Asharoth shrugged. “It’s not all horrible. As soon as a man claims you, you are protected. No man may touch another man’s wife. No one may harm us. And men are forbidden from killing the women they’ve claimed.”
Ursula stared. “That’s it? They can’t kill you? Like I said, you’re getting a raw deal.”
Before anyone could respond, a commotion erupted at the lord’s table.
Bael stood. His dark magic whipped the air around him. “Abrax attacked me in my manor. He crossed my threshold uninvited.”
Hothgar held out his hands, a placating gesture. “I know you’re angry—”
“I’m not angry.” And yet, icy wrath laced his voice. “But I want the fealty to which I am entitled.”
Hothgar waved a dismissive hand. “As I said already, you killed his champion.”
“His champion attacked me like a wild animal. If Abrax hadn’t invaded my house, his champion would still be alive. I’m owed a fealty.”
Hothgar rose. “And as I said, your killing of his champion is fealty enough.”
“I know you two are colluding. A lord’s manor is sacrosanct. A real Sword of Nyxobas would never allow this transgression.”
Abrax leaned back in his chair, studying his nails. “Maybe you should have been more careful and not lost your wings.” His gaze flicked to Bael.
“If you weren’t Nyxobas’s son, I would have slaughtered you months ago,” Bael snarled. He turned, walking from the table and out of the hall.
Abrax’s gaze slid to hers, and Ursula’s stomach turned. Time to get out of here.
Budsturga leaned in to her, whispering, “I think you should follow him.”
Ursula rose, yanking her cloak off the back of the chair. You don’t have to tell me twice.
Chapter 30
Bael waited for her in the carriage, and she ran across the onyx platform. She yanked open the door, clambering inside.
She took her seat across from Bael, trying to catch his eye. As the team of bats pulled the carriage into the air, he studied the window intently.
She shoved her hand in her pocket, toying with the silver ring. “The lords’ wives really aren’t that bad.”
He cut her a sharp look before fixing his gaze out the window again. Clearly, he wasn’t in the mood for conversation.
She closed her eyes, trying to rid her mind of the image of Hothgar parading before a congregation of animated dolls, stroking his lunar staff. Despite herself, laughter escaped, and she covered her mouth.
“What in the gods’ name is funny at this moment?” asked Bael.
“Did you know that Hothgar animates dolls to worship his knob?”
Bael’s eyes widened. Slowly, a smile curled his lips. “I did not. Perhaps I could have lived without that knowledge.” He kept his eyes on her, studying her intently. All traces of tension had left his face. “Would you like to go riding when we return to the manor?” he asked quietly.
“On bats, I assume?”
Bael nodded.
“I’m not really dressed for it.” Ursula glanced down at her evening gown. “I suppose, with the enormous slits Cera cut up the front, I could get my legs around a bat.”
Bael cleared his throat. “The cloak will keep you warm. It’s beautiful, hunting in the daylight, the way the sun catches the moths’ wings.”
How could she say no to that? “I suppose I could really use the practice.”
“Good.” He leaned back in his seat.
Pale sunlight streamed through the window, sparking off his icy eyes and illuminating the perfect contours of his face. She had the strongest impulse to reach out and touch him, but he’d already told her how he felt about “hounds.” And if she thought about it, the rebuke still stung. Obviously, he didn’t like hellhounds. So what kind of women did he like?
She bit her lip. There was no reason she should care. They were going to fight to the death in less than a week, if she even made it that far. Clearly, the wine and the altitude had already gone to her head, muddling her thoughts.
What she needed was to focus on the race that lay ahead of her.
She drummed her fingertips on the seat. “For this race coming up, is there anything else I need to know besides flying?”
He shook his head. “You’ll only need to follow behind me, and try to stay on the bat.”
“Where does the race take place?”
“Around Asta’s spire. We race in three loops.”
She nodded slowly. “And the winners are the fastest?” She frowned. “I really do need the extra practice. I can’t imagine anyone there will be slower than me.”
“Just try to keep up with me.”
She felt the carriage touch down on the roof, sliding over the marble, and she grasped a handle to steady herself.
Bael opened the door, and she stepped out onto the gleaming roof. Bael stared up at the black sky, and he put his fingers in his mouth to whistle for the two bats.
As the carriage lifted into the air, she hugged her cloak tightly around herself. “Did you say something about hunting?”
“Yes. Hunting for moths.”
She scrunched her nose. “Do we have to kill them?”