He almost reached for her. Then he remembered the firstone dagger. His hands curled into fists. Deep down, she wanted nothing to do with Laban’s killer. She had only pretended to desire Roux in order to distract and kill him. The shirt was just another prop to sell her lie.
Lucca scowled at her. “We saved your ungrateful hide from a swarm of decapitation bees and determined royals. Was spying seriously necessary?”
“Yes,” Blythe replied with a cold smile.
“She wasn’t spying,” Carrigan said with a smile of her own. “That’s done in secret. I knew the moment she arrived.”
The harphantom rolled her eyes. “Whatever you’ve got to tell yourself, hon.”
Roux was inclined to believe the Phoenix, who merely gave another shrug.
“So?” Blythe spread her arms. “Why am I here?”
“To bargain,” Lucca replied. “It may not seem like it now, what with the trinite dagger in play and all, but the former queen’s advisors made a deal with Erebus to ensure your victory in the tournament. As soon as you don the crown, the Dark One has vowed to open a doorway out of Ation for them. Which is true, I’m betting. He can open one, all right, but that doesn’t mean the group will be able to go through it.”
Fury sparked in Roux. Not because of the deal offered by Erebus. That was expected. Roux even knew why the god wished for Blythe to survive. Who else stood a chance of defeating a male known as Torture Master? None. But the fact that Erebus had interfered to keep Blythe alive meant the Blade of Destiny had predicted her death before the tournament’s end. So who was going to take her out? And how did Roux stop them?
Of course, there was another possibility. These females were lying, running a play of their own.
“Why are you telling me this?” Blythe demanded. “Why are you helping me again?”
She didn’t know the answers? Hmm. Was she not already working with the pair to betray him? Interesting. So why hadn’t she killed them yet? Simple curiosity? A sense of fair play for gifting her with the flower?
He pursed his lips. Did the reason really matter? She’d hidden the firstone dagger. That alone proved her guilt where Roux was concerned.
“I’m sure your Astra has mentioned my dealing with an oracle before I came to Ation,” Carrigan said. “I believe we’ve found a path out of the realm. But. It requires Roux’s aid, and he won’t be in the mood to give it without you. And not because of his Commander’s request. Don’t think I don’t see the stardust on your skin. Yeah, I know all about the warlords and their ways. After consulting with an oracle about my trip here, I made it my business to know. Though the stardust has faded, rather than brightened. Trouble in paradise?”
“Good to know I’m living in your brain rent-free,” Blythe snapped. “What is it you’d like me to do for you in exchange for a ticket off realm, anyway? Spell it out for me.”
“You will help Lucca survive alongside us. Then, and only then, will I show you the way out,” Carrigan said.
“Are you kidding?” Radiating frustration, the harpy spread her arms once again. “What you’re asking is impossible. The one survivor rule is etched in the Oath Stones. Trust me, I’ve experienced the compulsion that comes from making such a vow. There’s no circumventing it.”
“Maybe so, but if you want what we’re offering badly enough, you’ll figure something out.” The Phoenix hiked her thumb in the other harpy’s direction. “If she dies, I’ll be happy to stay here for eternity just to spite you.”
Lucca fluffed her hair. “I’m kind of important.”
“Talk to the Astra,” Carrigan suggested. She arched a dark brow. “Or not. If any Astra could be the first to ditch a fated mate, it’s the Crazed One.”
Blythe fumed and paced the bedroom all night, the Phoenix’s words replaying in her head on repeat.If any Astra could be the first to ditch a fated mate, it’s the Crazed One.
The Astra had marked her with stardust, then abandoned her as soon as trinite showed up? Okay, fine. His attitude had changed before the weapon’s arrival. But either way—the nerve of the man! Had he decided to ditch her for good?
It was possible. After all, he hadn’t drooled all over himself at the sight of her dinner party dress, as any smitten male would have done.
Had she lost her touch? One moment she’d been contemplating the pros and cons of making out with the too-sexy Astra, the next she’d wondered if he’d washed his hands of her for good. How she felt about the possibility? Besides awful. Big awful. Huge.
Which was foolish! Not getting physically involved right now—smart. Well, more physically involved. It saved Blythe from a boatload of guilt. Except, she still hungered for him. More than ever!
Whycouldn’tthey be lovers, at least while they were stuck in Ation? Maybe they would bang the stupid out of each other. No lust meant clear thoughts. Clear thoughts meant better decisions.
Excuses, excuses.Justifications and rationalizations never got anyone anywhere but trouble. Her current predicament was living proof of that.
When the sun rose, Blythe bit her tongue and tasted blood. Still no sign of Roux. He was really gonna do it. He was gonna send her into battle without a pep talk or anything. Motions jerky, she changed into a fighter’s uniform, loaded up with weapons and flashed to the underground arena.
“Sit, sit,” Tonka called from the dais. “We’ll be doing this one at a time in totally random order. Carrigan the Flesh Melter, you’re first. On deck is Justice the Brain Smasher, followed by Umber the Lady Baller, Lucca the Blood Rainer, Helga the Slaughterhouse, Stefanie the Bone Collector, Blaise the Scourge of Fate, Daphne the Empress of Agonies, Vera the Living Terror, and finally Blythe the Man Hoarder.”
Man Hoarder? Lips pursed, she climbed the steps of the amphitheater, joining the other competitors in the stands. Carrigan and Lucca nodded a greeting at her. No others glanced in her direction.