Page 35 of House of the Beast

Chapter

D ancing had not been on the list of skills I thought necessary to polish up in time for the Pilgrimage. In fact, it was a skill I had never been taught at all. My father had clearly never expected me to be put in this situation, or perhaps, knowing my personality, had expected me to never say yes.

I could not explain why I did.

Maybe it was the shock. After having considered Fion an extension of Kaim for so long, it surprised me to see him walking about on his own.

A part of me had always been cautious of him—but also curious. I had felt sorry for him; from what I gathered, his past had been a difficult one, and then he had been bound to a family that didn’t care for him and sworn into the service of a boy who was possessive and cruel.

It reminded me a bit of my own past.

Still, Fion had always remained a mystery. Where I sneered at my family and openly avoided them, Fion trailed Kaim like an obedient familiar, and never said a word against him or any of the others. I didn’t think I could trust someone like that, and so I usually kept my distance.

Now I found my hand in his, being steered toward the dance floor. Fion stopped us at the edge, near the wall.

“I won’t torture you by putting us front and center,” he said with a knowing smile.

“How kind,” I said. “Seeing as I do not actually know how to dance, this is a wise choice.”

“I’ll guide you. You seem like a quick study, Alma Avera, so I’m sure you’ll have no trouble. Here.”

He took my metal hand and placed it over his shoulder.

My flesh hand was held loosely aloft in his own, his other going to rest lightly on my upper back.

He began to steer me, subtly but surely, in a series of simple, circular steps that were thankfully repetitive enough that I began to relax after a few turns.

“See?” he said, sounding pleased. “It’s not so difficult.”

This close, I could finally see the minute details of the scarring around his left eye—the one that belonged to Kaim. The lines had been made with painstaking precision, arcane patterns carved into his skin.

“Your confidence is very flattering,” I told him dryly, ignoring the feelings of disquiet. “But I know you didn’t really bring me out here for the pleasure of my company.”

His cheerful attitude did not falter despite my tone.

He was, I realized, a rather pretty young man, with features that were sweet but somehow sharp, and a clever smile.

There was a notch in the line of his nose, possibly from having been broken in his misbegotten childhood, but it did not detract from his overall charm.

If he were not in Kaim’s shadow all the time, he might have been more popular with the female staff of House Avera.

“Are you sure about that?” he said. “I’ve wanted to talk to you for a while now, you know. You’re a hot topic of conversation among the family. Everyone’s been gossiping about how you slayed the Tinkerer’s Thing.”

I rolled my eyes. “Wonderful.”

“Kaim was surprised,” he said like a compliment.

I was unable to help glancing cautiously around, but my view of the Avera table was blocked by the other dancers. “Speaking of my cousin, does he mind that you’re here?”

Fion was dressed in a manner similar to the attendants of House Avera: in a pure-black uniform that was neat but nondescript, designed for its wearer to blend in.

But there was no hiding the fact that we were drawing some attention from those nearest to us—a bastard daughter of House Avera and the aide of her rival cousin dancing together.

I had no doubt that word of it would reach Kaim’s ears, and I had to wonder how he would react.

This seemed to amuse Fion. “You’re not afraid of him, are you?”

“I don’t want to cause trouble,” I clarified.

“Yet here you are, in Sorrowsend, participating in the Pilgrimage.”

I narrowed my eyes. His tone hadn’t been hostile, but then again, I’d come across enough people who were skilled at hiding barbed words behind friendly exteriors. Did he disapprove of my presence? Was he implying that I should go home?

“What do you want?” I said, cutting to the chase.

His voice lowered as he said, “I know your secret.”

Panic shot through me. My first thought was: Which one?

That I was here for revenge, and not for House Avera’s glory?

That I was planning my family’s downfall?

That I could see my elder god as clearly as my own hand, and that I thought of him as a companion rather than a divine force?

That I loved him rather than worshipping him?

It didn’t matter which. Knowing any of my secrets already meant he was a danger.

Aster , I thought. What would Aster tell me to do?

But he was not here.

“Are you threatening me?” I asked, my voice gone cold.

“Quite the opposite.” He kept up the pleasant smile as he spun me around another dancing couple, avoiding them with light-footed ease.

“You came here, defying your father’s wishes and tempting Lady Darantha’s wrath, for a reason.

It can’t just be that you enjoy tormenting them; the stakes are too high.

So the reward must be of equal value. You want the title of First Hand. ”

That was the simplest way to put it, without revealing any of my other motives. “Yes.”

He held my gaze evenly, unflinchingly. “I want you to have it.”

I shot him a look of bewilderment. My footwork faltered as questions raced through my mind. Was he supposed to be saying things like that when he was bonded to my cousin? “What about Kaim?”

Fion corrected my steps swiftly, pulling me back into the rhythm of the music.

I would have admired his easy adjustments if I weren’t feeling so stumped.

“The last thing I need,” he said slowly, sweeping his eyes over the other attendees rather than looking at me, “is for Kaim to become the head of House Avera.”

“I thought you were sworn to support him.”

He barked a laugh. “Can you imagine him in charge? He’d be more terrible than ever.”

More questions rattled in my head. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you can help me, and in return I can help you when the time comes. You and Kaim are going to clash on this Pilgrimage. It’s inevitable.

” His eyes met mine again with a smile, like we were having a cozy conversation rather than debating the particulars of battling my cousin.

“He has more resources than you, and the full support of House Metia to boot. Lord Carnus only wants what’s best for his favorite nephew. ”

I was well aware of this problem. On top of having their own men, both my father and Kaim had allies among the other Houses, whereas I did not. Their alliances with other vessels meant the odds were stacked against me.

Hearing Fion confirm it only made my prospects seem more grim.

My mouth set in a tight line.

“I’m prepared to do whatever it takes, if he gets in my way.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’d put up a good fight. Maybe you’d even come out on top. But Kaim doesn’t go down without making sure it costs everybody else as much as it costs him.”

I had nothing to say to that. With how Darantha had raised him, I had no doubt he would not concede without making it a painful affair.

Fion nodded like my silence was testament enough.

“Wouldn’t you prefer not to pay that price?

” he asked. “I am bound by sacred contract to serve Kaim so long as he is a vessel of the Beast, and as long as he can use me, he’ll be more than you can handle.

I know how to sabotage our bond, but I need assurance that I won’t die for it.

” He paused, making sure he was looking me right in the eye.

“Can you ask your god to promise me that?”

My heart thudded.

So Fion did know about my strange communion with Aster.

But how? Half-formed thoughts raced through my head.

Fion had been born with godsight, and that was why House Metia had taken him and bonded him to my cousin.

His gray eye, surrounded by arcane scars, was Kaim’s to use.

Maybe because of this gift he had always been able to see something.

I remembered all those little smiles he would send my way, the ones I could never read.

I had never told anyone about my prince from the stars, but if he knew—

Pulse still pounding, I took a moment to search Fion’s gaze. He met mine in turn, like he had nothing to hide—or nothing to lose. We had stopped dancing, instead just standing awkwardly with our hands still clasped.

He looked pale, I noticed. There was a wanness to his skin and shadows under his eyes. All these years facilitating my cousin’s heroics must have taken a toll. He wanted to leave. He wanted to break his bond with Kaim. Because if he stayed, he would suffer for it.

That much I could believe was true.

I thought of Aster’s disgruntlement earlier this evening. He had been angry that I’d ceded my leverage over Sevelie.

But if I could get Fion to owe me this favor, perhaps Kaim’s advantage over me would not be so absolute.

“If Kaim finds out about this,” I began warily, “will you... be all right? He won’t be happy.”

Fion blinked at me. Then he threw his head back and laughed.

Once he was done, he said, “That’s very sweet of you, but there’s no need to worry. Kaim won’t hurt me. Not like that.”

I wasn’t sure how he had come to that conclusion—but he knew my cousin better than I did. “If you’re certain—”

“Fion.”

I did not need to see who had interrupted me. I turned, suppressing a curse at how eventful this evening was turning out to be. “Kaim,” I greeted. Then I had to suppress another curse at who was standing by his side.

It seemed my father had decided to come find me.

Kaim didn’t bother to look at me. His eyes were dark with anger and currently trained on his errant aide. “What are you doing?”

“Making friends,” Fion answered brightly.

The irony was not lost on me. Aster had been annoyed for the very same reason.