Ruenen ducked behind a thick trunk as he disappeared from sight of the city, then took Marai’s hand and pulled her to him in a tight embrace. His entire body shook against her. He placed his cheek on top of her head, taking long, stuttering breaths. Marai stayed rigid in his arms.
“I’m sorry, please . . . just let me hold you for a moment,” he whispered. His heart pounded against her ear. Her pulse raced in time with his. “Thank you. Thank you for everything you said in there.”
“It was nothing,” she said. Before, this kind of physical touch brought up those awful memories of Slate, but now she remembered Thora’s hands spreading salve across Marai’s skin. Keshel’s arms embracing her when Marai was at her weakest. Hands could bring comfort. Ruenen’s embrace . . . there was nothing taking about this moment at all. It was giving. It was grateful. Marai needed to be that steady stone wall for him. A wall that would never crumble, even when he did.
His arms tightened around her. “It meant everything to me.”
Marai shoved aside the thoughts of awkwardness and discomfort, and slid her arms around him, too. She held onto him like he might slip away into that same dark place she knew so well. She wouldn’t let him. She could not let him fall.
“I’m sorry.” She buried her face into his jacket, taking in the scent of him; tavern smoke, ale, leather, and crisp pine. She held him until his shaking subsided. Until his heartbeat settled, and his grip on her loosened.
When they pulled apart, Marai stared up into his face and what she saw in his brown and gold-flecked eyes took her breath away.
It was affection. Pure, honest, open tenderness. Those were not the eyes of a man looking at his friend.
No, this was a man gazing at someone he lov—
“I hope you didn’t do that when you met with the Steward,” said Nosficio from behind them.
Marai and Ruenen broke apart.
Nosficio leaned nonchalantly against a tree, examining his long talon-like nails. The vampire’s mouth tilted into a silky smile. “How did it go? Are you king yet?”
“We have business to attend to first,” Ruenen said.
Nosficio slowly pulled on black gloves, covering his gray skin. “They didn’t believe you?”
“As a matter of fact, they did,” said Ruenen with a rictus grin.
Marai noted Ruenen and Nosficio’s casual stances. She wasn’t fooled. Both were on high alert in each other’s presence. It was noticeable in the way their muscles clenched, their eyes affixed the other in place. After all, Ruenen had stabbed Nosficio with a wooden stake a month ago. Marai doubted the vampire was over that particular wound, despite being fully healed.
Men. She rolled her eyes.
“We need your assistance,” she said, stepping between them.
Nosficio’s expression flashed with curiosity. He cocked his head to the side and waited for Marai to explain.
“How would you feel about making a trip to see your beloved queen?” she asked.
Nosficio’s grin vanished. “Why exactly would I ever want to see her again? Nieve’s foolish hunchback hired you to send me a warning, remember? We’re not exactly on good terms.”
“We’d like you to ask Queen Nieve to ally with Nevandia. To send us her troops so we can rid the continent of Rayghast. We’ll send you to Grelta with a letter.”
Nosficio bristled. “I’m not a messenger boy.”
“A letter from Ruenen means nothing right now. He’s newly established and has no reputation with his own people, nonetheless other kingdoms. But you know the queen. Intimately.”
Nosficio’s eyes narrowed. It was a gamble. Marai didn’t know the true story of his relationship with Nieve. For all she knew, Nieve and Nosficio hated each other. But the vampire hadn’t yet said no. He hadn’t disappeared.
“Marai and I believe that you can negotiate with her on Nevandia’s behalf,” said Ruenen. “You said you wanted to help. Well, here’s your first assignment.”
“I said I wanted to help kill Rayghast, not participate in politics. There’s a good chance that Nieve won’t see me, and will refuse your letter.”
“She could’ve had you killed, but instead she merely gave you a warning,” Marai said. “I think Queen Nieve still holds some affection for you.”
Marai watched her words settle in the vampire. He’s not an entirely heartless monster.
The corners of his eyes tightened further as he thought. “What message do you want me to convey to the queen?”
Ruenen set down his pack and pulled out a piece of crumpled paper and a slivered stick of charcoal. Marai peered over his shoulder as he hastily scratched out a polite introductory letter to Nieve and Maes. He signed it “Prince Ruenen Avsharian of Nevandia.”
Once he finished, he handed Nosficio the letter. The vampire’s mouth twitched as he peered at the creases in the parchment and hasty penmanship.
“I know you’re new to being a prince, but this isn’t the typical way kingdoms request alliances with one another,” he drawled, unimpressed. “It’s going to take more than childish scribbles to convince her. Why would she help you? Grelta has no part in this war. Nieve won’t risk her people’s lives merely because Nevandia’s weak.”
“Rayghast will continue to seize other kingdoms if Nevandia falls,” said Ruenen. “I’ve seen his soldiers on Greltan soil already.”
“Tell her about the shadow creatures,” Marai added for extra persuasive effect. “They’ll continue to multiply as long as Rayghast lives and uses his dark magic. They could become an entirely new army. This isn’t only a problem for Nevandia. It’s an issue for all of Astye.”
Nosficio considered for a moment. He folded the piece of parchment, and tucked it into a pocket within his mauve velvet cloak. “Delivering this letter is a risk on my life, you understand. There’s a good chance Nieve will react poorly to my sudden appearance. She’s prepared to stake me. If I do this for you, I will require compensation.”
Marai snorted. “What do you need with money? If I recall, you take what you need from your victims.”
The vampire’s nostrils flared. His body tensed. “You should know better than to judge magical folk for their way of life, faerie girl. Don’t tempt me to sample that electric blood of yours. Perhaps that will be my payment: a taste.”
Lightning crackled in the palm of Marai’s hand. Thin strands of white light snapped, contained within the confines of her fingers.
“I bested you once before,” she warned Nosficio. “I’m not afraid of you.” Marai closed her hand, and the lightning disappeared. She flicked off the remains of the sparks on her fingers.
“Getting involved in this war against Tacorn means putting a target on my back, which I’m prepared to do if it means killing Rayghast.”
“Why haven’t you assassinated Rayghast yourself if you’re so desperate to be rid of him?” asked Ruenen. “Couldn’t you sneak into his room while he’s sleeping?”
Nosficio gave Ruenen a withering look. “I’m not foolish enough to attempt that. I’m no match for the magic he possesses. I’ve seen it once before . . . That power of yours is why I’m still standing here, Butcher.” Nosficio’s crimson eyes glowed. “I’ve followed you for weeks because of it.”
“You mean someone has used dark magic before?” asked Marai.
“A long time ago,” Nosficio said, glancing away, “and under very different circumstances. Make no mistake, I would’ve drained you both of blood by now if you didn’t possess certain gifts that can defeat Rayghast and his shadow creatures. The minute Rayghast is gone, you and I will go our separate ways.”
“Understood.” This fragile alliance was temporary, which was good, because Marai didn’t want a vampire hanging around her. “We’ll be returning in three days from our own mission. We expect you back with a response from Queen Nieve in that time.”
“That’s a long way for me to travel in three days, then back again.”
Marai smirked. “Vampires are exceedingly fast. I’m sure you can do it.”
The vampire sighed and brushed back his roped hair. “Fine, but I expect you to follow through with your end of the bargain.”
Marai knew this would cost her in some way. Making deals with vampires never amounted to anything good. However, if Nosficio truly sought a place at the table in the war against Tacorn, she figured she could get him that. Marai nodded tersely, accepting.
