“I think Shildreth should get the final say,” I said.
Paris brought his gaze down to me. He had a question in his eyes. I just nodded slightly toward Shildreth.
Paris seemed to take my faint hint. “Shildreth?”
Shildreth shook her head. “This isn’t for me to decide. So many have suffered at her hands, not just me and”—she looked at Faren—“our child.”
Her well of grief for the baby that was lost was closer to the surface than even I had guessed. It seemed bottomless yet overfull as a tear slid down Shildreth’s smooth cheek.
Paris leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table, his brows knitting together. “I see. I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
Shildreth nodded and wiped a tear away with the back of her hand.
Paris put his hand on Shildreth’s. “Elena’s word is as good as mine. Shildreth and Faren, it is for you to decide Desmerada’s fate. Whatever you choose, I will see it done.”
I was surprised to hear him give my word such weight. After all, now he was the vampire king. And I was… Well, I still didn’t know what I was. But I didn’t belong at this table with vampire royalty, not really.
Shildreth shook, more tears spilling from her eyes. I embraced her and wished I could wick her pain away. I couldn’t even begin to imagine the agony of losing a child, much less losing one to Desmerada’s whim. All I had to offer was my support.
Even so, Shildreth calmed in my arms before drying her eyes and straightening her back. “Thank you, my lord and lady. Thank you. We will think on it and come to a decision. May we have some time to discuss it?”
“That’s fine.” Paris seemed to tick that off his list. “She isn’t going anywhere. She’s getting well acquainted with my silver cage. Now, what was the second thing?”
Faren took a shaky breath. “And the second is Liatra.”
“Oh, gods, where is she?” I knocked my chair over, I rose so quickly. I’d forgotten all about the captive seer. If Apollo arrived and found Liatra chained, he would smite first and ask questions later.
“She is in Desmerada’s lounge. We’ve treated her as an honored guest ever since we found her,” Shildreth said.
“Did she tell you who she was?” I asked.
Shildreth shrugged. “Just a seer. Kidnapped after Desmerada killed her own.”
I backed away from the table. “I’ll, uh, handle Liatra.”
It was probably a good thing they didn’t know of the danger hanging over their heads. I would do my best to take care of it before Apollo showed up and leveled the keep.
“What is it?” Paris could read me too damn well.
“Nothing. Don’t worry.”
He narrowed his eyes but didn’t press me further.
“Which way is Desmerada’s lounge?”
“Out the way you came and to the left, seven doors down on the right,” Shildreth said.
I took off and felt Paris’s gaze roving my backside, so I added a little extra sway to my hips as I went. The sound of snapping wood had me looking over my shoulder. Paris had gripped the edge of the table so hard, it had cracked. His gaze was pure heat that sent a thrill down my spine. I could get used to looks like that.
“Easy, my lord,” Faren said, humor returning to his voice as I turned the corner out of Paris’s sight.
I trotted down the long hall and into the antechamber. Liatra sat quietly in Desmerada’s predictably overdone lounge. The room was done in rich silks, all in black for a change. But in the center sat an enormous ruby, roughly cut, yet still brilliant in the sun that filtered through the skylights. It was gorgeous and no doubt priceless. Too bad it was crimson.
Liatra stood as I entered and bowed.
“Queen,” she said.
“Oh, I’m not the queen—not a vampire, not, you know—anyway, I don’t quite know what…” I trailed off, silenced by the seer’s midnight eyes. They were hypnotic yet warm.
“You may not know, but I do.” Liatra smiled and sat.
I did the same, taking a seat opposite from her. “We have to get you back to Delphi, and sooner rather than later. Before Apollo comes for you. I know there’s a portal here in the keep somewhere. Is there one in Delphi?”
“No, but—”
“Is there one close? We could portal to the nearest one, and then I’ll escort you back to your home. Apollo will be none the wiser.” I held out my hand, ready to put my plan in motion.
“Oh, Helen. It’s too late for that. He’s already here.”
A shimmering arrow flew past my ear and lodged in the paneled wall.
I jumped forward and covered Liatra with my body before turning to face my attacker. My mouth gaped open a little when I saw my sister maiden standing in the doorway, her bow drawn taut.
“Elena?”
I knew the voice. It warmed my heart. “Lilah?”