Helyn shoots me a forbidding glance, not understanding my unease in front of her friend.
At least not until his hand darts out under his cloak and brings a dagger to her throat.
CHAPTERFORTY-TWO
THE BLOOD OF KINGS
Idon't understand why Khel, my oldest friend, the one who showed me how to unlock any door, pulled a knife on me. The information doesn't compute; it defies everything I know. The Claws, and the lanes, and the commons of the undercity are supposed to be on my side, and the rest of the world against us.
Except I'm no longer a simple common, am I? I have become, if not the enemy, someone they can use.
I wonder if Alva's in on this.
"If I feel the air crackle for even a second, if you say so much as a word, I'll slit her throat before you can lift a finger," Khel sneers. "In the car, and be quick about it, Your Highness."
How does Khel know so much about Zale's power? I didn't, weeks ago.
Zale holds both hands in the air in surrender and starts to step back, slow, until he reaches the back of the hovercraft. He opens the door and slides inside.
"What are you doing?" I hiss.
I know one thing: Khel's running a job and this time, I'm the target.
"Shush. You know how this works. He'll do what we tell him, and you won't be harmed."
Khel leads me to the passenger door and tilts his chin forward. "Get in, Hel."
This can't be good. "No."
"Hel…" His tone holds an impatient warning.
I straighten my spine and stare him dead in the eyes."I'm not letting you use me as a hostage."
I don't recognizeKhel's gray gaze. It’s too cold, lacking any hint of emotion. To an extent, he's always been that way, but I meet a beast different from the one I'm used to. Maybe because I'm no longer its master.
"Get in."
He doesn't bother voicing a threat, and this time, I obey.
* * *
The streets uptown are still unfamiliar to me, but as the hovercraft glides through the empty, still-dusty streets, I get a familiar vibe. At the next corner, I realize we’re heading to Green Lane, my stepfather’s place on Stateside. My confusion gives way to stone-cold anger when the vehicle slides past the open gate of the duke’s red brick house.
I knew it. I knew that some form of betrayal would come from the Rhodeses, from my mother.
I don’t know what happened yet, but if I’m sitting next to one of my oldest friends with a blade aimed at my neck, it’s her doing.
“Get out, Your Majesty,” Khel orders.
Zale catches and holds my gaze before obeying.
If he were alone, Khel would be dead on the floor within seconds, but with me here, he’s not about to risk it. Which is why Khel made me tag along in the first place.
I need to get to his blade and move out of the way, somehow.
The blade tightens at my skin, as though he heard my thought. “Your turn. Slow and steady. I know all your tricks, Stovrj.”
“I thought I knew all yours, but that was before you added betrayal to your arsenal. What are you doing?” I demand.