Page 209 of Sunsplitter

Qirza’s expression tightened. Fi touched cool metal in her pocket, the box masking any scent of Avroz’s antler. She could toss their plan. Could thrust the antler at this councilor and make their case. In their scheming, they’d debated a more direct approach, going straight to the Dusk Council. But as much as Fi hated Avroz, as much as she wanted to tear that piece-of-shit daeyari apart with her bare hands…

This had to be Antal’s decision.

Avroz was his father. Fi couldn’t make Antal confront him before he was ready, couldn’t force him to live with those consequences. She couldn’t take that agency away.

So they had to get to the meeting.

“Our sincerest apologies,” Syvr said. “We didn’t realize this would be a problem.”

Qirza’s arched brow dripped skepticism.

“We’ll see her removed right away,” Syvr continued, disarming with a grin. “If you’ll excuse us, councilor—”

“Syvr,” Qirza said.

Syvr stilled with a hand on Fi’s arm.

“Mortals aren’t permitted here,” Qirza said. “You know that.” A scowl to Ixli. “Youbothdo. So why did you bring her?”

Fi had hardly twitched toward her sword hilt before Syvr grabbed her wrist. Shrewd daeyari had learned too fast from Antal. Fi didn’twantto fight, but if she had to—

“She’s Antal’s partner, Councilor Qirza.”

Ixli spoke softer than Fi had thought her capable of. Entreating, to an immortal centuries older than her. Qirza’s eyes narrowed on Fi.

“Partner?” the councilor said slowly.

“Yes, his partner,” Syvr said, latching onto the new tactic.“Of course, the laws of the Dusk Council are paramount. But perhaps our esteemed and generous speaker could make one small exception? Just to watch the nomination today. Considering she’s his—”

“Fiancée,” Fi said.

The three daeyari fell silent. Three tail flicks.

She didn’t care. They had no time to waste. She’d promised Antal they’d do this together.

Fi threw back her hood.

“I’m Antal’sfiancée,” she said. “And entry to the Dusk Council is only permitted to those with immortal, Void-woven flesh? Well, Ihaveimmortal, Void-woven flesh. Here!”

She pointed to her eye.

The silence in the hall was smothering. Glowing red irises encircled her. Fi envisioned her own silver eye blazing just as fiercely.

“And here!” She yanked up her shirt, revealing Void-ether slashes across her stomach.

Syvr and Ixli fell still as the grave. Their eyes flicked back to Qirza.

The councilor stood with the gravity of a mountain face, her tail a menacing arc. Her hum, low in contemplation. She scoured Fi like iron wool, taking in the ether, the eye.

Then, a slow tilt of her head, more intrigued than predatory.

“Fascinating,” she said.

Antal’s name was called.

He rose, emotion locked behind a granite mask, head high for his third appearance before the Daey Celva. Unlike last time, Ixli didn’t walk at his side. Alone, he carried a box with an aedari head onto the council floor.

He couldn’t look at the observation gallery. The weight of the audience was crushing, the circle of council members like a noose around his neck. Easier to pretend they weren’t there until this was over, to stare at the dark stone and lighted inlays beneath his feet.