Page 133 of Sun-Kissed Fangs
Going by Róisín’s long silence, she wasn’t pleased. But she wasn’t enraged either. Maybe it was just because of the grain of smoke in the air, but Maya was pretty sure she saw respect in Róisín’s eyes.
“Discretion would, indeed, be preferable,” Róisín said. “If you’re willing to promise it, I’ll assist for no additional cost. As long as the Chains move in fast.”
“I can promise it. And Aleksander is waiting by the border, forces in tow. If your wind and her wolves are ready, I’ll relay the message and the Chains will move at his word.”
Róisín turned towards Jackie. “If you agree to bediscreetas well, how fast can your people get in position?”
Jackie looked between them, confused. She was still a few moves behind in the conversation and seemed more inclined to end it early rather than try to catch up.
“I’ll need an hour. And I’ll keep quiet.” She cleared her throat and looked at Maya. “I didn’t expect you to be this reasonable, to be honest.”
Maya dropped her smile. “I’m not. I’m here as the voice of my King. He’s the reasonable one.”
Jackie shifted in her seat, the smell of smoke intensifying. Maya’s reputation may have dulled among the Chains, but it still had teeth beyond their borders.
She really needed to thank Aleksander and Natalya at some point soon.
“Then it’s a deal,” Róisín said. “One I’m eager to see concluded. A somewhat rare occurrence.”
She stood from the table, Maya and Jackie following. Jackie all but ran for the door, rushing away from the bar the moment she got outside. She didn’t even look over her shoulder.
Róisín was more composed. She stepped away from the building and walked down the sidewalk, head raised and back straight. Her feet left no prints in the snow.
“Wait,” Maya said, making Róisín stop. “Since it’s just the two of us, we can speak more candidly. And something’s bothering me.”
She stepped closer to Róisín, lowering her voice. “You invited the Chains here. Why?”
Róisín’s expression stayed neutral. “Common courtesy? You’re an established Court, aren’t you?”
“That’s not what I mean. You could have set this meeting anywhere, but you put it basically within view of the border. Youwouldn’t have done that unless you knew Aleksander couldn’t leave, which suggests you did it to provoke him. But going by your willingness to work with us, being insulting wasn’t your intention. So why? Whyhere?”
Róisín considered for a moment. Then a brief sneer graced her lips.
“I’m aware Aleksander follows his own laws. I just didn’t expect him to be so rigid about it. I assumed he would have shared my invitation with that fiend he rules with, and then either send her or would have snuck out to meet me himself. Instead, he stuck to his principles. He hasintegrity.”
She grimaced as though that last word tasted bad.
“This seems personal for you,” Maya said. “I’m guessing there’ll be consequences if your Queen finds out about this meeting. She isn’t known for being merciful.”
Róisín clenched her teeth. A slight tick of her jaw muscle was the only sign of the reaction.
“ThisKieranwent too far,” she said, voice icy. “There’s instability and then there’s disrespect. Losing a neutral zone was regrettable, but even the most unfortunate situations can be turned to your benefit. Kieran could have been a valuable tool. If he had any plans for longevity, that is.”
Maya stared at her. “You wanted to work with him?”
“No. I wanted to use him. But integrity and fanaticism are similar in some ways. They’re both hard to twist.” Róisín’s lip curled, her eyes darkening. “Like I said. He went too far. My Queen thrives on information, and I have an extensive network of people who can get it for her. Courtless agents, some of whom I’ve worked with for decades. Some of whom lived in St. Louis.”
She took a deep breath. One that seemed to be even only because of impeccable self-control.
“When those wolves found them, they were all slaughtered.”
It was the first time Róisín’s voice had warmed at all. Hatred brought fire to her words, thawing parts of her perfect mask.
Maya almost said she was sorry by habit. Just like gratitude, apologies held more weight with the sídhe. They could be interpreted as an admission of slight, implying a debt towards the sídhe in question.
“That couldn’t have been easy,” she said instead. Róisín’s gaze briefly unfocused.
“You’re right. It was not.” The mask slipped back on. As cold as required by a daughter of Winter. “A question for you, then. To keep things fair. You wondered why I asked you to come here. And I’m wondering whyyoudid.”
