Coldbloods (Hotbloods #2)

“It’s why we’re here, across the border,” Navan continued. “We’re seeking amnesty in Northern Vysanthe, because of… well, because of my feelings for this woman here.” He looked at me, a smile lighting up his ashen face. As much as it warmed me, that felt like an unnervingly bold move, to reveal our romance like that. But I knew Navan must have been damned confident that Brisha wouldn’t blow up like her sister would, or he would never have risked it.

Thankfully, Queen Brisha’s eyes lit up. “Oh! A tale of star-crossed love. Well, this is an extraordinary turn of events!” She was evidently delighted by the idea. Looking at her collection of books, I found myself wondering if she had a few choice romances in there somewhere, for when she needed a spot of escapism. “Although, surely you knew what would happen when you brought her to Vysanthe?” she added, making my stomach lurch.

“I brought her here because I had nowhere else to take her,” Navan replied smoothly. “Her species isn’t used to the temperatures in this part of the universe, and I didn’t want to leave her on some unknown planet where anything might happen to her. I was planning to seek out her homeland in a week or so, after I’d completed some repairs on my ship, but I needed somewhere to keep her in the meantime. I thought I could pass her off as a slave I’d taken, but it… didn’t really work out.”

“How so?” Queen Brisha pressed, licking her lips in anticipation.

“We were caught kissing in a corridor at a party the queen threw in his honor, Your Highness,” I chipped in, flashing her a shy smile.

Queen Brisha chuckled. “How delicious. But what made you think I’d be any less harsh on this affection the two of you share?” Her delight ebbed for a moment, her stare intensifying.

I took a deep breath as Navan replied, “I know your view on inter-species relationships isn’t one that will result in the death penalty, Your Highness. So, I suppose we were hoping you might look kindly on our love, and accept us into the fold, so to speak… It’s a bold assumption, I know, but we didn’t have many other options. It was run to you, or die.”

I watched Queen Brisha as she mulled over our tale, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t read her. Despite her apparent warmth, in that moment I honestly had no idea which way she would swing when it came to our judgment. Not for the first time, I wondered if we’d made a horrible mistake in coming here. What if she spoke to Queen Gianne and realized that our story was made up? It appeared she had a lot of intel on what was going on in the southern part of Vysanthe—what if her spies, whoever they were, fed back the reality of our escape? I couldn’t help feeling we’d simply jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

After a long pause, Queen Brisha spoke. “While I love a tale of tragic romance, and I sense that what you are telling me is the truth, given the way you look at one another… I can’t just offer you the amnesty you seek. As with all defectors, you must prove yourselves to me beyond all reasonable doubt before I can take you under my wing. I will not put my people at risk by inviting miscreants into our midst… as adorable as I think the pair of you are.” She smiled then, her cold mask breaking.

“What can we do to prove ourselves to you?” Navan asked. I noticed his jaw tense slightly.

“I trust you know Gianne’s palace?” she replied.

Navan and I nodded. “It’s a beautiful place, Your Highness,” I said, remembering the glacial surface and the striking towers.

She sighed, lounging back in her chair. “It is beyond beautiful, little Kryptonian,” she remarked. “I imagine it blew your mind, given where you’ve come from.”

I nodded. “I have never seen anything quite like it, Your Highness,” I replied, meaning it.

“Your brother was the architect, was he not?” Queen Brisha asked, turning her attention to Navan.

He smiled proudly. “Indeed, Bashrik was the lead architect, Your Highness.” I knew he’d said his brother’s name for my benefit, given the number of brothers he had. Still, it surprised me. I had never thought of Bashrik as an architect.

“I remember when it was being built,” Queen Brisha murmured wistfully. “I sent spies to check on its progress, and the images that came back took my breath away. It could have been the most exquisite building in the entire universe, but my sister’s tastes have ruined the interior. It’s only a matter of time before the outside starts to go, too. And those gardens! For a coldblood whose passion is supposedly horticulture, she’s done a terrible job of them.” A rueful smile passed over Queen Brisha’s deep red lips.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness, I don’t follow,” Navan said blankly. I didn’t either. What did this have to do with us?

She chuckled. “I want a building that will rival Gianne’s palace, only my feat of architecture will not be used for something as trivial as housing a throne and a mad queen,” she explained. “I want a building designed that will house a new alchemical laboratory, purely used for research into the immortality elixir. The best and brightest alchemists from across my queendom will reside there, working around the clock to find the key to cracking this elixir. It will be a building that coldbloods will come from far and wide to see.”

“And for that, you need… Bashrik?” Navan asked quietly, a crestfallen look on his face. It flickered there for only a second, before he covered it with a polite expression of interest.

The queen nodded. “He is the only one who possesses the skill I need, to design something truly worthy.” She sighed thoughtfully, and I imagined she was envisioning her vast laboratory. “However, I know he is loyal to the South… so that’s where you come in.”

“You want me to bring him over to your side, Your Highness?”

She smiled. “Now you’re getting it. I want you to invite him here, to the palace, and ensure he comes. I’d invite him myself, but since he would most likely refuse a personal invitation from me, I thought you could do it. He is far more likely to listen to his brother.”

Navan sighed heavily. I could see he didn’t like the idea of getting his younger brother involved in this whole mess, but what choice did we have? If he refused Queen Brisha’s request to wrangle Bashrik, then we were back to square one. And, now that we were in the heart of Northern Vysanthe, we had nowhere to run.

Of course, I didn’t know how we’d even contact Bashrik at this point, let alone get him here, but… one step at a time.

“I will do as you ask, Your Highness,” he said after a few moments of silence, his brow furrowed.

“Excellent!” Queen Brisha said, her eyes glittering with excitement.

“Now, Your Highness,” Navan replied, “if I may, I would like to seek medical attention. I’m beginning to feel a little queasy.” In all the tension, I’d forgotten about his arm, and the medic that had never come. It seemed Queen Brisha had, too.

“Goodness, your arm! I’m sorry, I completely forgot,” she said. “That’s not like Pandora—perhaps someone held her up on the way to the infirmary. Anyway, if you go outside, one of the guards by the door will assist you.”

Navan smiled weakly. “Thank you, Your Highness.” With that, he rose. I got up too, moving to follow him to the door.