Page 9

“Who said it was urgent?” I cut in.

“Is there anyone else here?” Zorren replies, ignoring my question.

“Yes.” My eyes slide over to the far side of the room, where Maddoc and Nyra are standing in the shadows. Zorren follows my line of sight, making eye contact with both of them. He nods and lifts a hand to wave at them. Nyra and Maddoc both relax and wave back. They have all been acquainted many times. Nyra more so with Zorren than Maddoc with Zorren. Even though I trust Maddoc, he’s still a royal, reports to the king, and lives in Coral Haven. Zorren is someone I can’t live without, someone I need to stay safe. So he remains my biggest secret.

“I was given a message I had to deliver tonight.” He moves his hand slowly to his jacket pocket and pulls something out. My breath hitches in my throat. A blood mark. A familiar one I’ve seen too many godsdamn times. Ice floods my veins as he holds it out. I take it without a word.

I don’t need to open it, already knowing it’s my name written across the front. My voice comes out cold. “Who the fuck gave this to you?”

Maddoc moves from the wall, stepping closer to me. Nyra is still watching, silently.

Zorren’s eyes meet mine. He doesn’t seem on edge, just eager to deliver the message, which leads me to believe that he was threatened. “He said his name is Silas,” he murmurs. “He said he’s known you for a long time. That I needed to deliver this personally.” He hesitates, glancing down at it. “And that… if I didn’t… there would be a price to pay.” Blood. The price is Zorren’s life.

I grab his wrists, my fingers tight as I scan every inch of his visible skin. Arms, neck, hands, looking for bruises or marks, any sign that he hurt him. “I’m fine, I can protect myself,” Zorren says. I drop his wrists, reading every single movement he makes. He’s a fighter, a damn good one. Quick as a shot from a pistol and twice as lethal. Royals—the ones bound by our treaties—come down here to place bets on him. Pirates and crime lords travel from every corner of the sea to tempt him into their service. I know he can protect himself, but not against someone with the reputation that Silas has.

My mind is racing. It’s been four years.

I haven’t seen him since the day I walked out of his godsdamn academy. And now he’s found Zorren. The one I’ve kept hidden since I saved him. Why now?

Silas was the one who taught me to never care about anything, that caring makes you weak. You become vulnerable. Loving is a weakness, he’d say, one that I’d pay the price for if I forgot. Love can make you give in, give up information you never would have otherwise. I take a breath to steady myself.

“I know you can, love. But Silas is a different type of monster. Where did he hand this to you? And when?” I ask, keeping my voice level. Zorren’s just a teenager, so he feels like he’s invincible. I was the same at his age. I don’t want him walking into a trap he can’t escape from.

Zorren nods, and I pray he understands the severity of my tone. “It happened right outside the Ring, when I left after a fight. I was walking back home, passing the docks, when he stopped me.” His voice drops. “I felt like someone was following me, so I stopped and turned around. Then he was just there.” He looks down at the blood mark in my hand. The fury burning in my chest turns molten. But a small sense of pride hits me that he listened to his instincts.

“He said my name,” he continues. “Then he told me exactly what I just repeated to you. He handed me the parchment, smiled, and walked away.” The air feels eerily still around us, and I grit my teeth. He did his research, knew where to find Zorren and get him alone. He’d most likely had him followed by his slayers in the days leading up to the confrontation. The thought of it makes me sick to my stomach.

“Fuck.” The word escapes my lips in a defeated breath.

Maddoc steps closer to me, his footsteps cautious and his face unreadable. “Whatever you’re planning, Nes,” he says gently, “just… think it through.” I hold up a hand, cutting him off before he can say any more.

“I always think it through. I’m just a fast thinker.” I meet his eyes, my voice colder than ice. And usually, my thoughts lead to me drenching my blade in someone’s blood.

In this scenario, that’s the only option I’m considering. Silas is already dead.

“Maddoc,” I say smoothly, “it’s been a pleasure, love. I’ll see you in a week.” I smile in a passive-aggressive way of dismissing him. “Leave cloaked. And stay cloaked until you’re safely back on Coral Haven’s land. Understood?”

If Silas played Zorren as his first hand, then it’s safe to say he knows about Maddoc, and most likely Nyra, too. He’ll use anything to get to me now. Anyone.

Maddoc leans in, his breath brushing my ear. “A week it is, Nes.” His voice is a quiet promise, but his stare holds a multitude of emotions. He steps away, taking that scent of pine along with him.

I wait for the door to shut before I turn back to Zorren. “You need to be on your guard every second of every day until I say otherwise, got it?” I leave no room for an argument.

“Who is he?” Zorren asks instead of confirming.

“Did you not hear what I just said?” I push back at him.

“Yes, I got it,” he says with a perturbed sigh. “I just want to know who's been following me. I've seen him at the Ring a couple of times. He always bets that I’ll win. He bets a lot of money on me, and leaves me some too.”

My eyes narrow. I don’t like this. Silas watching Zorren's fighting style, analyzing his moves and techniques, can only be preparation for fighting him.

“He’s a very powerful man, with a lot of skilled followers. If you see him again, please come find me.” I try my best to keep my tone level, non-argumentative.

Zorren nods and walks past me, but just before unlatching the lock, he turns back. “Are you safe?”

His eyes soften as they meet mine, and my chest aches at the worry written across his face.

I walk over to him and cup both sides of his face in my hands. “Yes, love. I’m safe.” I brush my thumb against his cheek. “The important thing is that you are, too.”