Torrance smirked. “I know my maven would.”
Muscle worked in Vaughn’s jaw. “Take it. I have nine more where it came from.” He swept his leg out, knocking Torrance’s legs from under him. The male hit the ground with a groan, and Vaughn knelt on his windpipe. Even with his hands cinched behind his back, Vaughn was lethal.
“You drew first blood,” Vaughn snarled in his face. “Remember that.”
“Get off.” Urien cuffed Vaughn upside the head and sent him sprawling onto his back.
Wheezing, Torrance turned onto his side, shoving up onto his hands and knees. “Kill him.”
The guards exchanged a look as my heart lurched.
“Are you so eager to go to war with the Mimetidae?” I asked him. “Your maven has begun a battle she can’t hope to win with the Araneidae. After this, the kidnapping of Lourdes’s beloved sister a second time by your clan, she will call in all favors and enlist all her allies to destroy you.”
A moment passed. Torrance swung his head toward me.
“You know I’m right.” This time his clan had gone too far. “While the Mimetidae must fight for the Araneidae, those are the terms of their alliance, think how much hotter their tempers will flare after learning you not only kidnapped their ally’s second heir, but murdered their heir too?”
“She, ah, has a point there.” Urien scratched the stubble on his cheeks.
“Leave the decision to our maven,” Teilo chimed in. “After the grief these two have caused, I doubt Colleen would deny you the right to carve justice for your wife’s cousin from his flesh.”
“Heed the counsel of your peers,” I said. “Your maven won’t thank you for making her an enemy in Isolde. Few are more ruthless than the Mimetidae maven, and none are bloodthirstier.”
“Fine.” Torrance pushed to his feet and glared at Vaughn. “Pray your mother comes quickly for you. If she is a day late or one gold coin short, I will have your head for what you did today.”
“I see no reason for us to hide behind our mavens. If you have a score to settle with me, free my hands.” Eagerness made Vaughn’s dark eyes glitter. “Let us settle our grievances here, now.”
Blood draining from his face, Torrance said, “No. The female is right. You’re worth more to my maven alive.” He cleared his throat. “For the time being, your neck is safe. Don’t tempt fate.”
Once Torrance had gone, and Teilo with him, I could breathe again.
“You kept my head and neck attached for another day.” Vaughn eyed the veil. “Thank you.”
“Repay me by not provoking Torrance again.” My nerves were already frayed as it was.
“I will keep you safe.” Danger sharpened his voice. “No matter the price.”
I shut my eyes, fearful of what surviving might cost us all.
Chapter Seven
Absolute silence enveloped our ranks as the line reformed and the first Theridiidae vanished into the veil. Beyond the wavering energy curtain, their outlines became blurred, unidentifiable as Araneaeans. Shuffling feet and nervous grunts between ursus punctuated the sudden stillness.
At last my turn came. I inhaled until my lungs ached, then exhaled on a prayer. May the two gods bless and keep us all. One last glance at Vaughn, one more heated smile of encouragement and one more step brought me inside the veil. Its pulse beat in my ears, mirroring my own heart.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” Brynmor walked alongside me in shade form.
“I’m not dreaming.” It would be a relief if I was.
“Shh.” He held a finger to his lips as he had the first time we met. “Don’t speak, think.”
I cut my eyes from left to right. No one had seen or heard me speak. Our line was single file, and Vaughn was at my back. Never had I spoken to a spirit while not in a dream state. Brynmor, it seemed, knew more loopholes than I for communication between our worlds. I could learn one or two things from him. Projecting my thoughts came easier than expected. Energy from the veil
Muscle worked in Vaughn’s jaw. “Take it. I have nine more where it came from.” He swept his leg out, knocking Torrance’s legs from under him. The male hit the ground with a groan, and Vaughn knelt on his windpipe. Even with his hands cinched behind his back, Vaughn was lethal.
“You drew first blood,” Vaughn snarled in his face. “Remember that.”
“Get off.” Urien cuffed Vaughn upside the head and sent him sprawling onto his back.
Wheezing, Torrance turned onto his side, shoving up onto his hands and knees. “Kill him.”
The guards exchanged a look as my heart lurched.
“Are you so eager to go to war with the Mimetidae?” I asked him. “Your maven has begun a battle she can’t hope to win with the Araneidae. After this, the kidnapping of Lourdes’s beloved sister a second time by your clan, she will call in all favors and enlist all her allies to destroy you.”
A moment passed. Torrance swung his head toward me.
“You know I’m right.” This time his clan had gone too far. “While the Mimetidae must fight for the Araneidae, those are the terms of their alliance, think how much hotter their tempers will flare after learning you not only kidnapped their ally’s second heir, but murdered their heir too?”
“She, ah, has a point there.” Urien scratched the stubble on his cheeks.
“Leave the decision to our maven,” Teilo chimed in. “After the grief these two have caused, I doubt Colleen would deny you the right to carve justice for your wife’s cousin from his flesh.”
“Heed the counsel of your peers,” I said. “Your maven won’t thank you for making her an enemy in Isolde. Few are more ruthless than the Mimetidae maven, and none are bloodthirstier.”
“Fine.” Torrance pushed to his feet and glared at Vaughn. “Pray your mother comes quickly for you. If she is a day late or one gold coin short, I will have your head for what you did today.”
“I see no reason for us to hide behind our mavens. If you have a score to settle with me, free my hands.” Eagerness made Vaughn’s dark eyes glitter. “Let us settle our grievances here, now.”
Blood draining from his face, Torrance said, “No. The female is right. You’re worth more to my maven alive.” He cleared his throat. “For the time being, your neck is safe. Don’t tempt fate.”
Once Torrance had gone, and Teilo with him, I could breathe again.
“You kept my head and neck attached for another day.” Vaughn eyed the veil. “Thank you.”
“Repay me by not provoking Torrance again.” My nerves were already frayed as it was.
“I will keep you safe.” Danger sharpened his voice. “No matter the price.”
I shut my eyes, fearful of what surviving might cost us all.
Chapter Seven
Absolute silence enveloped our ranks as the line reformed and the first Theridiidae vanished into the veil. Beyond the wavering energy curtain, their outlines became blurred, unidentifiable as Araneaeans. Shuffling feet and nervous grunts between ursus punctuated the sudden stillness.
At last my turn came. I inhaled until my lungs ached, then exhaled on a prayer. May the two gods bless and keep us all. One last glance at Vaughn, one more heated smile of encouragement and one more step brought me inside the veil. Its pulse beat in my ears, mirroring my own heart.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” Brynmor walked alongside me in shade form.
“I’m not dreaming.” It would be a relief if I was.
“Shh.” He held a finger to his lips as he had the first time we met. “Don’t speak, think.”
I cut my eyes from left to right. No one had seen or heard me speak. Our line was single file, and Vaughn was at my back. Never had I spoken to a spirit while not in a dream state. Brynmor, it seemed, knew more loopholes than I for communication between our worlds. I could learn one or two things from him. Projecting my thoughts came easier than expected. Energy from the veil
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