“You did keep us waiting,” Finnyr replied curtly.
“I may not have returned at all, and what then? You were planning to sit here all day?” To think, he could have been spending time with Arianna in the refinery and making his brother wait. It was truly a missed opportunity.
“Where were you?”
“Worshiping at Lord Xin’s temple.”
“Do you honestly think that will work on me? I know better.”
“I have alibis.” Cvareh was glad he had spent so much time there throughout the days prior. “Ask several witnesses, if you’d like.” He strode forward before his brother could get in another word. “And you know better? You know nothing about me, Finnyr.”
“That’s Finnyr’Oji.” The emerald-skinned Rider stepped forward, her magic blowing like an uncomfortably hot wind. Cvareh ignored the all-too-familiar scent of honeysuckle in it.
“Sorry, Finnyr’Oji. New title and all, it slips.” Cvareh smiled and didn’t even try to make it look sincere.
“You should be more respectful before your Oji.” It was a normal thing for a Dragon to say, but the woman looked like she could burst out laughing at any moment. Perhaps she found the idea of Finnyr as Oji as comical as the rest of them.
“And you should be more respectful of the Xin’Ryu, Fae Rok’Kin To, and stay out of Xin matters.” Cvareh snapped back, rising up onto the lower step.
“The Xin’Ryu? I don’t recall Finnyr ever appointing you such.” She looked between the two men.
“Finnyr’Oji,” Cvareh corrected as he took another step, assuming his position where Petra usually placed him. He looked down at his brother, who seemed utterly stunned to find his little brother standing toe to toe with the Master Rider. “Perhaps he doesn’t tell you as much as you’d like to believe?” Cvareh wasn’t backing down now; he’d come too far. “Isn’t that right, brother? Tell her, tell this Rok Rider that she is an excellent protector you are most grateful to have, but she doesn’t know everything about Xin.”
Finnyr seemed at a loss for words, looking between them for something to say. If he wanted lines, Cvareh would feed them to him.
“Tell her that I am the Xin’Ryu.”
Finnyr’s mouth opened and nothing came out.
“Tell her.” Cvareh’s hand curled into a fist as he stared down his brother. He searched those familiar golden eyes for any shred of the man Finnyr could have been, for any remaining love he might harbor for his house. Finding none, Cvareh scraped the bottom of Finnyr’s pathetic personality for a lingering scrap of self-preservation, and found it.
“He’s right. Cvareh is the Xin’Ryu.”
Cvareh felt as shocked as Fae looked. Her surprise quickly turned to anger, and she stared down a now-cowering Finnyr. But Cvareh was done; he’d gotten what he wanted, and so had his brother—the oversight of House Rok and all the joys that came with it.
Cvareh walked away, leaving Finnyr alone, and not feeling a speck of regret for the fact.
Coletta
Yveun never sought Coletta out in her garden unless something had gone catastrophically wrong.
“Cvareh is moving to gain control of House Xin.” Right to the point, her mate wasted no time.
Coletta wiped her hands on a delicately embroidered rag, giving the declaration some thought. “How have you arrived at this conclusion?”
“Fae has whispered this afternoon that the youngest Xin has begun to show signs of ambition. Cvareh, out of everyone, shows ambition! What is this world coming to?” Coletta wasn’t sure if he sounded impressed or frustrated.
“It was only a matter of time, and we knew it.” Coletta had long suspected there was more to Cvareh than Petra let on. The schematics, and then the events on Loom, followed by the Crimson Court, all confirmed it. This was more of the same, and therefore nothing to be worked into a panic over.
“I would like to bring Fae back to Lysip.”
Coletta turned to her ledger, feigning attention to its contents.
“If Xin truly decides to wage war, she will do little alone and—”
“—and we risk losing her,” Coletta finished, looking up from her notebook. “I do not disagree with you, Yveun. Fae is far more valuable to us alive. Her presence at Xin would always come to this end.”
Yveun nodded. Coletta wondered how much he understood about the delicate play of keeping Fae at House Xin. An opportunity to ensure the house’s loyalty just a little longer while they attempted to weaken Loom through demoralizing attacks and weaning their gold, as well as an opportunity to further their organ research.
Even failures could be part of a plan.
“After she has returned and you have had your fun, send her to me,” Coletta instructed.
“Have you found more success yet with your experimentations?”
“Not yet,” Coletta admitted.
“Then I would not have us carving up our prize stock.” Even Yveun referred to the woman as little more than an animal. To them both, Fae was a bitch on a chain, poised to attack, or satiate whatever desires he could conceive.
“She will be fine. Despite our setbacks, there has been no lasting weakness in Yeaan. Even now, my flower seeks out the resources the rebellion on Loom requires, and destroys them.” Yveun seemed unconvinced, so Coletta continued. She didn’t really need his approval, but things were easier when she had it. “Furthermore, Fae is far stronger, wouldn’t you agree? She’ll manage without issue, I’m sure.”
“I hope you’re right, Coletta.” And just like that, the hulking monster that was Yveun gave in to his Ryu.
“I usually am.” It never hurt to remind him. “Summon her back before House Xin descends into anarchy. Then, contact Tam for a meeting.”
“Tam?”
“With Fae gone, I have no doubt Finnyr will be dead within the month. As soon as that happens, we should make sure we have the loyalty of House Tam secured.”
“Their tithing?” Yveun asked grimly. Coletta knew he hated Tam’s demands; she held no love for them either. But there could be no half measures. Anything less than absolute loyalty to him was a foreign concept.
“I have acquired enough for them to make all things equal in the matter of their assistance for the battles ahead.”
“I am a wise man, to leave such important acts in capable hands.”
Coletta could not stop the swell of pride that came at his words. “Trust me, Yveun, and I will see us through to a bright future where Rok reigns the worlds above and below unquestioned.”
“If anyone can, it is you.”
“It is us,” Coletta reminded him. They would either live together in victory, or perish in failure. No half measures.
Arianna
“Nevertheless, I don’t know how you stomach them,” Arianna muttered, having the oddest conversation she’d ever conceived.