Page 128 of To Touch A Silent Fury

When I reached the war room, I asked the guards if they could pass Septillis a message. They informed me he was alone, and I could deliver it myself.

My relieved sigh was palpable as the guards pulled open the doors.

My white-haired Brother leaned over the map table, his body half-sagged against the furniture as he looked at the carved pieces atop it. The dragontooth Lang had thrown onto it still lay there, discarded.

Seth looked up, his eyes wolfish in the low light, and the shadows on his face darker than I’d ever seen them. Had he slept at all?

Aware of the guards, and the open door behind me, I ducked into a curtsy. “Excuse me, sir. I have a message for you.”

He waved me in, his face sagging. “Yes, come in, Lady Vorska.”

I stepped into the room. Seth bid the guards to close the doors, and we were alone.

Seth rushed over to me. “I know I told you to come see me, but I never thought you would.”

I grimaced as we hugged awkwardly around the bundle against my front. “You were right, I was being too stubborn.”

Seth pulled back, studying my face. “What happened?”

I knew then that he knew nothing of the proposal nor the attempted killing of my dragon. “Do you want the bad news or the worst?”

“What is it?”

“The Wragg proposed to me last night.”

“Shit,” he replied. “What did you say?”

“He wasn’t going to let me say no. I tried to stall him, but how could I refuse a prince?” I replied. “I’m a toy between two dogs.”

Seth shook his head. “By Edrin, we need to get you out sooner than I thought. How long do you have?”

I shrugged. “If he gets his way and asks your uncle as he said he would, we will be married in four days.”

“Shit,” he repeated, in a strange echo of Lang’s own cursing reaction. “Please tell me that was the worst part.”

“Daffinia delivered some food earlier today. For him,” I said, stroking his head from the outside of the fabric. “Coated in dreadspores.”

He took a step back, aghast. “She didn’t succeed, did she? She didn’t—”

“No, he didn’t eat anything. He is fine,” I said, and he visibly reacted. “But it was the same exact poison used against me in Lavendell, which might suggest the delivery was from the same person.”

“My mother,” Seth said, with creeping horror. “It has to be. It is the only thing that makes sense. I know she has been advising Braxthorn not to trust you, that you are better off imprisoned, and the dragon better dead than bonded to an outsider. I knew what she was saying, but I had not expected her to act alone.”

“It must have been her before then, in Lavendell,” I said. “I am only lucky she used the same tactic.”

“Lucky?” he choked. “You have the worst luck in the five kingdoms, Tani.”

“I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

“Braxthorn is out of the city today, on a royal visit with both of his sons to the Vidarium. They return late tomorrow,” he said, ignoring my glib reply. “My mother must have chosen today for that reason, hoping to have your dragon mysteriously dead, and you powerless, when they returned.”

“Why does she hate me so much?”

“I think it’s my fault,” Seth said. “She was willing to have you around until I suggested the vision of your marriage. She would kill ten dragons before she saw you wed one of her nephews.”

“Then she must have suspected he had made me an offer. The Wragg left me a favour yesterday. Ribbons. Daffinia must have passed that back to her.”

“You need to leave,” he said. “If the dreadspores failed... She might try again before the men return. If you’re both dead, she can cover her tracks.”