to make your mother let me go, and in a way that wouldn’t break her heart.”
“Adultery doesn’t break a woman's heart?”
“What do you prefer? Her anger, or her pain?”
She wasn’t ready to forgive him. His reason might be true, it might be a lie. Even if it was true, it didn’t make her pain any less real. And it didn’t make him any less an ass. He never should have married and had kids in the first place.
He nodded. “I don’t expect you to forgive me, Serephone. But I am not your enemy. Why did you come to Seattle?”
“Your Lord is involved in the flesh trade. Cin was almost kidnapped to be used as brothel meat.”
Etienne stared at her. “What proof?”
She told him, explanation terse, describing Ruthus, his men, the fight and finally discovering Dawnthorne's glyph on the hands of the prisoners.
Etienne’s eyes were narrowed. “Dawnthorne does not deal in that trade,” he said, voice cold, and firm.
“You saying Ruthus acted on his own?”
“No, he was never supposed to—”
“Supposed to what?” She scowled at him. “So, you know about it?”
Her so-called father looked irritated. “He was supposed to watch only.”
“Well, clearly he adjusted his mandate,” Serephone said. She didn’t believe for a minute that Ruthus Adjrius had gone rogue, usurping Dawnthorne’s resources to run his own venture. That would take balls.
Etienne sighed. “I’ve deliberately turned attention away from those trade lines over the years to avoid any inadvertent outing of you and your sisters. What did you think you were going to do, Serephone?” His expression was displeased.
“Kill Dawnthorne.”
Etienne laughed. “I suspected crossing my blood with Kailigh’s would result in strange children. It’s probably best I didn’t have a son. I will speak with Dawnthorne.” His expression soured. “I’m certain I am once more in favor as you have not embarrassed us with today’s performance.”
Because that was her goal in life, not to embarrass her fae relatives.
* * *
Anissa’s absencewas explained when Serephone returned to the circle. Her sister has changed clothing and was now dressed like one of the warriors, a bladed staff at her side.
“I’ll fight these last rounds with you,” Anissa said when Serephone approached.
“The last nearly killed me.”
“We know. You’ve lasted longer than anticipated. I did not think Natali would forfeit for you, but you must have impressed her.”
“The last round?”
“Yes.”
The sun was beginning to set and gas torches were set out around the circle. The fae looked sinister in the flickering light, the sharp bones of their faces stark and eerie. They claimed she had enough of their blood that it mattered, but Serephone didn’t think so. She was refreshingly normal.
She glanced over at Dawnthorne, waiting for him to call the next few rounds, and stilled when she saw his expression. The curly haired gate guard spoke with him, and the Lord’s gaze rested on Serephone’s face. He lifted a hand, beckoning.
She approached, Amnan returning from whatever shadow he’d been skulking in to fall in at her side.
“Are you well?” he asked, mouth close to her ear. “They wouldn’t let me come to you—probably afraid I’ll help you escape somehow.”
