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“The answer is still no, by the way.”

That just seemed to confuse him. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration, “but you do understand what I’m offering you, yes? Freedom. Power.Safety.” His head tilted, like he was waiting for her to catch up to something obvious.

Taly took a slow sip, unhurried. “Yes, I understand.”

“And I stopped the killing. Just like I said I would.”

“According to Ivain, our walls are still being attacked daily.”

He waved a hand. “Projects in progress. Necessary work. We can’t just abandon everything halfway through. But I assure you, the fervor has been toned down. They’re merely… maintaining the pressure.”

She barked a laugh. “Oh well, that makes it all better. Quick, where can I sign. Can’t wait to do my part for the mass genocide of Earth.”

“Why do you care so much about Earth?” he asked, his brow furrowing. “Have you been there? Talked with its denizens? At least your own people have their reasons for wanting you dead, but the humans of Earth… They would kill you on sight for the sake of being different. Why do you think your government goes to such lengths to maintain its anonymity in their realm?”

Even so… “I won’t have their blood on my hands.”

“Well, of course not. It will be onmine.” He pressed a finger to that pesky, twitching eyelid. “You do realize that without me, you will fail.”

Taly laughed. Oh. So now they’d moved on from diplomacy to prophecy.

“You want to know what I think?” She tapped the glass once, twice, as if weighing a particularly amusing idea. “I think your entire plan hinged on a quick, clean takeover of the island—no resistance, no complications. And ever since that failed, you’ve been scrambling. I think you’re stuck. Desperate to avoid having to wait us out as we chip away at that army you need to get your foothold on Earth.”

She took a step closer, voice lowering. “I think that’s why you’re so scared to face me—because I can see you.Reallysee you. And if I knew who you were, I’d be able to find you. Pick out your thread from all the others and follow it straight back to its origin.”

Indeed, the threads leading to him, the threads of Kalahad’s life, were twisted and frayed, pulsating erratically, as if struggling to maintain their normal flow around the disturbance of Aneirin’s presence. It was impossible to glean anything from the resulting tangle.

He huffed a breath, not quite a laugh. More like reluctant amusement. “Time mages… always were horrible know-it-alls.”

“You’re wrong.” Her voice was steady, final. “I don’t need you. I will find a way to save my island, and I will do it without sacrificing an entire planet’s population. You can take your offer and choke on it.”

The air around him changed—not suddenly, not visibly, but like a storm rolling in. Suddenly the space between them felt smaller. This was not a man who heard the word “no” often.

“It’s been an age,” he drawled, low and lethal, “since someone had the gall to speak to me with the disrespect you so freely offer.”

Taly savored another sip of smooth vodka. “You’re not the first person to tell me that.”

“In all my years, I’ve never wanted to snuff out someone’s existence so badly.”

“But you won’t,” she said, staring up at him defiantly. “You can’t. You need me.”

“Never say never, darling. I intended to pull this off initially without your involvement. Perhaps it’s time to go back to the original plan.”

He lifted a hand. Taly didn’t flinch. Didn’t waver. Only smiled.

“I wouldn’t do that,” a male voice warned.

“Right on time,” she said, turning to find Kato at the opposite end of the hall.

Amber eyes blazed, fixed on Kalahad’s raised hand.

“Kal.” Kato didn’t raise his voice, yet it carried across the hall. “I’m not one to cast aspersions, but the optics of finding you alone with my brother’s mate, away from the company of the rest of the party, are quite... noteworthy, to say the least.

Motionless, but not at rest—Kato was the kind of still that only came before an explosion.

“Step away. For your sake.”

Kalahad dropped his hand, lifting both in the air in mock surrender. The smirk never wavered as he eased back, unhurried.