Page 15 of Insurrection
Otto's nose turned up, "They value purity of bloodline in their leaders, like the other houses, of course."
Could I kill him? I could kill him, right? He was practically dead as it was, given his old age. I’d just give him the final kick into his grave.
Part of me wondered if Otto was exaggerating how the other rulers felt, just to make me feel worse about myself.
"Ama's magic is extremely powerful," Drayven hesitated before meeting my gaze. "They will view that as valuable, so it's probably best that we work together to convince them."
I blinked and frowned...had the man just defended me? I mean, that's what it had sounded like, right? Weird. He was just getting weirder.
"Of course," Otto conceded. "Then you have the House of Fallen."
My eyes traced over the gorgeous gold and black crest that featured a massive set of wings surrounding a military-esque crest. I'd never met a Fallen before, but I'd heard that their angelic set of wings were absolutely gorgeous in person. If they were anything like the ones depicted on the crest, I would probably end up gawking at them like an idiot.
"There is no chance of you convincing them." Otto waved his hand dismissively, and I suddenly had the urge to prove him wrong. Not because I cared, but because I wanted to rub it in the smug bastard's face.
"Why?" Drayven demanded.
"They have never been particularly friendly with the House of Death," Otto mused. "So I wouldn't even waste your breath on them. In fact, they have been the one house that has always voted against us."
Challenge accepted—win over House of Fallen's vote. At least the mental challenges would provide me with some level of entertainment.
"House of Runes is another one—"
"I think we will be fine with the House of Runes." I hummed pleasantly thinking about seeing Finias again. Handsome, deadly Finias, who was apparently a trained assassin with a wicked sense of humor. I could practically feel my cheeks heating at the idea of him wanting to kiss me. It was intoxicating being wanted by someone like him. I couldn't guarantee that they would vote for us, but I knew I at least had an ally when it came to him.
"I think that we shouldn't consider them an ally just yet. The heirs aren’t the ones who get to vote," Drayven grumbled as my eyes moved to the amethyst and black crest of the House of Runes. It featured a dagger in the center, surrounded by thick branches that seemed to wrap around it almost completely. It was a stunning crest that was far different from the others.
Sort of like how different Finias was.
Did I have a crush? I totally had a crush.
"Ama," Drayven's voice was a low growl.
I offered him an innocent look, my eyes moving up to his dark gaze, "What?"
"He's dangerous," he hissed. "How many times do I have to tell you that he is a killer before you understand?"
"Oh," Otto seemed to pick up on our conversation, "I take it you have somehow met the Prince of Runes."
"Yes," I responded primly.
"He harassed her," Drayven bit out, as an actual laugh tumbled from my lips.
"If anyone was harassing someone, it was you."
"The Prince of Runes does hold considerable power, but as usual when dealing with the House of Runes, tread carefully. They aren’t considered a major ally, and their heir isn’t exactly considered trustworthy because of his tainted reputation." Otto appeared thoughtful for a moment before looking at me, "Maybe using your Succubus allure on him would be just the thing to secure another vote."
The metaphorical bucket of cold water crashed over me as I sat back on my knees and offered Otto a blank look. I wouldn't argue with him about this, but I wouldneverdo that to Finias.
Drayven was still watching me, and an awkward tension filled the space. Fascinating how Otto was cool with the other side of my heritage when it served his purposes of getting us more votes. Ass.
"What about this one?" Drayven broke the tension and pointed towards a sapphire and black crest.
Otto wasn't done yet, though, and he seemed to consider his words before speaking, "Before we move on, it's very important you understand a few things about the Dark Elves, especially if we plan on getting involved with them. Unlike the Hellhounds, they don't rely on a normal method of power that equals dominance. They are cunning, so be careful around them and remember that the more runes they have, the more powerful they are. I would highly suggest that, if the opportunity presents itself, you try to secure an ally among them. Anyone who can summon a weapon from their own body is someone you want on your side...even if they are an untrustworthy and dangerous bunch."
I nodded, then looked back to the next crest, sapphire and black, featuring a hooded figure surrounded by wisps of what almost appeared to be fabric. Each of the crests featured a rune in the center of it—a remnant from the realm's old language that told which type of magic each territoryconsisted of—and Obumbratio was no exception. This one I knew well because in some ways the House of Death and House of Shadows had similar characteristics.
"The Wraiths may be your best chance at securing a tie-breaking vote," Otto admitted. "We have always had a tentative but decent relationship with them. They are very private by nature, but if you manage to befriend them, it could be a good alliance moving forward. I know your father has always had a good relationship with them. Plus, I am nearly positive that their heir is a young man named—"
