Page 49 (1/2)

Ground, not floor, not concrete Wherever the hell ere, it wasn’t back at his apartment, as I’d half expected

He threw me off, then scra--"

I didn’t give him a chance to finish I just attacked Amaya was little more than a blur of my hands, and her steel spat flames that sprayed all around us Lucian swore and parried every bloith his long knife, retreating slowly but surely, his expression intent but not unduly worried

When energy surged around , I’d very neatly stepped into his trap

He lowered his weapon and shook his head, his expression soe was not lad I set it up, all the saainst the wall of power that surrounded me Spidery veins of red spread for several inches from the impact point, then faded away, and Amaya hissed in fury

Break can, she said Tined to hold a sorcerer," Lucian said, amusement in his voice "Neither you nor your sword have the power to break it"

"Why did you do it, Lucian?" I growled, hitting the wall again This tiainst it She hissed and spat, her steel throbbing as she sucked at the power of the cage "Just tell me that"

He frowned and held his hands wide, as if pleading his innocence For the first tiround Both the walls and ceiling that soared high above us were stone, and the air was thick with the scents of moisture and damp earth

"I didn’t steal the key, Risa Indeed, I was hoping to trap the thief in the cage that now surrounds you"

"I’ key, Lucian, and you know it"

His frown deepened For half a second I honestly believed he had no idea what I was talking about; then I remembered what a consummate actor he was What a liar he was

"Trustabout my mother You killed her"

"Ah" His voice was soft "That"

Rage exploded, and I leapt at hie bowed under the force ofbackward, landing in an inelegant heap on the floor

"That," I hissed "That’s all you’ve got to say about reat grace, if that is of any consequence"

"But you killed her"

Amusement touched his lips "Yes, I believe we’ve already established that fact"

"But why?" The as torn fro, of course But without her presence, without her advice, you were infinitely more alone and vulnerable"

So he’d killed herof his advances?

"You bastard" Bastard, bastard, soon-to-be-dead fucking bastard

"Another fact we have already established" His aer this time "It’s not as if I have taken her from you for all eternity, Risa, so please cut the draain on another plane"

"That is beside the point!"

"No, it is not, because I could have done otherwise"

A chill went through me "What do youpleasant or amused about it "I may be one of the fallen, but I still retainon, if I’d so desired You should be grateful that I left you the chance to ain in another lifetih with the dras we can still do so the key"

A wall down soon

Trying, she growled PatienceI rolledto ease the tension It didn’t do much, but I suspected little would Not until the Aedh in front ofto enlighten ? Because it’s very obvious you know the is not quite the right term to use," he replied "Let’s just say we have a so you’re both doing your utree of excites," he said, voice droll "Much like fucking you, really"

I snorted "Only in that you’re betraying us both"