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Kiyo asked no questions when I called Enrique back and told him I’d be out of town and out of contact for a while - but that I trusted him to carry on Really, Kiyo said little at all as we hurried back to my house Within minutes, I had a small satchel packed, and then ere off to the Otherworldly crossing No matter what ups and downs had occurred in our relationship, he kneell He knew I had to act on this ian once I reached an, "did this happen?"

I was in one of the receiving rooms, Kiyo by my side as I stared down Shaya and sorounds Rurik ith thelad he was back frouy around here That being said, there was a petty part of me that held him responsible How could someone as capable as hiuessing rounds, overpowered her guardsand took her" He hesitated "She only had tith her, Your Majesty As you’ll recall, her escort was lightened Still There is no excuse"

I hadn’t witnessed this kind of diplomacy and respect from Rurik sincewell, actually, I’d never really witnessed it With Dorian? Yes Not with otten to Rurik, no question I was pretty sure he was taking it personally But I’d also caught the slight uard That had been ood behavior and had let her outside more I’d known it was a potential security risk - but not one that involved her leaving against her will

"We’re at war," I said "Regardless of her guard, this whole place should have been under lock-down"

He nodded, face growing grimmer "As I said, there’s no excuse I take full responsibility"

I waved a hand dis your job Don’t lay yourself out for the slaughter Volusian said there was a note?"

Shaya handed me a piece of rolled parchment Kiyo leaned over my shoulder as I read it silently to enie, Usurper Queen of the Thorn Land, Daughter of Tirigan Stor:

As you no doubt know by now, I have your sister within my custody If you wish her returned to you alive, you and the Oak King will surrender unconditionally to me You will cease hostilities immediately, withdraw your armies, and cede your lands Additionally, you will turn over the alleged Iron Crown to me

If you do not comply with these terms, your sister will be executed at noon, three days from the receipt of this letter For now, she is alive, and I have given her into the keeping of my nephew Cassius

I await your response

Sincerely,

Katrice, Queen of the Rowan Land,

Beloved of the Gods

I looked up at theof my nephew Cassius’ Does that rimaced "That is the nephew she wanted you to marry"

"Why execute Jasmine then?" I demanded "Why not marry her off to Cassius? Isn’t that a waste of one of Storhters?"

"Katrice hates you," said Kiyo softly "At this point, she probably doesn’t even care about the prophecy She wants to get back at you, hurt you, and if thatJasmine, then it’s probably an acceptable loss - especially if she tries to then give you to Cassius after this ’surrender’"

"So I’d get to live?"

Kiyo shrugged "Longer suffering"

"Why choose her as a hostage though?" I didn’t knohy I was arguing the logic here None of it et along"

"Everyone also probably knows that’s been changing a little," said Kiyo "You brought her to Dorian’s"

"And," added Shaya, "a royal fae in these situations"

These situations For ato closeto do with the heat It was this All of this This situation always repeating itself Me and Jasmine, cursed by our blood, always to be used and captured as possessions in a greater game I’d hated Aeson, but at least he’d lured Jase of her But what about this Cassius? He’d make no attee, after all Had he already raped Jas memory of Leith caed state I’d been in during e of this faceless Cassius lowering hi Jasthe world back into focus I turned to Rurik "How far are our arether and march on her? I want to raze that bitch’s lands and burn her castle to the ground! I want to have the fucking wrath of heaven rain down on her and - "

I cut myself off, as startled at e come from? Well, the situation, obviously I wouldn’t want anyone thrown to Katrice’s nephew before facing execution But it occurred to me in that moment that my reaction was alsopersonal Somewhere, in the ups and downs of our dysfunctional faer ca," said Kiyo, resting a hand on my arm There was a nervous note in his voice, mirrored by the others’ expressions I’d once been told that when I was angry, I resembled my father I took a deep breath and pushed back any further outbursts

"Leading a massive army in - while deserved - wouldn’t be " Rurik was still treading lightly, still choosing words carefully "Well, Katrice was already in wartiuarded After this? The lands outside her houard they did before"

"But if our force was large enough " I began

Rurik nodded "True It’s possible Especially ifespecially if my lord Dorian’s ar Dorian, but I could see a considering look on Rurik’s face I had a feeling we shared the same puzzle Would Dorian lend forces to help er overrode any devotion to me On the other hand, Dorian was still in this war, and I knew hiht welcome a full-out march on her castle Rurik knew that too "With his forces, it’s possible," Rurik said at last "But Katrice’s would be defending It would be bloody It would be ugly"

He didn’t sound opposed to that, per se He was a ly battles were the way of the world But we all knew that wasn’t ideal

My e force to beat on Katrice because I thought she deserved it This was about e, however It was about Jaset her back, and an invading arroup, just as she’d no doubt sent here, one that could slip in We were heavily guarded, but with the assorted petitioners and refugees always co, it was no wonder Jasmine’s kidnappers had slipped in Katrice undoubtedly had a si to her in these tih alert with the too et me Iroup’s eyes off ed astonished looks Kiyo’s face grew troubled

"That’s your plan?" Kiyo asked "Assassinate Katrice? Eugenie, you’re better than that" He’d apparently heard of Ireed "And smarter Get her for me" That was to Shaya, who nodded and then shot a look at a hovering servant He gave a hasty bob of his head and darted out of the room

"Ready to repeat history?" I asked Kiyo "It’ll be like raiding Aeson’s all over again"