“And to Queen Erzur.” I hold my glass aloft again. “For joining us and making our victory possible. And to King Moritz, for being at our flank since the beginning. Finally, to Verity. Without her, we wouldn’t be here at this moment and Sadal would be moving freely through the continent.”
Verity’s head snaps up, her eyes wide. There’s a pink flush to her cheeks and I imagine I see a hint of pride in her gaze. We stare at each other, gazes locked and for a single moment I forget we aren’t the only two people in the world. Erzur scoffs under her breath and the moment is shattered. I feel anger twisting in my gut, but I shove it down and lift my glass to my lips.
The spirits dribble over the scruff on my chin as I drink, and I wipe it away with my sleeve. I take a seat again, exhaustion weighing heavily in my bones. Conversation flits around the table, but I’m listening only to Verity. She murmurs to Thal and then to the old Bloodbane witch. Shock paints her face, and I know the witch has revealed her history to Verity. I wonder vaguely if Verity can find a confidante in the old witch.
I pour another drink as Erzur reaches for me. I consider ignoring her but think better of it. That would be a poor way to begin our alliance. I let her rest her delicate hand on my sleeve. She leans towards me and I give her my ear. Her lips brush up against them and I shudder, quelling the flicker of pleasure. I won’t give her that satisfaction; not when she knows exactly what she’s doing.
“Have you considered the announcement?” She murmurs, breath wafting over me.
“I don’t think this is the appropriate setting,” I say under my breath. I turn insistent eyes on her, but she merely rolls her eyes.
“Why not? All your allies in one place?” She rises before I can protest. I drag a hand over my chin, fatigue and anger washing over me. I resist the urge to just stride from the room and attend to more important things. So, I wait as she clears her throat for everyone’s attention. “I know many of you may think that Altair and I only see each other as allies in time of need. And although our victory was mostly due to my sun soldiers, I would have entered into an alliance with Altair even if he had no need of me. I couldn’t be more pleased with our engagement. And I’m sure we’ll all be close allies in the future.”
I hear a soft gasp across the table, but it’s drowned out by Moritz’s sarcastic applause. I force a smile and take Erzur’s hand, keeping up whatever charade will most please her. She sits, smiling cruelly and takes a sip of her spirits. I glance at Verity, a wave of guilt swallowing me whole when I see her pale face.
A moment later, Verity rises, albeit shakily. She hurries to the door, her hand wrapping around the handle when Erzur speaks. “Ah,” Erzur muses. Verity freezes. “I know things are done differently in the mortal realm, but here, commoners bow to royalty.”
“That’s enough,” I snap. Fury wells in my chest and I turn narrowed eyes on Erzur.
She smiles like a cat as Verity turns stiffly. I watch, guilt and anger mingling in my roaring blood as Verity drops into a shallow, clumsy curtsy. She slips from the room, careful not to let the door slam behind her.
The room is silent, the air taut with tension. Moritz speaks first, drawling lazily, “Must you always be such a bitch, Erzur?”
Erzur shrugs. “My enemies should know their place.”
“She’s not your enemy,” I snap, rising.
“That’s not what I heard,” Erzur says coolly, every bit the strategist.
I glower at her and bend low, baring my teeth. “If you ever seek to humiliate her again, I’ll rip you apart with my bare hands and blame it on a rogue demon. Do you understand?”
She narrows her almond-shaped eyes at me, lips twisted into an angry scowl. I don’t care that I threatened her in front of witnesses. I care only that she shamed my Verity in front of an audience. Again.
I stalk out of the room, slamming the door shut behind me. I rush through the halls, catching sight of Verity disappearing around a corner. I run after her, not daring to call her name. I skid around the corner, catching myself before I run full throttle into a stone wall. I see her at a window, staring out over the frothy sea.
“Verity,” I say softly.
Her eyes slip towards me, rimmed with red. “It would be best if you left, Fae,” a silky, other-worldly voice says.
I glance towards the voice and see a cat at my feet. It sits like a guard between Verity and me, its tail swishing languidly. My brows twitch together in confusion and I take another step. The cat moves, pacing in front of me.
“Go, Fae,” it says, eyes flashing.
“What are you?” I ask dumbly, glancing between the cat and Verity. She watches, an angry red blush to her cheeks.
“Serus,” it says simply. “Her familiar. She wishes you to go.”
“Like hell I’m going to go.” I take another step and the cat’s shadow stretches out sinisterly, curling at my feet.
“Serus.” Verity’s voice cuts through the tension.
The cat’s shadow shrinks back to normal size and he slinks away, clearly put out. I watch him disappear around the corner, but I have no doubt he’ll be listening. I join her hesitantly. Our breath fogs the window and I suddenly don’t know what to say. Her hand rests on the windowsill and I reach for it. She doesn’t pull away as I wrap my fingers around
