Page 146 of A Touch of Poison
“You can stay—it affects Dawn too. But this is my prisoner, and you will not touch—”
Steel flashed. The Ascendant’s hand—free somehow—held a dagger.
My shadows arced towards him.
If he killed the prince on my watch…
But instead of reaching out, the Ascendant raised the blade to his own throat.
“No!” I reached with every part of me, but blood sheeted down his chest, spurting over my shadows as they gripped his wrist an instant too late.
I called for Elthea as I tried to staunch the blood from his gurgling throat. But it flowed and flowed, and he slumped, no longer making a sound.
The knife clattered to the floor.
Fuck.Fuck!
Cyrus gasped, hand going to his belt and the empty sheath there. “My dagger.”
The strap on the chair’s arm hung loose, its edges sliced. He must’ve taken it when the idiot prince leant right over him, placing the hilt in reach of his bound hand. A simple flick would bring the blade against the leather strap and a moment later—free.
Free to ensure he could never be made to speak.
Elthea burst in. Her eyes only widened a touch as she took in the blood pooled around the treatment chair.
I whirled on her. “Did you strap him in tightly?”
Her expression tightened. “I did my job, Serpent,” she spat. “You failed in yours.”
I held very still so she couldn’t see how her blow landed as she went to the prisoner.
“Well,” Cyrus growled as he retrieved his dagger and cleaned it on the Ascendant’s trousers. “He can’t talk now. I should’ve stayed away and left it to you.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
Even my self-control wavered at that, making my mouth drop open. Cyrus. Apologising tome?
He frowned, returning his weapon to its sheath. “Did you get anything from him before I arrived?”
I gave Elthea a questioning look as she straightened from inspecting the prisoner. She shook her head. He was beyond even her powers.
Shit.
I sighed and shook my head at Cyrus. “No. Nothing.”
Elthea was right. I had failed.
56
Bastian
It was almost a week after the Solstice, when Rose knocked on my open door. “You wanted to see me?”
I looked up from my desk, where I’d been poring over reports from witnesses and spies from that day. Nothing groundbreaking, but if I went over them enough times, I’d surely find the vital clue I’d missed.
“Not for another…” I blinked at the orrery on the mantelpiece. “Oh, now.” I rubbed my eyes and gestured towards a chair by the fire. “Shut the door.” That would stop anyone hearing this awkward conversation.
As I stretched, shoulders aching, she edged in and took the offered seat.
With a sigh, I sank into its twin. “You know this mission I’m going on tomorrow?”
