“Is that what I need?” Irina’s voice was still quiet, but there was a note of power that hadn’t been there before, and Kol didn’t have to glance at his friends’ strained faces to remember that he was dealing with a mardushka.
“Eldr has need as well.” He looked Irina in the eye. “We are being invaded by an army of unnaturally strong ogres. We believe they were unleashed by the dark magic that has enslaved the kingdom of Vallé de Lumé to the south of us. The ogres are overcoming our armies because they have somehow managed to master use of that magic and are turning it against us. Without powerful magic of our own, Eldr will be overrun.”
“And so you propose a trade?” Irina asked.
“Yes.” And, skies above, please let her agree to it. “We will give you enough of Eldr’s treasure to purchase goods from Súndraille to feed your kingdom for the next ten years in exchange for you using your magic to flush the ogres out of Eldr and seal them back into Vallé de Lumé.”
Viktor made a small noise, but Irina didn’t even look at him. Instead, she said, “You are wrong about what Ravenspire needs.”
Kol frowned. “The blight, the starvation—it’s common knowledge. Your people—”
“My people have no idea what this kingdom needs. I do. If you want my help, you must meet my terms.”
“What are your terms?” Kol asked, desperately hoping it was something he could give.
“It’s simple. You must agree to hunt down a traitor and bring her to me. Once I have her, I will save your kingdom.”
Dread pooled in Kol’s stomach as he asked, “Who is the traitor?”
Irina’s smile sent a chill down Kol’s spine. “Princess Lorelai.”
A heavy silence fell in the wake of Irina’s words. Kol knew about Princess Lorelai. Even with his less-than-ambitious approach to his schoolwork, the story of the night the king of Ravenspire had died, along with the prince and princess, had stuck with him.
“I thought the Ravenspire heirs died the same night the king died,” he said.
Irina’s voice was hard. “As did I, but I have new information.”
“How am I supposed to find her?” He frowned. “You’re the most powerful mardushka to come out of Morcant for generations. If you can’t find her, what makes you think I can?”
Her smile disappeared. “The princess is a mardushka as well and is cloaking herself from me. She might be able to hide from magic, but she can’t hide from a predator who tracks his prey by scent.” Her gaze pinned him where he sat.
His mouth went dry. “People aren’t prey.”
Her lip curled. “The only people who aren’t prey are those smart enough and strong enough to become the predator.” She leaned toward him. She smelled of vanilla and apples. “You’re a king. You don’t have the luxury of turning away from what must be done. Not if you want to save your kingdom.”
She was right. Skies curse her, she was right, and Kol knew it.
“I attended a wild boar hunt hosted by your father years ago. I saw how fast the Draconi cornered their prey once they had the scent. It was magnificent.” She lowered her voice, as if confiding a secret. “I couldn’t understand then why Eldr hadn’t conquered every other kingdom in the land. Why you weren’t ruling the entire world with the terrible strength of your dragon selves. But then I learned about your dual hearts.”
She reached out and pressed her palm to his chest. His hearts leaped beneath her touch, and he jerked away from her. She smiled.
“Your dragon heart is fierce. Monstrous. It wants the unfettered freedom to rule the skies, to burn the land, and to subjugate everyone else to its whims. It’s the perfect predator, but your human heart tempers your dragon self with demands for honor, compassion, and justice. Your people have dealt with this duality by rigorously training your dragon heart to bow to your human heart, but deep within you are the instincts required to be the most terrifying predator in the land. I have no doubt you’ll quickly hunt down the princess and save your kingdom.”
A band of tension wrapped around Kol’s chest as he slowly got to his feet. “Draconi don’t hunt people.”
“Especially when that person is a mardushka.” Jyn stood as well, her expression furious. “We will not accept our king putting himself in such danger on your behalf.”
Irina rose to her feet, and though she was small, she seemed to fill the room with her presence. “He does this for Eldr, not for me. You came to me because you’re desperate.” Her tone was sharp. “You have no other options. Where else can you go for help defeating the ogres and their magic? Morcant?” Her delicate laugh was filled with scorn. “King Milek, fearing the true depth of power a mardushka can achieve with time and training, outlawed all but the most benign forms of magic decades ago. None of the mardushkas in his service will admit to being capable of stopping one ogre, much less an entire army. Those in Morcant who could help you are no friend to the king.”