Page 72 of Ravenous

“I know of a Sorceri queen who can help you divine a way to be with your mate, despite every obstacle. I will sell you her name and location.”

In the Skein, a queen wasn’t only a ruler. Among the magically inclined, a queen was a sorceress or witch who possessed the most skill with a particular ability. “Why should I trust the information of a Sorceri? They’re the maddest of immortals.” And one had already rocked this kingdom in the past.

“Great gains dance with great risks,” Inkletter replied. “And you need her. The sorceressandthe mate.”

Thane turned to Lowell. “What say you? Shall we wager on this incubus’s word and hope I doona find myself wed to a leech like our friend Arctos?”

Inkletter scowled, the first crack in his unflappable composure. “You knew?”

“Aye,” Thane said easily. “Arctos and I have drained many a tankard together. For all that the Skein is our only world, it’s a small one.” He smirked. “I doona know which of you blundered worse. You for botching the intel or him for trusting it. What a cock-up!” No one despised vampires like Arctos.

Inkletter said simply, “Yes.”

“I’m surprised he hasn’t dispatched her to the Helter for the monsters to feed on. That’s what we used to do to enemies—let the place torture them for us.”

The downside was creating more undead. Now Lykae never neared the Helter.

Thane’s chest tightened at a memory.Unless to seek out death in its River of Hell.

Inkletter said, “Do you want the information, or shall I sell it to one of a hundred other buyers who will leap upon this opportunity?”

“I hope I live to regret this, but you’ll have your fortune. Now tell me where this Sorceri creature dwells.”

“In the Helter.”

Silence fell like a sword.

Thane leaned back in his chair, laughing once. “With the monsters I just mentioned? O’ course she does. And for a bit more gold, I suppose you’ll trace me there.”

“I’m no transporter. Nothing could move me to enter that place. I approached its borders recently, and the malevolence there made even a scholar like me believe in true evil.”

“But I should stroll in merrily?” Thane asked, though he’d already decided he would.

“Iam not aching for a mate. I need no worlds bridged.”

To Lowell, Thane said in Gaelic, “There’s game within those wilds. We’ll have to travel there anyway if the harvests come in light this year.” Craigdúr had its cattle and game, but would that be enough to feed everyone?

Lowell responded in the same, “A bloody adventure calls then. I’ll gather warlairds.”

Inkletter said in flawless Gaelic, “No, you will not.”

Thane sighed, then switched to English. “Should’ve known you’d be versed in all the Skein’s languages.”

“Yes,” Inkletter said. “I have three conditions for the knowledge I sell.”

“Canna wait to hear them.”

“When you meet the sorceress, you must tell her that a warlock named Baelor the Unraveler sent you. You must bring the oldest gold coin you possess. And you must go alone.”

Lowell crossed his arms. “Out of the question. The king of Craigdúr will no’ wander into a death pit without me.”

Thane shrugged, resolved. “Interlocking souls, my friend.” The very air inside his study had shifted, the ancient pull to his mate overruling all logic. “One day you’ll understand.”

Outside, thunder rolled over the swelling sea.

Chapter 30Ditch

Meera stood before her, all awkward diffidence and wringing hands, droning on about some mysterious strigoi attack on Valhalland.