Page 130 of Blackheart

He took the empty glass and left me free to people watch in solitude. I scanned the room, grinning at different interactions below. I twisted to the side to crack my back, enjoying the relief for only a moment before I caught a glimpse of white hair.

Across the room and a level higher was Prince Payn in a balcony seat.

I was going insane. It had to be just another gentleman with similar neatly groomed hair, enjoying a drink.

Then he turned, our eyes meeting from across the theater.

My heart might as well have dropped through my ass.

Prince Payn was in the capital of Castivian.

His drink was no champagne. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, a single drop falling to the floor. He didn’t break eye contact with me as he wiped the trail away.

Then, he vanished.

Chapter 39

Absolutely Feral

“Saffron keeps his secrets well. What we do know is this: his prized warrior, his most loyal weapon, is the one who calls him father.”

—Marker Dane, Lord of Lawship

Payn may have cursedblood magic, but even that has its limits. He washere.

I practically flew up the wide, white staircase before crossing the theater. I ran to exactly where his balcony seats were, searching the booth and area around it. Hissing and cursing.

There was no trace of him anywhere.

I wasn’t in his camp anymore. We were inmyterritory, and he was not going to walk around freely as a danger to this city. Much less mock me by showing his arrogant face after what he’d done to the woodland village.

The Sapphires had taken enough.

Clenching my fists, I hurried back down the stairs, checking for hair white as the full moon and an audacity as prevalent as muckbumps in brothels.

The main level was crowded with people parading around in their fineries, gathering drinks and mingling with other socialites. I pushed through, dragging my dress along and securing my tiara.

I spotted him sliding out the front door, unnoticed by anyone else. I didn’t want to start a panic or stampede, so I kept my mouth shut as the stage lights flickered, signaling everyone back to their seats.

I couldn’t let Saffron’s son roam free in the capital. Lady Jocelynn would have to forgive me for missing the end of the show. I knew the contents anyway, except for the bit about Queen Delaina’s bed already being filled. She probably didn’t even wait for my brother to be cold in the ground before taking another lover.

Keeping my head low among the intoxicated guests, I exited the theater and began searching the streets.

Just a block ahead, Payn strolled away with his hands casually in his pockets. As if his family hadn’t invaded and taken over Lestivia. As if they hadn’t been killing innocent people in Drakington or targeting defenseless victims in the Waywards as a power source.As ifhe hadn’t tied me up in a tree to piss in a corner for days and killed my friends.

I picked up the pace, my blood heating. This piece of shit had killed an entire village of women. Now he just waltzed about the streets of my brother's kingdom with no fear.

As I closed the distance between us, I reached for Singer.

He stopped, turning to face me.

Singer wasnotat my hip.

I’d left the stone club on my nightstand, along with the orb. All because I hadn’t wanted them to clash with my outfit.

Plan B.

I reared my fist back and sent it soaring towards his face. He caught it, grasping my wrist and staring me down with dark red eyes.