A Soul for Vengeance (28 page)

Both of the Empress’s brows rose under Ivis’s control. “I never thought I’d see the day where you’d be willing to do something without taking full credit for it. What are you hoping to gain with your modest assistance?”

“Like I said, I want to keep her happy.”

And Dev knew why. A happy Soulbearer was less likely to use containment spells. “He wants to restore her trust in him so he can manipulate her later.”

Loku made a clucking sound with his tongue. “One of these days, Dev, you’ll learn she’s not like the other Soulbearers. She’s very special to me, and I don’t mean because of her tits.”

Ivis cleared her throat. “Please keep the conversation civil, Loku.”

“When have you ever known me to be civil? Besides, you like my unfiltered bluntness, Ivis. I make your life a little more unpredictable and a lot more fun.”

Dev had once heard Loku say life was dull without a little chaos, and as long as Arden was the Soulbearer, his life would never be dull.

Much to his astonishment, a coy smile appeared on the Empress’s lips. “Too bad you don’t have a body anymore.”

Loku’s roguish charm vanished, and the dangerous edge returned to the room. “Then at least take me seriously with this. Arden will leave for Ranello soon, with or without Marist’s assistance, and I’m determined to give my Soulbearer whatever she desires any way I can.”

The yellow-green glow in Arden’s eyes flickered out, and she fell onto her hands and knees.

Dev ran to her. The dazed expression on her face pinched at his heart and fanned his anger for the chaos god. Did Arden have any idea what Loku did to her body every time he seized command of it? He tucked her head under his chain and held her close while the effects wore off.

The Empress remained in her chair, the silver shimmer in her eyes dulling. When she spoke, it was in her own voice again. “Ivis has relayed some rather disturbing news to me, Sir Devarius.”

“You don’t know the half of it.”

“In your opinion, is Loku capable of carrying out his threat?”

“And then some.” All of which endangered the woman he loved. “If I had a choice, I would keep Arden here, but I know better than to expect that. I ask you not as her Empress but as her cousin, please agree to send some reinforcements with her so she won’t unleash that monster.”

“And jeopardize the security of my borders in the process.” She went to the window overlooking her almost repaired gardens, staring at the workers who filled in the massive sinkhole created when Loku battled Nelos in the underground temple. “If I side with Ranello in this battle, I risk further alienating our peace with Thallus.”

“Begging your pardon, Your Majesty, but I think Thallus has already jeopardized the peace between our nations by threatening Gravaria.” Arden stirred against him, and his breath hitched. What if he hadn’t been able to get her out of Ranello before the invasion? Would he still be holding her now? “I don’t want any harm to come to her, mentally or physically.”

The Empress bunched her skirt up into her fists, and a wince of pain strained her already pointed features. “Very well, I will agree to discuss what kind of aid I can give Prince Kell. No promises, though.”

His worry ebbed. Even if Empress Marist could spare a dozen skilled mages, it would take some of the burden off Arden. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, thank you, Marist,” Arden said in a voice weak from exhaustion. “Shall I contact him now for you?”

The Empress released her skirt finger by finger, her mask of composure sliding into place. It was a mask Dev knew far too well. Whatever hint of emotion she’d revealed before was buried under duty. “Yes, please do.”

Chapter 23

Zara had taken care to avoid Kell all morning, but now she no longer had that luxury. If she wanted her voice heard in forming the master plan to drive out the Thallians, she needed to take her place around the table in the center of Bynn’s house. Unfortunately, that placed her directly across from Kell.

The fire in his gaze hadn’t faded from this morning. His decree still rang in her ears. He wanted answers, but she wasn’t ready yet to suffer the humiliation of giving them to him. It was much easier to bear his anger than his disgust, his horror, his pity.

Or his indifference.

Because that was what she hoped would happen. He’d learn of her flaws, of her womanly deficiencies, and move on to the next woman. Perhaps his new lover would be the woman he made his queen. Perhaps it would even be that yellow-haired witch. It didn’t matter. He’d move on and pretend that none of their passionate nights had ever occurred, just as he had with his prior lovers.

She would never forget those nights, though.

At least it was good while it lasted
.

She focused her attention on the map, ignoring the foolish heat that stirred in her stomach and the flutter of her heart whenever she looked up at him. The locations of Thallian outposts and troop movements distracted her from the memory of his lips moving across her skin. Reciting the figures from their supply ledger kept her from remembering the number of times she’d known pleasure in his arms and the way his smile made her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. But in the end, her thoughts always returned to him.

He wanted answers, but she was too much of a coward to give them to him. Better to walk away with her pride still intact.

Better to break his heart than let him break hers.

Her breath caught as that thought flittered across her mind. As tempting as it was, there was no honor, no dignity in that course of action. As a border lord’s daughter, she knew the proper course of action was to face her battles head on without hiding behind courtly games. She’d tell him the painful truth once she gathered her courage.

Kell banged his fist on the table, a hiss of frustration slipping from his lips. He turned and stared at the ceiling. “It doesn’t matter how many times we tweak the scenarios, it still would take a miracle from the Lady Moon to tilt the odds in our favor. I refuse to send my people into a suicide battle. I’d rather explore Fermo’s idea of diplomacy before seeing any more of my people killed.”

Admiration surged through her and dallied with the other emotions that filled her whenever she thought of him. “All the more reason why we need to restore you to the throne, Kell.”

“I wish I shared your confidence.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, pushing the raw edge of his feelings deeper under the surface. “Anything else?”

“Not unless Marist offers assistance.” Bynn took a sip of the bitter tea they all drank and swallowed, his mouth puckering with pain. “The only other option is to wait for the Thallians to invade Gravaria and pounce on them when their forces are scattered.”

“There’s still the Triumvirate.” Zara stared at Trivinus on the map. It was the key that could unlock their success if they could just capture it. “My sources tell me they are quite comfortable in the castle and will be leaving the invasion to another group of generals from Thallus.”

“Are you suggesting we focus our efforts on them?” Kell asked.

“I’ve always thought that.” She slid her gaze to her brother, catching his glower. “But my ideas for toppling them are risky at best.”

“Such as?”

Her heart jumped. This was the chance she’d been waiting for, the opportunity to finally earn Kell’s backing for her plan. She started to tell him all about it, but her voice faltered as she met his gaze. If she carried out her plan as designed, there was a good chance she’d perish in the process. The selfish desire to spend a lifetime with him overpowered her practical notions. She wanted what she could never have, making her question the plan she’d clung to for so many months.

The mirror around his neck illuminated the room and spared her from that choice right now. Kell snatched it up and ran his finger along the brim. “Yes?”

The Empress’s voice replied, “I’ve been giving some thought to your situation, Prince Kell. Perhaps I might be able to spare resources to assist you.”

“Perhaps?” He hung the pendant up on the tree trunk so they could all see the Empress’s face. “What’s the catch?”

“You told me that Thallus is massing forces in Boznac with the intention of invading Gravaria once the storms clear. If I send any aid from Hebera, the ships will meet with each other along the way, and the aid will never reach you. It will be a waste on both our parts.”

Zara nodded at the blunt assessment, her respect for Empress Marist growing. She flipped through the maps until she found one depicting the sea that separated their nations. “Do you think you can send a fleet from Mumdair?”

The Empress opened her mouth, then closed it and pursed her lips together. “Perhaps.”

She was beginning to think that was the Empress’s favorite word. It was time to change that
perhaps
into a
definitely
. “According to our maps, it’s a large enough port to accommodate a small armada. It’s also further south, which decreases the likelihood of storms as winter changes over to spring. And, it’s on a direct course with Illyrus.”

The hum of whispers flowed from the mirror as though the Gravarian advisors were analyzing her proposal for plausibility. Empress Marist turned her head to the side, snapping a fan in front of her lips to hide her conversation with someone one beyond the window of the mirror. She nodded before lowering her fan. “The idea has merit, but with one reservation. Is Illyrus a deep enough harbor to accept our ships? And more importantly, is it safe from Thallian guard?”

Zara grinned. “Like you, the Thallians haven’t considered it a port worthy of their notice. The peninsulas on either side form a ring, creating a deep water bay that’s perfect for ships, but getting through the straits between them can be hazardous to those unfamiliar with the area, which is why Illyrus never became the port Boznac is.”

“And is there a trick to steering a ship safely through the straits?” the Empress asked.

Kell’s boyish grin reminded her of the carefree prince he’d been before all this. “According to the sailors I’ve known, it’s keeping a squinty eye on the mermaid’s chest.”

Empress Marist arched a brow. “Mermaids?”

“There is a rock formation on the southern bank that resembles a mermaid at a certain angle, Your Imperial Majesty,” Bynn answered, his rigid composure adding some respectability to an otherwise improper topic of conversation. “If you squint hard enough, you can make out a few of her, um, features. Keep the bow of your ships pointed at her chest until it becomes unrecognizable again, and you should be able to enter the bay with ease.”

The fan snapped back up, followed by more hushed conversations between the Empress and her advisors. Then a woman’s voice with a Ranellian accent interrupted them. Arden, the yellow-haired witch. “Relax, Marist. Loku says he can guide us if we get into trouble.”

The Empress glared over the edge of her fan at the source of the voice. “If I need to remind you once more to address me in the proper fashion, there will be consequences. Besides, what makes him willing to show them the way?”

“Loku is not as bad as everyone makes him out to be,” Arden replied from somewhere in the Empress’s room.

“That remains to be seen.” The Empress raised her fan and resumed her conversation with her advisors.

Kell chuckled while Bynn fiddled with his eye patch. They both were trying to alleviate the tension while the Empress made her decision. For once in her life, Zara wished she could use magic, if only to bend the Empress to her will. Their survival hinged on one simple word.

“Yes.”

Zara had to pinch herself to make sure she heard the Empress correctly.

“I will send the following aid to you.” As Empress Marist began to list what she would be sending to them, Zara’s heart began to soar. Food. Weapons. Soldiers. Mages. Everything they’d been lacking over the last few months, and everything they needed to help turn the odds in their favor. “If our calculations are correct, the ships should arrive by the time the three moons are all full.”

One month from now. Her feet itched to dance, but Zara kept them glued to the floor for fear she’d offend the harsh-appearing ruler on the other side of the mirror.

“In return,” the Empress continued, “I expect you to keep your end of our bargain, Kell.”

He bowed to her, his face solemn. “I have every intention of doing so, Marist.”

“Then I will contact you once the ships have sailed from Mumdair.” The mirror turned black, reflecting the room once again after it cleared.

Kell picked her up and swung her around. “You were brilliant.”

The aromas of bay leaf and leather mixed with a purely male scent filled her nose, overwhelming her other senses as she slid along his body and rested her face in the crook of his neck. She drew it in, let it fill her mind and soul, and reveled at being this close to him. Despite the chaos in her life, she’d come to know peace in his arms.

But she knew she’d lingered there too long once Bynn cleared his throat. Zara stepped back, her cheeks burning, and cast a sideways glance at her brother. His face remained unreadable, but his one eye hardened like obsidian.

If Kell noticed it, he gave no indication. He continued to beam down at her, cradling her face in his palms. “I would’ve never thought of using Illyrus, but it’s perfect. You were magnificent.”

Bynn’s frown deepened.

She lowered his hands, jerking her eyes toward her brother so Kell would take a hint and contain himself. Up to this point, she’d managed to keep her affair with the prince from her brother, but now, she may have given all her secrets away. On one hand, she worried this might create an inconvenient tension between the men, especially since it would interfere with Bynn’s plan to marry her off to Fermo.

On the other hand, it was very freeing to let her heart guide her life instead of her head, even if it was only for a few seconds.

Too bad common sense reclaimed her. She took a step back. “I’ll send messengers to Ortono and Fermo, letting them know of the Gravarian aid.”

Kell nodded, never taking his eyes off her. “We only have one shot at this, and I want to make the most of it. Tell them I wish to focus our resources on Trivinus. If we can capture it and defeat the Triumvirate, the rest should fall into place.”