of love. Sylvia had to wonder whether Sebastian was the tutor she needed to master her inherited skills. If he’d been the first instructor in the dark arts, he was the original source.
How had he become a vampire? Sylvia smiled, guessing that there had been a woman involved. What was in his library? She had to believe he had some great books, if he was willing to do anything to regain access to them. She understood that need, very well.
She sat alone in her basement office, studied the feather, and wondered just what it would take to find out Sebastian’s story. She wanted to know the truth. She was sure it would have a price.
But Sylvia Fontaine was ready for both risk and adventure.
She’d go to Reliquary and if she couldn’t find Sebastian himself, she’d talk to Micah. Someone had to have some idea where she could find the vampire who had captivated her so completely.
The Pyr conferred and Rania watched their plan come together. Sebastian had gone to the spare room behind the office, presumably to sleep for the day. Rania was glad the vampire was gone. She didn’t trust him any more than she thought Hadrian did.
Alasdair had set up a virtual meeting, with all of the Pyr logging in. It was amazing to Rania to realize that there were so many dragon shifters, and inspiring to see how determined they were to work together.
Hadrian wanted to get into the treasury soon and Rania knew she could deliver him there. Donovan’s gloves had been destroyed in the fire, but Quinn was finishing up his first batch of the new ones. He surprised them all with the confession that he’d been inspired by Hadrian’s methods to change things up. He was going to send two pair overnight to Alasdair and Balthasar, then the rest to New York as soon as possible. He thought he could finish enough pair by Thursday for the participating Pyr. Theo said he’d talk to Murray about arranging an emergency meeting at Bones to talk to the Others about joining the invasion of Fae. The details of what to do once they were in Fae were being hotly debated.
Rania was wondering how Hadrian would avoid detection in the Fae armory, when he took Alasdair’s notepad and began to write. When he was done, he spun it around for Rania to read his note.
Your mother suggested that I could destroy the gem of the hoard by freezing it.
Rania blinked. Of course, he could. And that would eliminate Maeve’s hold over the magick, which would give them all a fighting chance. She met his gaze, letting him see her excitement and he grinned.
It made sense that they weren’t having this conversation aloud. There should be no chance of Sebastian overhearing and potentially reporting it back to Maeve.
She took the pen from his hand and wrote.
Sebastian was supposed to deliver that splinter of ice: Maeve is going to believe I’m on her side. We can use that.
Hadrian read her note and nodded. She took the pen back and wrote a bullet list.
1. I’ll take you into the Fae armory so you can start melting weapons. How can you avoid detection?
Hadrian took the pen.
I’ll bank the fires. Can you take me in dragon form?
Rania winced and shrugged. That was a lot of mass to move.
He nodded in understanding and wrote again.
Then I’ll shift once my pulse is low; you can take me there and I’ll shift back. You’ll only need to be there for the blink of an eye.
Rania nodded and took back the pen.
2. I’ll go to Maeve’s court, as if I’m bringing a Pyr victim to kill in front of her to fulfill our deal, but in the end, we’ll turn the tables on her.
I’ll need a volunteer.
Hadrian nodded.
3. That battle will provide a distraction for someone—also a volunteer—to steal the gem of the hoard and get it to you in the armory.
4. Meanwhile, the Others will invade Fae, using Sebastian’s sword to open a portal between realms, and make as much trouble as they can while we free my brothers and escape.
Hadrian gave her a thumbs-up. He wrote Thursday Night beside the fourth item, ASAP beside the first one, then lifted his hand, inviting her suggestions on the timing of the other steps.
Rania tapped the word volunteer in item number two and met his gaze.
He indicated Balthasar and Alasdair, then shrugged, implying that one of them would step up. That would be one detail resolved. Rania