But if I lingered too long, they’d see. And drawing attention to myself …
Could I live with it? I’d once killed two innocents to save Tamlin and his people. I’d be as good as killing her if I left her there in favor of saving my sister …
Stranger. She was a stranger—
“He’s been looking for you,” drawled a hard male voice.
I pivoted to find Jurian striding from between two tents, buckling his sword-belt. I glanced at the dais. And as if an invisible hand wiped away the smoke …
There sat the King of Hybern. He lounged in his chair, head propped on a fist, face a mask of vague amusement as he surveyed the revelry, the torture and torment. The adulation of the crowd that occasionally turned to toast or bow to him.
I willed my voice to soften, adapted that lilt. “I have been busy with my sisters.”
Jurian stared at me for a long moment, eyes sliding to the Siphon atop my head.
I knew the moment he realized who I was. Those brown eyes flared—barely.
“Where is she,” was all I breathed.
Jurian gave a cocky grin. Not directed at me, but anyone watching us. “You’ve been lusting after me for weeks now,” he purred. “Act like it.”
My throat constricted. But I laid a hand on his forearm, batting my eyelashes at him as I stepped closer.
A bemused snort. “I have trouble believing that’s how you won his heart.”
I tried not to scowl. “Where is she.”
“Safe. Untouched.”
My chest caved in at the word.
“Not for long,” Jurian said. “It gave him a shock when she appeared before the Cauldron. He had her contained. Came here to brood over what to do with her. And how to make you pay for it.”
I ran a hand up his arm, then rested it over his heart. “Where. Is. She.”
Jurian leaned in as if he’d kiss me, and brought his mouth to my ear. “Were you smart enough to kill her before you took her skin?”
My hands tightened on his jacket. “She got what she deserved.”
I could feel Jurian’s smile against my ear. “She’s in his tent. Chained with steel and a little spell from his favorite book.”
Shit. Shit. Perhaps I should have gotten Helion, who could break almost any—
Jurian caught my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Come to my tent with me, Ianthe. Let me see what that pretty mouth can do.”
It was an effort not to recoil, but I let Jurian put a hand on my lower back. He chuckled. “Seems like you’ve already got some steel in you. No need for mine.”
I gave him a pretty, sunshine smile. “What of the girl on the rack?”
Darkness flickered in those eyes. “There have been many before her, and many will come after.”
“I can’t leave her here,” I said through my teeth.
Jurian led me into the labyrinth of tents, heading for that inner circle. “Your sister or her—you won’t be able to take two out.”
“Get her to me, and I’ll make it happen.”
Jurian muttered, “Say you would like to pray before the Cauldron before we retire.”
I blinked, and realized there were guards—guards and that giant, bone-colored tent ahead of us. I clasped my hands before me and said to Jurian, “Before we … retire, I should like to pray before the great Cauldron. To give thanks for today’s bounty.”
Jurian glowered—a man ready for rutting who had been delayed. “Make it quick,” he said, jerking his chin to the guards on either side of the tent flaps. I caught the look he gave them—male to male. They didn’t bother to hide their leering as I passed.
And since I was Ianthe … I gave them each a sultry smile, sizing them up for conquest of a different kind than the one they’d come to Prythian to do.
The one on the right’s answering grin told me he was mine for the taking.
Later, I willed my eyes to say. When I’m done with the human.
He adjusted his belt a bit as I slipped into the tent.
Dim—cold. Like the sky before dawn, that’s how the tent felt.
No crackling braziers, no faelights. And in the center of the massive tent … a darkness that devoured the light. The Cauldron.
The hair on my arms rose.
Jurian whispered in my ear, “You have five minutes to get her out. Take her to the western edge—there’s a cliff overlooking the river. I’ll meet you there.”
I blinked at him.
Jurian’s grin was a slash of white in the gloom. “If you hear screaming, don’t panic.” His diversion. He smirked toward the shadows. “I hope you can carry three, shadowsinger.”
Azriel did not confirm that he was there, that he’d heard.
Jurian studied me for a heartbeat longer. “Save a dagger for your own heart. If they catch you alive, the king will—” He shook his head. “Don’t let them catch you alive.”
Then he was gone.
Azriel emerged from the deep shadows in the corner of the tent a heartbeat later. He jerked his chin toward the curtains in the back. I began intoning one of Ianthe’s many prayers, a pretty speech I’d heard her say a thousand times at the Spring Court.
We rushed across the rugs, dodging tables and furniture. I chanted her prayers all the while.
Azriel slid back the curtain—
Elain was in her nightgown. Gagged, wrists wrapped in steel that glowed violet. Her eyes went wide as she saw us—Azriel and me—
I shifted my face back into my own, raising a hand to my lips as Azriel knelt before her. I kept up my litany of praying, beseeching the Cauldron to make my womb fruitful, on and on—
Azriel gently removed the gag from her mouth. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. “You came for me.” The shadowsinger only inclined his head.
“Hurry,” I whispered, then resumed my prayer. We had until it ran out.
Azriel’s Siphons flared, the one atop my head warming.
The magic did nothing when it came into contact with those bonds. Nothing.
Only a few more verses of my prayer left to chant.
Her wrists and ankles were bound. She couldn’t run out of here with them on.
I reached a hand toward her, scrambling for a thread of Helion’s power to unravel the king’s spell on the chains. But my magic was still depleted, in shambles—
“We don’t have time,” Azriel murmured. “He’s coming.”
The screaming and shouting began.
Azriel scooped up Elain, looping her bound arms around his neck. “Hold tight,” he ordered her, “and don’t make a sound.”
Barking and baying rent the night. I drew off the robe, and pocketed Azriel’s Siphon before palming two knives. “Out the back?”
A nod. “Get ready to run.”
My heart thundered. Elain glanced between us, but did not tremble. Did not cringe.
“Run, and don’t stop,” he told me. “We sprint for the western edge—the cliff.”
“If Jurian’s not there with the girl in time—”
“Then you will go. I’ll get her.”
I blew out a breath, steadying myself.
The barking and growling grew louder—closer.
“Now,” Azriel hissed, and we ran.