Page 70 of Revels on an Angel’s Grave

To get the answers he desperately needed, he’d do it. Roremar would try to read Dryvius.

Fates fucking spare him.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Emmeline

Anger roared through Emmeline as she stared at the Lyra Temple Master—the man who’d sent her here without telling her the truth of the deal he’d struck with Rocarri. The man who’d allowed his nephew to be taken into custody when he knew the murders weren’t Roremar’s fault and did nothing to help him.

The dagger strapped to her thigh was suddenly very appealing.

“What are you doing here?” Emmeline tried to keep the bite from her voice, nails digging into the stone railing, but if she knew Aldryn Falliare, he’d hear some of it.

“I’m here for the tournament. The Chancellor invited me.”

“You’re here to watch your nephew die, then,” she accused. “And to watch me be sold off to the winner?”

His gaze dropped to her hands, stoic as ever. She wished he was as transparent as Rocarri. While she didn’t know the Chancellor’s motives, she at least could tell he was threatening her, that he didn’t care to protect her.

Falliare never let his facade drop. For all those years, he’d pretended to foster her as if he cared about her magic, her dreams to get to Valyn.

Then he went behind her back and sold her.

Because her value was in her Fate ties, not herself.

The Temple Master cleared his throat. “I’m here to work on joint business ventures that will hopefully benefit all of the Constellation Isles.”

Emmeline’s heart pounded—her magic pounded, begging to be released—and an ache of loss that didn’t belong to her twisted her chest.

“What sort of ventures?” Emmeline asked sharply.

“Trade and things to aid defensive strategies. A few of Rocarri’s personal projects.” He waved a hand, but Emmeline tucked away the note. “Nothing you need to worry about, my dear. The trip had been a long time coming, but I hadn’t been able to leave the isles with the murders.”

She’d bet every coin to her name there was more to the Temple Master’s appearance here. Why did Rocarri invite him? What made the Chancellor suddenly so interested in the Constellation Isles?

Her thoughts wandered to Perry. Haven’t you ever wondered why everyone has really forgotten the Constellation Isles?

Suspicion coiled through her. She’d been certain it wasn’t Perry she heard speaking to Rocarri earlier, but he had been too far for her to tell. She was positive it hadn’t been Falliare, though.

She had to make note of every interaction tonight to comb through later.

“Well, I suppose it’s good you locked up your nephew so you can strengthen trade negotiations.” Her voice dripped with derision, but Falliare nodded.

“Unfortunately, it is.”

The Fatesdamned sticking door shuddered open once again, light pouring out from the ballroom.

“There you are—oh.” Lola halted in the doorway, the plum-colored tulle of her skirt swaying around her ankles. She swallowed and released her grip on the handle, coming to stand at Emmeline’s side. Something was clenched in her fist, but the door swung closed, masking most of the light and dimming the ballroom’s noise once again.

“Alana,” Falliare said, looking her over as if seeking something to disapprove of. Emmeline’s hackles rose.

“Uncle,” Lola clipped. “Mother didn’t write that you were coming.”

“She didn’t know. It was rather sudden.”

“Apparently.” She toyed with the dainty jewel necklace resting between her collarbones, and Falliare’s eyes dropped to the amethyst in the center.

He nodded in approval. “I’m glad to see you’re all right.”