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Before I could defend my decision, Drazen jumped in. “King Idris’s men will be here in less than ten spans. We didn’t have a choice.”

“Ya did too. Anyone but Vex would have been better. Three of ya act as though you’re responsible for every village in the kingdom. You’ve gotten too full of yourselves.”

Except, Iwasresponsible. If only I’d held on tighter. Been stronger. Been braver. Fought harder when Idris attacked my family. None of us would be in this situation. If my brothers really knew what happened that night, they’d hate me as much as I hated myself.

“Folks around here are nothing but a bunch of cowards,” Yaga huffed. “If they would have come together when that hell-spawn murdered his father and stole the throne, things would be much different now.”

We could discuss who was to blame until we withered andturned to dust. Unfortunately, the clock was ticking. “What’s important right now is what we do about Vex.” It would be impossible to help the village with his goons on our tails.

Yaga’s cloudy eyes grew thoughtful. She tapped her bristly chin. “Vex is a collector. To make amends, you’ll need to steal something to replace the lost deity. Something rare. Personal even.”

“But what?” Kronk scratched his granite temple.

“It’s not like we’re friendly with the guy, certainly not on a personal level.” Drazen faked a shiver of revulsion. “How are we supposed to know what will appeal to him? Other than the usual?”

“Usual?” Kronk asked.

“You know, whores, booze, weapons.”

“We cannot bring him whores,” Kronk said, nodding sagely.

Listening to my brothers, I fought the urge to pull out clumps of my hair. Instead, I turned pleading eyes to Yaga, silently communicating,Please help me come up with a better idea. I can’t take another minute of these two.

Yaga heaved a resigned sigh. “Ya can’t afford to make another mistake. Choose wrong, and he’ll have your heads. Only way to know for sure is to consult the fates.”

“Not the fates,” Drazen said, a protective growl in his tone. “Not after what happened the last time.”

Last time Yaga consulted the fates, she’d slept for several spans afterward. At one point, we’d feared she wouldn’t wake.

“Oh, pish posh.” Yaga waved a gnarled hand. “You all treat me like an old woman when I’m in the prime of my youth.”

I exchanged a look with Drazen, both of us smart enough to keep our mouths shut.

“Yes. You are, Yaga.” Kronk pounded the table, setting our dishes askew. “And may any who disagree feel my wrath.”

“Kiss ass,” Drazen muttered under his breath.

I snickered.

Yaga offered us a narrowed glare. “I tell ya, it’s not time but boredom that’s aging me. Lot of the younger folks here are worthless. Hell, half of them don’t know the difference between a cup of piss and a decent pint of ale. And the older ones,bah.” She swept her hand in a dismissive gesture. “Try to rile them up for some fun and they fall asleep on ya, snoring away in their rockers. Me? I’m long overdue for a little adventure.”

“Aren’t we all?” Drazen smiled, batting his thick lashes.

“I’m pretty sure you have enough adventures for all of us,” I deadpanned. To say my brother had a reputation was an understatement. For some reason I couldn’t fathom, all species of ladies loved the horns.

Yaga heaved her creaking bones out of her chair, bringing an end to the discussion. “Welp. It’s settled, then. Tonight, I will consult the fates. Tomorrow, you’ll have the information ya need to clean up this mess. Maybe once the business with Vex and the village taxes are behind us, we can have a little celebration.”

“I’d like that,” I said, even though I didn’t share her optimism. With the false king on the throne, there would be no end to Carcerem’s troubles.

Chapter Three

MORTAL WORLD

VICTOR

That’s right.Sneer down your noses.For today, those who believed themselves superior to me would judge me for the last time. Just yesterday, I was one of the most powerful vampires in the nation. Titled. Influential. The leader of North America’s Eastern Territories. Currently, I stood before the High Court in chains, stripped of my rank. My peers gazed down at me in disgust. It was an experience I hadn’t had since I was young. Back when I was a penniless wretch cast from my birthplace into this land of mortals. Apparently, I would leave this world much as I had arrived.

When I was last in this court, with its domed ceiling, soaring marble pillars, and meddlesome spectators, I was an honored member of the hidden underworld hierarchy. Today, I stood imprisoned in a containment field meant for the worst of our criminals. Criminals I, myself, had pulled off the streets. CriminalsI’d hunted down and brought to justice while the spineless bastards before me sat on their asses, criticizing my every move.