Page 22 of Crown of Darkness
“Relax, Princess,” replies my husband. “None of uswantsto put their hands on you. Tell me what I want to know and I’ll set you free. Or better yet, why don’t we ask the pet? He seems to know more about what your mother intends than you do.”
Edain laughs. “The queen intends to wait you out. You can’t last too much longer, can you? It’s already itching through you—”
I try to pause, to listen, but it’s too late.
Thiago looks up and sees me standing there in the entrance to the tent. He shoots Finn a murderous look.
Finn holds his hands in the air. “This wasn’t my idea.”
“No, it was mine,” I growl. “What is going on? What is Mother waiting for?”
Edain stands at bay behind the tip of a drawn sword. Eris must have caught him by surprise, because there’s no sign of his knife. “Secrets, Princess. All these delicious secrets. There you stand with all your sanctimonious pride, taunting me with freedom, and yet your husband hasn’t told you the truth. How much freedom do you truly have, Princess?”
Thiago straightens, lowering the blade from Andraste’s throat. “Vi—”
“Did you think the cursebinder was meant for you, Iskvien?” Edain pushes the tip of Eris’s sword away from his throat.
The link between us is still there. “What is he talking about?”
“We’ll discuss it later.”
“Really? Because it sounds as though you didn’t intend to discuss it at all.”
Thiago’s lips press thinly together. “He’s trying to drive a wedge between us.”
A howl suddenly echoes in the distance.
Curse it. We have larger problems.
“Later,” I promise him, and then break the connection. “Let him go,” I tell Eris, as I focus on Edain. “I spent thirteen years being betrayed by my own family. If you think I trust you more than I trust my husband, then it’s a good thing you’re pretty, because you clearly lack intelligence.” I rub my temples. “And speaking of lack of intelligence, this was a brilliant plan. We’re all stuck here in the ruins with a rabid bane on the loose.”
Edain sinks onto the throne, relaxing back in it. “As long as I can run faster than you can, I don’t see the problem.”
“What did you do to Lysander?”
“I think it’s more a question of what didyoudo to him?” Edain replies.
What doesthatmean?
“That’s enough,” Andraste tells him, wiping the blood from her neck and sidling away from Thiago.
The tent flaps burst open and suddenly everyone has a sword in their hand again. One of our guards points a crossbow at Andraste, and an Asturian guard returns the gesture, only he’s not certain whether to focus on Thiago or me.
Just what we need. Nervous guards on both sides with half-cocked weapons.
Baylor stares breathlessly at us, the breeze blowing his pale hair over his shoulders. “I lost him. He was circling back to the tents. He’s got your scent, Vi, and he’s coming for you.”
“Why the obsession withme?”
“Ask your sister.” Thiago shoots her a hard stare.
“Maybe he’s not the only Evernight who lost his head over Vi’s smile.”
That does it. Three strides and I’ve got her within arm’s reach.
“What did you do to him?” I demand, both fists knotting in her dress.
“He’s been in the oubliette,” she replies, grabbing my wrists. “You’ve been taunting him for weeks.”
