“Apologies if we don’t take your word for it.” I backpedal a step. “We’ve had a few recent heartbreaks when it comes tobetrayals.” I resist flashing my eyes over to Skar, because now is not the time for a spat.
Heady tension falls over the group.
“This building is empty. Abandoned.” She nods at the door. “It’s a former tavern and a place for us to speak. That’s all.”
“We’re speaking fine right here,” Vall says.
“Aye, until therealjudgemen come marching through this alley in six minutes.”
Zefyra is little taller than Palacia, and I respect her audacity to try and go toe-to-toe with my largest mate. But it won’t end well for her.
“Six minutes? How do you know that?” Skar asks.
“Because I keep tabs, Lord Ashfen.”
“How did you find your way in the Tanmount, where you emerged from?”
“Like I said, my lord, I’m good at being invisible.”
“That isn’t good enough. Try not being so vague.” Skar unhands his weapon—seeing my other mates have it well enough in hand—and crosses his arms.
I miss this analytical, tactician version of him he’s fallen into.
Zefyra sighs. To her credit, she’s made no move for the wicked-looking little sword at her hip. Probably because she knows it’s pointless. My mates are masters at their craft. “Fine. We’ll have it out here in the cold.” Zefyra crosses her spindly arms under the front of her cloak. “I worked under Overseer Verant at Sutlis Spire.”
Lukain reels. “I didn’t—”
“Know that? I’m aware. That was the point, Overseer. I worked under the behest of the Chained Sisters. Iron Sister Keffa ordered me there once I turned. It wasn’t hard proving myself as a new vampiress.”
I inhale sharply. “You replaced my shackles with silver ones. So I could escape Kleora.”
She nods curtly.
“Just as I suspected,” I say with hope building in my chest. The hope dwindles and my short-lived smile flips. “Then you disappeared. Where did you go once I escaped? Obviously not the Chained Sisters.”
“That’s where things get a bit . . . messy.” She gestures toward the closed door. “I assure you, this talk would be better had in the warmth inside. Three minutes before the judgemen arrive. Not long enough to tell my tale.”
I grind my teeth. Look to Skar—though I wish I hadn’t, because he’s looking at me. We’re both grasping for answers we don’t have.
Skar says, “If you have soldiers in there waiting for us, lass, just know that you and everyone you know dies.”
Zefyra bows her head. “Understood, my lord.”
Our groups sweeps back as she opens the door.
Warmth hits my face.
And nothing else.
At first, it’s quiet.
We go inside and it looks exactly as she says: abandoned, empty. Then she takes us to a second door leading to a hall, where I can hear voices on the other side.
“Zefyra . . .” I rasp.
She swings the door open—
And I reel at the sight of familiar faces.