the air, the stones humming loudly, as if anticipating an order. They were under his control—though there was very little control, wasn’t there? They were being compelled by his sudden fear for Mary’s safety.
And his rage.
“Three slayers tried to kill her at a roadside diner yesterday. They would have if I’d let them. Now you expect me to fight on their side?”
“They send their apologies. A deal between us wasn’t reached until an hour ago. Furthermore, it’s not as though they understand or give a shit about things like matehood.” Jonas was watching the stones with an almost curious fascination. “Believe me, I had no choice but to align with them. We need numbers for a fair fight.”
Tucker ground his molars, trying to rid himself of the memory of Mary cowering beneath the table at the diner. How could he be asked to forgive that?
Before he could launch another protest, Jonas spoke again. “Tucker, I’m not saying this because I want a rift in the alliance. I’m saying this as your friend.” He gave a tight headshake. “You can’t bring her to Hadrian. It will kill you.”
“He can give her sight,” Tucker rasped. “More than that, she believes that marrying Hadrian is the noble act of sacrifice she needs to bring back the Assembly, ruled by her father, Anton. This alliance could reunite her family. If she’s no longer blind, her mother thinks she’ll be worthy of returning to the Faerie Realm.”
“Do you believe that?”
“I think if they didn’t want her before, they can kiss my ass. But there’s no point in having a mate if she spends her life resenting me. I’d rather her be happy.”
“What about you?”
Tucker shook his head, as if the matter was inconsequential.
“He’s…powerful, Tucker. Giving Mary her eyesight is a mere party trick for this being.”
Those words rocked Tucker, unleashing the kind of misery that rampaged and rioted, tearing at his insides with razor-sharp claws. He didn’t want Mary within a mile of this motherfucker. How was he going to stomach it? How could he go on living afterward?
“Jonas…”
He hardly knew what he was asking.
Only that the favors he needed were important. The most important favors he’d ever ask of someone in his life. “If we have a chance to take out Hadrian, we don’t do it until he’s given Mary what he promised. Give me your word on that.”
Jaw tight, Jonas glanced away, but eventually gave a nod.
“How do we defeat him?” Tucker asked.
“We fight,” said the king. “Even aligned with the slayers, we risk losing because Hadrian is a wild card. He was cast out of the High Order before either of us were born and he’s never lost his resentment for authority, no matter what it stands for. Diplomacy or intimidation. If he succeeds in taking my throne, there will be anarchy in the underworld. The rules we’ve come to live by will be laughable.” Jonas was no longer hiding his worry well, the grooves deep between his brows. “Defeating him will be near impossible. He has spent the last century collecting power from the strongest beings among us.”
Tucker’s brow knit. “There’s no way to weaken him?”
“There is one way. But it’s…” Jonas slashed a hand through the air. “It’s not possible.”
“Tell me what it is,” Tucker demanded.
The king sighed. “There is an amulet around Hadrian’s neck. It is what holds his strength. It contains the power of the warlocks he’s stolen from and slaughtered throughout the years, collecting their abilities. Making them his own.”
“Without the amulet, he doesn’t have the abilities?”
“It’s not so easy. First of all, it would take an immortal stronger than Hadrian to procure it. One hardly exists. And he guards the stone as though it’s his life, because it is. However…” Jonas rubbed at his forehead. “The amulet is cursed. It weakens anyone who holds it. Anyone but Hadrian. If you or I had it in our possession, we would be dust within seconds.”
“Then I’m asking you for my second favor.”
The king’s brows went up, but the dread was already kindling in his eyes. “Tucker, no. Absolutely not.”
“I’ll get the amulet.” Tucker was already breezing past Jonas toward the garden gate that led to the front of the house. “You get me close enough to him and I’ll handle the rest.”
“Don’t you see? If we defeat Hadrian, you can have her back,” Jonas snapped behind him.
“She doesn’t want me,” Tucker growled, rounding on the king, a finger jabbing in the air. “Worst-case scenario, her plan fails and