Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords #3)(47)

Fiona approaches her, but Jacky flings her arms out. “Fuck off, Fiona. You’ve kissed her. I don’t want you near me.”

I gasp, as do most of the people in the room. Roman is shaking, he’s so furious. But it’s not him I’m worried about. I grip Jovan’s straining forearm and use all my body weight when he starts toward Jacky.

“Someone better shut that bitch up before I take to her with my right fist,” Alzona calls. “Then my left.”

Ice cracks his knuckles. “You said it, Zona.” I know he’d never follow through on his words, but Jacquiline doesn’t. She takes a couple of steps back and glances at Roman. When she sees he hasn’t moved she gets angry all over again.

“How can you all have overlooked the fact that she’s mixed! She is part Bruma, and part Solati. She doesn’t belong anywhere. She is a monstrosity, an abomination.” She spits on the floor beside her.

“Uh, actually, I think you’ll find there’s a place—” Crystal starts.

“Crystal,” I say. She falls silent. Mentioning the Ire in front of Jacky would not be a good thing right now. Jovan hasn’t shared the actual details with his people yet.

“I’m sorry you feel that way, Jacky,” I say. “If I’m honest, part of me hoped this would help you forgive me for leaving you all on the way to the First Sector.” I move closer to her, interlocking my hands behind my back.

“I knew,” she breathes heavily. “I never have seen that particular blue-black of your hair before. I saw you in the Dome, saw the light reflecting off your hair, saw the way you stared at our table from the back, and I knew it was you. That a vile half-breed had been sitting next to me, eating my food for months.”

The extent of her hatred leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Her words will never leave me as they reinforce my every fear.

“Shut your mouth, for once in your life!” Roman roars. Half of the room jumps. I wonder if they’ve ever seen him that angry. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him stand up to Jacky.

Jacquiline stares at him with wide eyes.

I run through my options: letting Jovan take over, listening to Roman and Jacquiline argue, or leaving her at the mercy of angry pit fighters.

“You're all fooled by a pair of tits and a smile,” she starts again, swiping her hand against her mouth.

A dagger sinks into the wall by her head. One of Shard’s.

“I’d be careful what you say next. He missed on purpose,” Blizzard says. “Then again, maybe you should keep talking and do us all a favor.” He grins maniacally. I know him, and it’s still terrifying.

I go for the final option: stepping in myself.

I walk toward Jacky, palms raised in a non-threatening gesture. “It sounds as though your mind is made up, and I won’t waste my time changing the mind of someone so set on hatred. But for the sake of what we had before you found out how repulsive I am, can you tell me why you hate the mixed so much?” I ask in my calmest voice.

There’s a flicker of something on her face. Perhaps she’s realized she’s hopelessly outnumbered, but I tell myself it’s the Jacky I used to know. The one who stuck up for me against Arla all those months ago.

“Your kind bring nothing but pain and suffering,” she says, eyes filling with tears. Her hatred is personal. And obviously still fresh, or repressed for too long.

The king wraps his arm around me. “Roman, if you do not shut your wife up, I will, and then I’ll deal with you after.” He doesn’t raise his voice. He doesn’t need to. Roman hurries toward Jacquiline as the king addresses my former friend.

“As your king I’m ashamed one of my subjects could react in this way. You heard what Olina’s life has been, but because of something in your past, you’re blind to any kind of empathy. I feel for you the same revolt and abhorrence you hold for the woman by my side, who is wholly undeserving of your ignorance and viciousness. You have made a grievous misjudgment.”

The blood drains from Jacky’s face. She bends slightly at the waist as though hit in the stomach.

“Jovan,” I whisper to him.

He speaks over me. “Even now, she’s trying to save you by asking me to stop. I don’t like to cause her discomfort, but I have one more thing to say. It’s a warning. One you should take very seriously.” He lets go of me and stalks toward her, death in every step. The room is suddenly cold, as if Jovan controls Glacium itself.

“If you even think about repeating what you’ve witnessed here today. If the betraying words hover only for a second on the tip of your tongue before you swallow them back. Then run far, and run fast, because I will separate your head from your body before you can summon the air to scream for your husband.”

I shiver at the hardness of his promise. Not a single person in the room doubts he will carry through on it if she should be foolish enough to test him. He stands over her, every inch of him coiled for attack. She brought this on herself through sheer stupidity, and it’s my life she holds in her hands. I was an imbecile to think I could trust her.

“Have you got anything you wish to say, Tatuma?” he asks.

There’s a lot I could say, but none of it would make a shred of difference. “Nothing at all.” I'm unable to keep the sadness from my voice.

Jacquiline stares at the ground, tears falling at her feet. They mean nothing to the man in front of her.