The Wish Granter (Ravenspire #2)(102)

Together, he and Ari dragged his father, who was still gasping, still holding his hands to the raw, abraded skin of his neck, onto the mattress, where Ari locked the chain around his ankle and then handed the key to Sebastian.

“You didn’t kill him,” she said.

“I wanted to.” He backed away as his father let go of his neck to yank on the chain that held him.

Ari gave him a warm smile. “But you didn’t, because you knew when you had him beaten, and that was enough for you.”

It wasn’t what he’d promised on Parrish’s grave. It wasn’t what he’d dreamed about when he’d first fashioned his cudgel from iron and wood.

But Ari was right. He’d beaten his father. He’d conquered his fear and his rage, and that was enough.

Glancing out the window, he noted the position of the sun as it began bleeding out across the distant horizon. “Teague will be back at nightfall. You sounded confident when you told my fath— Jacob that you could beat Teague.”

Her smile grew fierce. “I think we can. And we’re going to use his own magic to do it. All we need to do is steal another contract. Are you with me?”

“Always.” He offered her his hand and together they left his father behind.





FORTY-SEVEN


SHE EXPLAINED THE plan to him as they crossed the lawn and hurried up the steps of the villa. The plan was simple, but the execution itself could be tricky. Thank the stars Maarit was still at the palace with Teague. Ari could tell the moment she walked into the house that it was empty.

Step one: break into Teague’s study.

They stood outside the study door, and stared at each other for a moment.

This was it. Her last idea. The only plan they had left. Teague would be home within the next hour. If this failed, Teague would speak the remaining word to the incantation that would rip Ari’s soul from her body. Sebastian would die. Thad would die. And Súndraille would be ruled by Teague.

“I’ll watch out for you,” Sebastian said as his lips brushed against the crown of her head and sent a delicious little shiver through her. “I promise.”

She tipped her head back so she could look him in the eye. “Ready?”

“No.” He closed the space between them and kissed her—a fierce touch full of longing that lit a fire beneath her skin. She clung to him, as much to keep her suddenly weak knees from buckling as to keep him close.

When he slowly pulled away, she pressed a hand to her racing heart. “I could get used to that.”

“Then let’s make sure you stay alive.” There was a quiet agony in his voice that tugged at her heart.

“Exactly.” She looked at the door. “Ready?”

“It’s locked,” Sebastian said softly as he tried the knob.

“It’s an easy lock to pick. There are hairpins in my bedroom.” She raced to her room, grabbed a hairpin, and returned breathless to find Sebastian glaring at the front of the villa, his entire body braced for trouble even though the house was quiet.

“Ready?” she whispered as she straightened the hairpin and inserted it into the lock. The lock turned with a satisfying snick.

He gave her a look that sent heat spiraling through her stomach, but all he said was, “Make it quick. I’ll listen for trouble.”

Step two: steal a blank contract.

She left him standing in the doorway, his back to the room while he watched the hall, and entered the study. Someone had recently polished the bookshelves and the doors to the enormous floor-to-ceiling cabinet, though the statue in the corner was still coated with dust. Ari rushed to the desk, where the stacks of parchment were still sitting. Quickly checking to make sure she was taking one that hadn’t yet been filled out, but had the faint woodsy scent of fae magic to it, she folded it up and stuffed it down her dress.

“Ready!” she said as she spun back toward the hall in time to see Maarit step out of the enormous cabinet, her eyes livid with rage.

“Sebastian!” Ari scrambled back as the woman rushed toward her. The princess hit the desk and slapped her hand on its surface, looking for a pen, a letter opener, something that could protect her.

“Betrayer!” Maarit’s paper-thin voice cracked as she raised her hands for Ari’s throat.

Sebastian slammed into the older woman, wrapped his arms around her, and lifted her away from Ari. His lips were set in a thin, hard line, his expression fierce.

“How did you get in here?” Ari asked as she pushed herself away from the desk, the contract still safely folded up and stuffed in her chemise. “You spent the day with the palace physician.”

“And you’re so very sure you should trust Jacob’s word, are you?” Maarit spat the words at Ari. “So very sure you understand everything?”

A chill crept over Ari’s skin as Maarit smiled, cold and cruel.

“What are we going to do with her?” Sebastian asked.

“We can’t keep her in the villa unless we find a way to make her stay quiet,” Ari said, her mind racing, looking for options. “She’ll tell on us the second Teague walks in.”

“We can’t keep her in Kosim Thalas. Teague has spies everywhere,” Sebastian said.

Maarit’s smile widened until it seemed like it would split her wrinkled, weathered face. “Yes, he does,” she whispered.