The Wish Granter (Ravenspire #2)(24)

They were nearly to the chairs when Ari realized she’d left her cup of juice on the table.

It was an obvious sign that someone had been there, but hopefully it wasn’t like seeing a nearly full glass of juice would make Thad suspicious that his less-than-proper sister had decided to finish the rest of her breakfast beneath the table. Besides, it could’ve been any one of the three dozen nobility still in residence.

Not that any of them ever showed their faces before midmorning on a non-Assembly meeting day, but still.

“It looks like Ari has already eaten,” Thad said as he and Ajax took seats five paces down from Ari’s (seriously uncomfortable) seat on the floor. “None of the others would get up this early on purpose. She left most of her juice untouched. I hope she’s feeling well. It’s not like her to leave her food behind.”

“That much is obvious.” Ajax sounded amused.

Ari glared at Ajax’s shins and defiantly stuffed two bites of sausage into her mouth instead of one. So what if she was curvier than was fashionable? She was also smart, confident, pretty, funny, loyal, and a lot of other excellent things that she couldn’t remember while she was busy wishing she could throw her fork at his unprotected legs.

“You will speak of my sister respectfully, or you will be out of a job.” Thad’s voice was sharp, and a rush of warmth flooded Ari’s chest. “The princess is worth more than the rest of the nobility put together.”

“My apologies, Your Highness. I never meant to question the princess’s worth or her appearance,” Ajax said. “I like a girl who can fill out a dress.”

“One more word about my sister, and you won’t be able to find work anywhere in Kosim Thalas. I don’t care if I need your specialized skills. I will not tolerate disrespect toward Ari. Understood?”

Ari mentally cheered for Thad and popped a grape into her mouth, only to nearly choke as she heard Ajax’s next words.

“Understood. And since we’re meeting this morning to discuss my skills, I wanted you to know that I’ve considered your request, and I will take on the entrapment and destruction of the Wish Granter, but for twice the price you named. He’s a very powerful fae.”

“Done.”

Ari sat frozen, her fork halfway up to her mouth. Entrapment and destruction?

Thad was sending the head of his security to assassinate Teague. What if Ajax failed? Was avoiding the price Thad had agreed to pay really worth going to war with Teague?

It was definitely time for a heart-to-heart with her brother.

“When will you do it?” Thad asked.

“Within the month. It takes time to prepare and come up with a plan.”

“You told me you’d killed fae before.” Thad’s foot tapped the floor impatiently.

“I have. In Balavata. Helped some bounty hunters from Llorenyae stalk and kill a pair of rogue fae who angered the Winter King. But we’re talking about the Wish Granter. I’m going to need an iron cage, poison-tipped iron arrows, and time to figure out his routine so I know when to strike. Might also be helpful to have a few trained monsters from Llorenyae to help.”

Ari started shaking her head even as Thad said, “Do it.”

Do it? Bring fae monsters into Súndraille in the hope that this guard knew how to control them? What if they got loose and turned against innocent people? What if they refused to attack Teague? Súndraille wasn’t equipped for the kind of beasts that roamed Llorenyae. This could be a disaster. Ari’s stomach sank, and she slowly lowered her fork to her plate.

Thad must be truly desperate to even consider such an option.

“I’ll need a barn made out of stone and stalls made from iron cages,” Ajax said.

Thad was silent for a moment. Finally, he said, “And if they overpower you? If they get free?”

“They come trained with specific commands. We’ll be able to control them. The bounty hunters I worked with are very professional.”

“Fine. I’ll task every servant I can spare with building a barn to your specifications, and I’ll hire more if necessary so that we can finish it quickly. I’d prefer if you waited to attack Teague until after the ball we’re hosting in the princess’s honor three weeks from now. If something goes wrong . . . she deserves to be launched properly without the taint of her brother’s death hanging over her head.”

Ari’s heart thudded against her chest, and she clutched her plate with shaking hands.

If he was so certain that failure meant his death, then why risk it in the first place? He had nine years and eleven months left. Surely an assassination attempt should be the final, desperate gamble they played just before time ran out.

“I’ll wait until after the ball unless Teague appears to be escalating against you. We have to keep you safe, Your Highness. Once the Wish Granter is destroyed and your soul is no longer in danger, you can—”

Ari’s blood ran cold, and her plate hit the floor with a thud, spilling her muffin onto the rug.

“What was that?” Ajax demanded, bending down to peer beneath the tablecloth.

Ari ignored him as she crawled out from under the table beside Thad’s chair. Remaining on her knees, she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Thad through eyes already swimming with tears.

“You bargained away your soul? How could you?” Her voice shook, and a tear spilled over, chasing a trail of heat down her cheek.