Dead of Winter (The Arcana Chronicles #3)(41)

In the stable, he crossed to the large gray he’d ridden earlier, walking him to a saddling area. “And you? You’re goan to sit your ass right here.”

Ignoring that, I led my own mare out. She seemed to scowl at me. I wished I could give her more of a rest, but even recovering, she’d be stronger than any of the other horses here.

“Damn it, Evie, you ain’t goan! Do you understand how dangerous that route is? It’s all off-road tracks snaking through steep ravines. Full of chokepoints, traps, and tolls—where you’re expected to pay in people. If you manage to dodge those, you’ll thread the needle between more cannibal mines and skirt past a plague colony. Bagmen are everywhere. It’s a concentration of all the bad.”

“Then why on earth would you go that way?”

Jack turned to me with flinty gray eyes. “Because they’ll never expect me to.”

“You’re not going alone. You know I can look out for myself.”

“You’ll just slow me down.”

“I ride as fast as anyone here.” Except Death. My gaze widened. “Aric! He can control his call.” If he even had one. “They would never hear him.”

“The hell that’ll happen! Even if I wasn’t about to put a bullet in his skull, it ain’t like he’s goan to ride out to help Selena. He left her to die. Remember that, you?”

Jack was right. I was attributing traits to Aric that simply weren’t there. Why would the ruthless winner of three games risk himself to save another card, much less one outside his alliance?

As if on cue, Aric entered the stable. “Empress, your friends are delightful. Abysmally ignorant about the games, but that’s how I usually prefer other Arcana.”

Jack’s entire body tensed up. “I doan even have time to think about you. But you’ll get what’s coming to you. I swear it.”

“I’ve been hearing that for two thousand years, mortal.” Aric turned to me with glowing eyes. “Yet never have I received what should be coming to me.”

Flustered, I gazed away.

He leaned his armored shoulder against a roof support. —I’ve missed your company these long days.—

I jolted to feel his words in my head after such a long absence. If Matthew was the switchboard, Death was king of the airwaves, had learned over his lifetimes how to mentally communicate with any Arcana.

—The human can barely look at you. You must have told him that I had you in my bed.—

I bit my cheek as I answered, Speaking like this reminds me of all your telepathic threats. I remember you telling me that I’d be under your sword in a week.

—Had you been the same as before, I would have made good on that promise.—

Sometimes, his honesty shocked me. What are you even doing here? You stayed away so long, I thought you weren’t coming.

—You missed me, and now are piqued. Know that I was obtaining something that guarantees my success with you.—

More coercion?

—A gift for you. That’s why I’ve allowed the mortal leeway and refrained from a slaying. Because you’re about to be mine.—

His confidence unsettled me. Good to know you were worried about your wife alone out on the road. You let me make the journey by myself. And face the twins! Though you knew how much they would hate me.

—I felt confident that you and six other Arcana, one of the largest alliances yet, could take out a pair of insignificant carnates. To guard you on your way, I bade Lark to dispatch the wolf.—

And spy on me. Cyclops led you past the minefield.

Aloud, Aric said, “Lark sends her regards, wants to know when you’re coming home. She’s feeling better, by the way.”

“I would’ve asked, but my mind’s a little occupied. Who knows what could be happening to Selena right now?” Who knew what could be going through Jack’s head?

“You’re determined to go after her?” Aric said.

“Absolutely. She’s my friend.”

“You won’t ask if I’m willing to assist you?”

I didn’t pause, just hefted my appropriated saddle onto my appropriated mare. “Would it make a difference?”

In a contemplative tone, he said, “Perhaps I miscalculated with you earlier this week.” He was calculating even now! “Perhaps you would be moved by sacrifice.”

“Instead of a deal?”

“Just so. I underestimated the depth of your affection for me, Empress. When I was unconscious from your kiss”—smirk at Jack—“you took pains to ensure my safety. Your barricade of our bedroom door was as charming as it was heartening. Armor, swords, and shields, like a bird building a nest.”

Jack stiffened, clenching his jaw until the muscles bulged.

“He’s needling you, Jack. He’ll do this until you want to”—I turned to Aric—“strangle him in vine!”

Unfazed, Aric merely raised his brows at me. “Well?”

I struggled with my temper. We did need him. If there was the slightest chance he’d agree . . . “Will you help us?”

—On two conditions. For the duration of this rescue, you make no decisions about your future, concerning me or the mortal. And you resist his advances.—

Borderline close to coercion there, Aric.