“Why would Zakkai allow her to dream of us every night?” I countered.
“To make her more agreeable.”
“Yes, to what end?” I pressed. “We’ve known from the beginning that he’s wanted something from her. That was his reason for allowing her to talk to us. What if attending the Blood Gala was his request?”
“He’d be insane to come here. The Warrior Bloods are tripled around the border tonight. Not to mention the myriad of wards and spells. He’d die upon arrival.”
“He’s the Source Architect,” I reminded him. “He can undo all that.”
“To what purpose? To crash the gala?” Kols started to chuckle at the thought, then slowly came to a halt again. “The Warrior Bloods are looking for Zenaida.” He whirled around to face me. “That means there are fewer guards than usual. Because they’re distracted.”
“Do you think he’s planning something?”
“I think if he is, he’s going to have hell to pay for it,” Kols replied. “And that doesn’t explain whatever the hell that just was with my father. Or the fucking speech.”
True. I palmed the back of my neck, trying to think and coming up blank. “Maybe Shade will be at the gala.”
“Not likely,” Tray interjected. “He’s never attended before.”
“If he’s up to something, he’ll be there tonight,” I countered. And that Death Blood was always up to something.
“Maybe we should go check it out,” Ella suggested. “See what’s happening.”
“It’s too early,” Kols replied, his shoes wearing a hole in the floor as he paced. “I have to wait for Emelyn to arrive as well.” He uttered that phrase through his teeth, his annoyance palpable.
He’d tried several times this week to convince his father to allow him to attend alone, but it was no use. Traditions were important to the Nacht family.
“I could go early,” I said. “Actually, I could go now, then meet up with you after you arrive to fill you in with my findings.”
It was the best plan I could come up with given everything.
And the look Kols gave me said he agreed.
“I’m not giving that speech,” he muttered. “I’d sooner out my mating to you all first.”
My lips twitched. “I’d enjoy that speech.”
“Yeah, up until the point the Elders call for our deaths, I’m sure,” he drawled.
I plucked the pin from the box in my hand, then tossed the container aside and made a show of adorning my Guardian symbol. “I don’t care if it was your father or not. I’m keeping this.”
“It’s where it belongs,” Kols replied, walking up to me again and grabbing my face between his palms. “Don’t do anything brash.”
“I don’t do brash.”
“Not usually, no,” he agreed. “But Aflora has a tendency to encourage us to act out of character.”
My lips twitched. He wasn’t wrong. “I’ll behave.”
“Well, now that’s not what I said at all,” he replied, a hint of teasing in his tone. He pressed his lips to mine, which seemed to only accentuate his commentary regarding us acting out of character. Because he never used to be this bold with me. And never in front of others.
Sure, Tray knew we fucked around.
But we kept it private.
And the way Kols was kissing me now was very much the opposite of private.
It was downright indecent, and I returned the favor by sinking my teeth into his lower lip and drawing blood. His golden irises swirled in response as I laved the wound.