Page 39 of The Stolen Throne
“You’ll be staying in my quarters, of course,” Cainis says as I turn to leave.
Seriously? The man has control issues, and he’s just begging for Reven to lop his head off with shadow at this rate.
I face him with yet another polite smile, forcing my lips to curve, but behind him, Magda’s eyes catch mine. Cold eyes. She’s not Cain’s mother, who died long ago. Magda’s the zariph’s second heartmate—this particular zariph choosing to have only one at a time. She’s also Pella’s mother. What could she possibly have against me?
“I would be honored,” I murmur, shifting my gaze back to Cainis, “but I prefer to stay as close to Tabra as possible.”
“I can’t allow that.” An order—clearly one he expects to be obeyed. “She is too dangerous.”
“She is my sister—”
“She isn’t,” Cain says. Taking his father’s side? He must catch the accusation in my eyes, because he gives his head a slight shake. “She’s not Tabra right now. Not all the time. Part of her is still whatever Eidolon made her.”
Hells. Hells and damnation.
I was supposed to protect her. It should be me withering away and chained in that tent so far from everyone else. Worse, I can’t do anything about it. I have no answers.
If it’s Eidolon’s amulet that’s doing this to her after she wore it, why wasn’t I affected the same way? And how do we reverse the effects? She’s not wearing it anymore and hasn’t in months.
I need to be near her. And the last place I want to be is in yet another ruler’s private rooms—under his eye, under his thumb, and hiding what I’m doing all the time.
I glance at Reven, who gives me nothing back. Not even a blink. Beside him, Vos shrugs. Horus gives me a nod of encouragement. Tziah’s small face is worried, but she also nods.
I guess I have no choice. “Very well.”
So tempting to kick the zariph in the shin just to wipe the smug satisfaction from his face.
Cain offers me his hand. “I’ll take you.”
“We’ll need to see the space first,” Vos, who is on Cain’s other side, cuts in.
Immediately, Cainis puffs up righteously. “I will keep the queen safe.”
Vos, hands clasped behind his back, gives a courtly nod. “But if the camp is attacked, Reven is the best bet to get her out. He needs to know where she is to do that.”
I almost cheer for Vos. The man has wiles.
After a pause, the zariph gives a nod, and I allow Cain and Reven to lead me away. Together.
This should be interesting.
17
Boys, Boys,
Boys
We don’t make it two steps into the room before Cain gets right into Reven’s face. He uses a voice I don’t think I’ve heard from him before—uncompromising and utterly commanding. “Stay away from Meren from now on.”
“Hey!” I put a hand to his arm, but he shakes me off.
Reven doesn’t move or say anything. Not even a protest.
“She needs my father on her side,” Cain says.
Reven’s chin goes up. “I know.”
“He’s the most powerful zariph in the dominion with allies amongst almost every other zariphate. He could raise an army for her.”
