Because the truth is, Idon’tknow.
We can’t go to the North Mines. Aramastun took over Barnabac’s guard duties of the silver mines. However, the silver mines are owned by Liolen Sesk, who is still one of the Three Ministers.Maybe we can correspond with the interfolk overliege and find some common ground?
We could go to the Chained Sisters, though it’ll put Iron Sister Keffa and Jinneth in more danger than they’re already in. They work in the shadows of Olhav, in the Military Ward, and are already playing a dangerous game.The Damned only knows what kind of peril they’ve been put in now without my legitimate protection.
Nuhav could be an option . . . but we have enemies there, too. The Grimsons’ leader, what is his name?I’ll have to ask Sephania. He’s forgettable.Either way, the Firehold was center stage for Alacine’s attack. Which means it’s compromised. Us “going underground” does not entailliterallygoing underground.
Rirth and the Silverknights . . . I trust him about as much as I trust Aramastun Wyvox. Sephania’s old friend and comrade has shown he means destruction toallvampire kind. That angry little man will not choose favorites or exceptions for his revenge tour.
Our options are limited.
I decide I will ask the group. Bring democracy into these one-sided talks, for once, and see if our minds can’t land on something together.
I move to get out of bed and wince from the throbbing beneath the sheets, bunching up the covers near my waist.
Sighing, I look down. I’m rock-hard from just waking up. My thoughts about last night and how that trio might have performed together only makes it worse.I’ve got to relieve my frustrations before this evening can continue, after the shit they put me through last night.
I reach under the covers and pull my cock free, throwing the sheets back. My hands work fast and I frown as I stroke myself, my hard shaft pulsing in my hands as I work. Moonlight streams in from a window and basks my profile in golden warmth as I debase myself here. There is no dignity in watching my cock spew cum across my chest as I ponder when the time will come I’m able to do that across Sephania’s lovely skin again.
The door opens without a knock.
I look over with a frown as Vallan walks in. When he sees what I’m doing, his thick arms fold over his chest.
Even though the embarrassment is all-encompassing, I put on the air I have nothing to be ashamed of. I don’t jolt or even tuck my cock away out of sight.
Instead, letting it rest against my belly, I frown at him. “You can either help me, fuck off, or speak. Choose.”
Vallan says, “What are we doing and—”
“Where are we going?” I seethe with a snarl.
He nods, tilting his head. His eyes skitter to my cock before returning to my face, as if debating inwardly how he measures up to me.
“It’s the question on everyone’s mind,” I add, angrier than five minutes before.
His head tilts further. Vall has no idea what I’m talking about—that I’d just thought about hating how Sephania feels unsafe when she asks that question.
Now I’m losing my erection. Growling like a beast, I stuff myself away and leap out of bed with a wounded sound. “Come on, you fucking oaf,” I growl as I throw my cloak on and pushpast him through the door. “Let’s talk to everyone else and fucking figure it out.”
Chapter 9
Sephania
Skartovius has a scowl on his face that could kill babies.
We’re seated in the main dining hall of Manor Sirenchis, Helget sitting at the head of the table and Demilord Godial standing at her side, ever the valiant protector of his bleak mistress.
The tension in the room is such that it feels like things could fall into chaos and come to blows at the snap of a finger.
Skar keeps his scowl trained at me. Even when Helget says, “You’ve lost your home, but you haven’t lost your mission, my lord,” Skar doesn’t look away from me.
Wondering why he looks ready to kill me, I tighten as the truth punches me in the gut.Our rooms were right next to each other. He heardeverythingbetween me, Lukain, and Garroway.My stomach plummets to my boots. I resist wincing, and his gold-flecked eyes are doing a good job of piercing through my soul anyway.
That wasnotwhat I had intended last night! Truehearts fuck me, I’d only gone into Garro’s room because I couldn’t sleep! I didn’t intend for it to become an orgy of the most delectable sort.
NowSkar’s death-scowl makes a lot more sense.
I turn my attention to Helget, trying to ignore the ex-lord’s distracting, sinfully handsome face. “You’re right, Helg. We still have allies in pockets of the outskirts, like those guards from Demilord Tymon’s estate. You, too, I hope.”