He even teasingly offered to marry Lydia and Elias if they wanted.
Lydia had flicked her wrist and informed us they’d married months ago.
Elias had shrugged in confirmation.
“We’re gathered here tonight, well, I would say to celebrate the union of these two.” Fin points to Blaise and Nox. “But really it’s to catch up on some much needed sleep before trying to save the world, and it seems we’ve been roped into witnessing a wedding. Which I’m fine with, so long as you two don’t try that bloodsharing ceremony in front of us. Because I might pull an Asha and throw up.”
Blaise flashes her fangs teasingly, and Fin grimaces.
It’s all I can do to keep from exploding as I watch Blaise and Nox exchange their vows, their world lit up in a burst of midnight light, while mine fades into the shadows of what could happen to Asha if tomorrow doesn’t go as planned.
CHAPTER 99
KIRAN
As it turns out, Calias did me an unexpected favor when he gifted my ignorant father all these statues of Tionis.
We’ve had them on our radar for weeks now as potential ways to enter the palace undetected. The statue in the gardens isn’t a viable option, since that’s the very statue Az once used to sneak into the palace grounds.
But Asha’s innocent little sister has turned into quite the sleuth.
I would be lying if I said I expected this much of Dinah. Not that I don’t hold a tremendous amount of respect for the girl. But I’ve always considered the way she sees the best in everyone a tad on the naïve side.
As I consider the connections Dinah made to find this statue of Tionis for us, I wonder if I’ve been the naïve one.
“How did you find this again?” Fin asks, looking down at the miniature version of the statue that lies in the center of a sandstone tomb on the outskirts of town.
The tomb is rather large, but it doesn’t feel that way with me, Dinah, Fin, Lydia, Elias, Blaise, and Nox crammed in here.
Dinah doesn’t look at Fin as she answers, though blotches of red stain her cheek. “Well, Zoph heard it from Riza, who heard it from Bachlan, who heard it from Selda, that this was here. You can’t always trust what Selda has to say, but when he’s not drunk on faerie wine, he actually gives some brilliant advice.”
Fin looks from Dinah to me, as if to silently ask, “Who are any of these people?”
“The beggars in Meranthi,” Lydia says, a sly look of surprise on her face as she examines the younger girl.
“Oh, so you have friends in low places, do you?” Fin casually nudges Dinah in the shoulder, at which her entire body stiffens.
I frown. I know Asha teases Fin about his relationship with Dinah, but he’s never expressed any intention of pursuing her romantically. I’ll have to talk to him about the flirting with her problem later, especially when she’s so clearly hung up on him.
“I wouldn’t say that. More that I have friends in several walks of life.” Dinah says this a bit stiffly. Fin frowns, then looks at me, confused.
My brother is an idiot.
Lydia and I must be sharing the same thought, because she shoots a knowing look at me. When Fin sees us, he crinkles his brow.
Dinah appears not to notice and quickly pulls out a knife, which she hastily brings down toward her palm.
Fin’s hand shoots out to stop her, wrenching the knife out of her grip just as it’s about to slice flesh. “Fates, did you and Asha inherit no self-preservation instincts?” asks Fin.
“The statue needs blood to operate,” she says, matter-of-factly, though I don’t miss the pleased smile teasing the corner of her lips.
Irritation deepens Fins’s voice. “Well, let us do it. You know, since we heal.”
“Actually, it would probably be best if the vampires did it. For obvious reasons,” says Lydia, looking between Blaise and Nox suspiciously.
Blaise shrugs, shadows swarming around her, then brings Nox’s wrist to her mouth and bites into it like one might a piece of fleshly fruit.
Distaste lines just about everyone’s face but Nox’s, who beams at his wife as if she had just planted a kiss on his cheek.
Fin’s nostrils flare. “The two of you are disgusting.”
Elias also appears to be a tad ill.
Even Dinah covers her mouth, though I can’t tell if she’s suppressing a giggle or a grimace.
Either way, Nox holds out his wrist, and blood trickles down, coating the statue’s feet. Instead of beading at its toes, the blood seeps into the stone.
The statue swings open, leaving a gaping pit in the earth beneath.
I’m not sure what I’ll find on the other side of this tunnel, not sure which Asha I’ll find either.
The woman I’d seen the day of the wedding—she hadn’t stood like Asha. Stiff-backed, with her chin high.
That had been weeks ago, and already it seems as if he’s beaten her into submission, crushed the resolute spirit I’ve come to love.
The tunnel lets out behind an alcove in the South Wing, a relatively abandoned portion of the castle, which is a relief when the lot of us pile out of the hole.
The hall is empty. Quiet. There’s something about it that casts an eerie feeling over our entire group.
If this goes wrong, it’s likely we all die.
Even if it goes right, it’s likely at least one of us will, anyway.
The realization settles over all of us and one by one, we exchange silent nods that might very well be goodbyes.
Then we sneak our way through the palace, hidden by the contoured shadows.
Down the hall, a fae clock ticks, reminding us our time is running out.
The curves of the palace I grew up in are familiar as ever, and though Az has sworn my entire army into his service, he hasn’t thought to change the guard postings, probably because they were well arranged already.
It gives us an advantage, as I know exactly which corners we have to be careful when rounding.
Blaise, Nox, and I fall into a casual rhythm. I grab the nearest soldier by the wrist from around the corner; the vampires sink their teeth into their neck, dousing their blood with paralytic venom.
Our goal is not to kill any of the guards. I’d rather they stand trial once I regain the kingdom, plead their case for pledging allegiance to Az. Besides, I don’t know which ones stuck around to watch after Asha, and I don’t want to inadvertently kill anyone who’s helped her.
But if it comes down to them or her, I will.
