Each of the factions was represented here, except the oracles, but they were neutral anyway. This was monumental for the future of our people. Shit, thiswasthe future of our people, all the heirs.
“This must be the guy replacing Soloman,” Cova affirmed, taking in the less-than-threatening djinn on the other side of Eryn.
The kid had the same dark head of hair that ran true in his line, but that’s where the similarities to his cousin and uncle stopped. Frederick wasn’t bulky or built for war. He was lean and average-looking, with thick-rimmed glasses over his studious gaze. A stiff wind could blow him over.
Supposedly, he had strong magick and I did notice that he didn’t shy away from Cova’s intense frown. Another point in his favor. I wasn’t trying to be a dick, but if I was going to risk my life and Rani’s safety to put this guy on the djinn seat, I needed to be sure he couldkeepit.
“My uncle has been in power for too long,” Frederick spoke, voice low but firm. “He killed my father—his own brother—for the seat when I was just a baby. You may not trust me because of his brutal tactics, but if nothing else, trust that I want him dead more than you for that sin alone.”
Well, fucking okay then. Dude didn’t really talk on the entire walk over, and then he comes out with a hammer like that? I think I liked him.
“I’ve already cleared him,” Eryn said, eyes glowing faintly. “He’s sincere.”
“Not that we have many other options if he wasn’t,” I added. Eryn rolled her eyes at me, and I shrugged. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
“As fun as this is,” Ember interrupted, her forced smile revealing a fang. “Howare we going to get this kid on Soloman’s seat?”
And so began the next two hours of heated discussion. No one actually knew how to brazenly murder the head of a faction. Soloman was secure on his land or heavily guarded when not. We couldn’t get near him without an invitation, and one from Frederick didn’t count… yet. To set foot on another faction's land without permission from those in charge was an act of war.
Getting bored with the stagnant ideas, I decided to scout the perimeter. The likelihood of anyone finding us out here was slim to none, but never zero. Especially when people didn’t know how to keep their voices down. As I circled for a second time, a bolt of fear hit me so hard I bent in half, clutching my chest.
Rani. There’s something wrong with—
I collapsed to one knee as pain seared through every nerve in my body. It felt like being struck by lightning, and my heart kicked into a sprint at the knowledge that what Rani felt had to be ten times worse. Body twitching with aftershocks, I clutched at the tree behind me to try and get back on my feet.
Kai was by my side in seconds, supporting me since my legs still wouldn’t cooperate, but they were getting better. Whatever happened to Rani, it was fading. There was no way of knowing if that was a good or bad thing.
“What’s happening, cuz?” Kai whispered, unsure if this weakness was safe to share with our allies.
“It’s Rani,” I managed to gasp. “Something is wrong. She’s in danger.”
Tapping into our new bond, I traced her and frowned when I felt her unique signature not too far from where we were. She was close. How in the fuck was that possible? I told her to stay put, and she had no reason not to listen. My wards didn’tfail, because my connection to them hadn’t been severed, butsomethinghad still gotten to my bond.
I didn’t have time to stand here and try to figure it out. I had to go to her. Legs finally steady, I pushed past my panic and the lingering pain in my gut and took off into the trees. Rani was somewhere on siren land, she—
The pond! I cursed. Fuck, I was still an idiot. She thought the pond was safe because I told her it was; I never explained that it was outside the wards. I wanted to scream, but that would have warned my enemies I was coming.
I knew exactly who was after her, and their invasion was an act of war. The very thing we were trying to avoid. And the very thing that would now allow us the opportunity we’d been searching for.
Solomon was going to die. Tonight.
CHAPTER 31
Rani
I wasn’t dead, but the pain in my body had me wishing I were. Soaking wet and sprawled on the spongy carpet of grass around the pond, my entire body twitched as lingering spasms coursed through my muscles. I ached down to my bones and my lungs felt charred when I took a breath. Like I’d been fried.
Three sets of feet stood around me, with one more in front, separate from the others. If the fancy shoes didn’t give him away, I’d recognize Soloman by the sickening scent of his aftershave—it definitely screamed old man.
“It’s a shame you survived,” he sighed, like he was extremely put out about it. “One second slower and… Honestly, my dear, that many volts should have stopped your heart.”
I was well aware. My chest felt like it had been stomped on by an elephant.
“Oh well, on to Plan B.”
The fuck? He had a Plan B? I groaned and fought to roll over, wanting to at least meet death head-on this time. The faces of the djinn swirled into strung-out sneers as my vision blurred. Myheels dug into the mud; fingers too. I wasn't intentionally trying to escape, but my body decided it wanted to get out of here, with or without working legs.
With a low sound of disgust, Solomon waved a hand over me. “Somebody prop her up. I’d rather not do my work in the mud, if you please.”
