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A scoff catches in my throat. Still, I lie flat on my back, unmoved from the weight of darkness, the dawning weight of defeat.

“What about your kinta?” I ask, softly.

His smile is small. But the anger burns like molten gold in place of eyes. “Time is different to her. I will surprise that devious creature with a visit at the end of the Sacrament. Three months will have passed for her—”

“So she will have forgotten all about you,” I finish for him, a slight nod tucking my chin. “And she’ll be in the middle of it, the darkness invading the human lands.”

“Unlikely. I expect she’ll take refuge in Licht. Eamon was kind enough to tell me that her family home is in his village.” His smile spreads into something toothy.

A shudder hums my spine at the sight of it.

“Perhaps I want to scare her,” he confesses, a throaty sound to his usually polished tone. “A little punishment for her slight.”

“You have a flair for the dramatic.” I push up to sit with crossed legs. I pick at the laces of my boots. “Do you enjoy theatre by any chance?”

“I always thought it dull.”

I go rigid all over.

The answer didn’t come from Dare. It came from across the roof, behind me.

I turn a scowl over my shoulder.

Daxeel leans his shoulder against the doorframe, his ankles crossed, and those gleaming cobalt eyes aimed on me like arrows ready to spear.

Dare pushes from the roof’s edge and leaves in silence, but not before he shoots me a glance that says nothing less than‘good luck’.

I stagger to my feet, fingers curling into fists.

Daxeel stuffs his hands into his pockets and slumps against the doorframe. “Will you be out of your cocoon for long, or do you plan on returning to that filthy bed now?”

The look I give him is dead-eyed. Nothing but loss weighs on me at the sight of him. “What does it matter to you?”

The glint in his stare burns just that bit brighter. “It decides the rest of our phase.”

“Are you commanding me to anything in particular?” I ask, snarky, and let my lip curl.

“Perhaps a wash.” He pushes from the doorframe. “A private dinner.”

I take a step closer, determined, and lift my chin. “The only way you’ll get me into your bed this Quiet, is to take away my will with a command. Otherwise, fuck yourself.”

His face shutters.

Then it’s stone again, entirely unemotive, a mask pulled tight. “I have been considerate, Nari. I have given you time—”

“Time to what?” The shout rips through me. “To come to terms with you killing me?”

His lashes flutter.

Surprise hooks him.

Because Daxeel never said anything about killing me on the mountain.

Guess he didn’t expect me to figure it out.

From the fae promise to the sacrifice, I suspect how he will offer the bond to Mother.

He will offer me.