But I wasn’t blessed with such a privilege.
“What information?” Melisa asks.
“She learned the names of several lords and some of Rholker’s inner workings—like his friendliness with theBrujasand Elf King. It’s already helped us to make a plan.”
The king trails off, and his silence breeds unease. When he looks back at Melisa, I know he’s considering her offer.
“Of course, the fight she started has caused complications. We need to know what those are,” Teo says. “Do the giants war within themselves? How can we best help the humans? DoesRholker plan to send an army after us? Will we wake up with knives at our throats?”
Melisa nods and smooths her hand over her dress.
I frown as she does. Although it has been cleaned, it is still the same garment she wore when we brought her back from Zlosa.
How had I not noticed? It must bear the memories of a thousand awful nights. She shouldn’t feel obligated to wear it anymore.
Melisa smiles. “As a comfort woman, I know many men. My master loves to talk.”
“Would you share the information you’ve uncovered?” Teo asks.
She smiles. “I would do more than that. I would go back as your spy and dig up even more.”
Blood roars in my ears.
There’s no fucking way.
I step forward just as Teo says, “Absolutely not.”
For once, he’s made a good decision, but that does not stop the red that edges my vision.
She frowns, but it’s not just displeasure. There’s something under her expression—a kind of panic.
Yet another new layer I don’t understand.
When we walked away from the giant capital, she was nothing but smiles and soft touches. This is the first time I’ve seen her composure break outside of the few moments she was confronted with violence.
Something splits my soul in half, and I find myself with equal parts anguish and confusion.
She can’t do this.
“If you love women so much, you must trust us to know what is best. I can do this—if it worries you, then let me bring one of your men.” She holds up a hand and points it directly at me.
Something rears its feral head inside of me and hisses.Yes.
It wasn’t that long ago that Tirin was saying those same words to me. He asked me to trust him, to let him make his own choices. And now, here she is, asking the same.
Some might call it a coincidence.
It doesn’t feel like that.
A new flood of conflicting emotions rushes through me. On the one hand, of course, she would trust me to come with her. I can protect her—defendher—from the giants.
On the other hand, does she know that she’s asking me to watch as she returns to her old master?
What do you care?She’s not your mate.
Fuck off.
“If possible, I think Ra’Sa would make a handsome human,” she says.