Crimson Truth (Onyx Assassins 4)

“The Greenbriers will agree to hold a meeting in their territory, relaying the incident to all their people. They will again stress the importance of the blessed creatures, so that it is not forgotten among young ears. Then, after concluding this, they will offer one of their own blessed creatures to compensate for the one lost.” She tilted her head at the warlock. “I believe your territory has had a bountiful litter of pups recently?” The warlock nodded, but I could tell he wasn’t too keen to hand over one of his precious canines to the Cricketfires. “Will this suffice between the two of you and settle the feud?”

After a tense silence, both parties nodded.

“Good,” I said, stepping in when Luna silently passed the torch on to me. “Then this matter is settled and I don’t expect there to be any lingering feuds between the two of you regarding this incident.” I eyed them both, and they nodded. I sit up straighter in my chair, tilting my head. “Then we agree that this was just a matter of younglings playing ill-placed jokes, and that neither the Greenbriers nor the Cricketfire covens would have any interest in stealing power from other covens for personal gain?”

I hold my breath, almost feeling the power crackle off Benedict behind me. Sure, it was a backdoor way into the question we really needed answered, but it still was a moment I wasn’t going to let slide on by.

“The Greenbriers coven would never resort to such treachery,” the warlock said, and I’m surprised he didn’t spit on the stone patio with the way he spat the words. “We don’t need their power, or anyone else's, as we stand just fine on our own.”

I resisted the urge to turn around, to look at Benedict for confirmation.

“As do the Cricketfire coven,” Gemma spat back. “We have no need for extras. We have an abundance of our own.”

Fine, fair enough.

“Then the matter is settled. What is next?”

“That went well,” Luna said, hours later after all the coven leaders in attendance had returned to their territories.

My sister, Benedict, and myself had retired to a cozier deck overlooking the palace grounds, the smell of pine and earth swirling around us as we sat in rich wooden chairs gathered around a blue-flamed fire pit.

“I didn’t kill anyone,” I joked, and she flashed me a rueful smile.

“Bonus points for you, sister,” she said, then shook her head. “I simply can’t imagine who would be working with our enemies.” All the light teasing left her eyes as she leaned back in her chair.

I’d quickly filled her in on what we were searching for the minute we were safe to speak freely. Benedict, who sat in the chair across from me, the fire pit between us, casually glanced at his arms, which were now exposed after he’d rolled up his dress shirt sleeves.

I had half a mind to throw something at him, but I quelled the urge. I knew my sister, he didn’t. Of course, he’d check her statements.

And just as obviously, she spoke the truth.

“Will you keep an ear out?” I asked, rubbing my temples. It had been a long few days, and I was restless inside. I fully supported Avi’s decision to stay with her captors and work as a spy for the vampires, but I also craved her safety. I knew she could handle herself, and she had every right to fight for her people as the next vampire. But I also wanted to throttle the assholes who’d harmed me and taken her.

“Of course,” Luna said. “And before you ask, of course I’ll keep Mother out of it as well. What you’ve told me will stay between us.”

“I love you,” I said by way of answer.

“I know,” she said, the brightness returning to her eyes. “I have no doubts you two will figure it out. We have a slew of coven issues on the regular, and at least three more to hold this week. Hopefully, the variety of them exposed to your…friend…will help you figure out who is betraying us.” She offered a timid smile to Benedict, who, to my utter shock, gave her one of his own. That was not the sharp smirks or infuriated grins I’d seen before. No, that grin was kind and respectful and filled with gratitude. And of course, Luna had that effect on people, but I never expected him to show that sort of kindness toward her when he certainly didn’t have to. Especially not with the cold welcome he’d been met with today.

Interesting, indeed.

“I appreciate your help,” Benedict said, his tone smooth as silk.

Luna stood from her chair, dipped her head toward him, and then flashed me a wink before hurrying into the palace walls. I don’t know if she had other business to attend to, or if it was all she could stand from the kind vampire. I understood it, her confliction. We’d been raised to hate or fear other supernaturals, most of all the vampires, but I’d long ago shed myself of any sort of raised biases. Luna hadn’t been as fortunate as me to be allowed off the territory as much, which was likely Mother sequestering her because she knew I’d never survive long enough to take her place on the throne.