Iron Crowned Page 0,42

Dorian get into some - "

"No!" I exclaimed. "It's nothing like that. I need a favor from Kiyo, that's all. A big one. A dangerous one. I'm not sure what'll convince him." I smiled weakly, remembering Dorian's expression when I'd showed up in the tight gentry dress. "I'd know what to do if it was Dorian."

Jasmine scoffed and gave me a scathing look. "How stupid are you? Even I know what to do if you want to suck in Kiyo. Look human."

"I am human. Who's stupid now?" Good grief. We'd advanced to snippy quarrelling. We were becoming real sisters more and more each day.

"You're half human. Dorian likes that because he thinks he can knock you up ... but the rest? He wants you to be a queen. One of the shining ones. Kiyo doesn't. He hates all of that. He doesn't want you anywhere near it. You hooked up before you were into all the Otherworld stuff. Be like that."

I stared at her, startled because she had an excellent point. "Do I look human now?"

Jasmine studied me critically. I had jeans and a T-shirt on, my hair pulled sloppily into a ponytail. My boots were sturdy, made for hiking. Plain. "Yeah," she said, sounding surprised. "Scruffy and human. He'll be into that. Except for the ring. It's from Dorian, right? Put it under your shirt."

I touched the ring hanging on my chest, having forgotten about it. "How'd you know it was from him?"

"Because you wouldn't get it for yourself, and no one else would either. It's also got oak leaves."

I peered down at it. Sure enough. I hadn't identified the leaves earlier. I followed her advice, concealing it under the shirt. She watched with approval, then seemed to really notice my shirt.

"Who's Mötley Cr眉e?"

I was saved from lecturing her on classic rock when a servant scurried up to us, telling me Kiyo was here. The ease I'd felt with Jasmine vanished. I stood up, forcing calm, half-wondering if I should take her after all. No. Kiyo was the right choice.

"Good luck," Jasmine said, picking up her book. "And remember: be human."

I followed the servant away, embarrassed that I was taking advice from an insane fifteen-year-old. Except ... I knew she was right. I made sure my gait was casual, nothing regal. Then, I sent the servant away, deciding it'd be best to come to Kiyo on my own, rather than approaching with an escort, no matter how insignificant.

He was waiting inside a parlor, pacing restlessly. I knew how uneasy I made him, and this invitation had no doubt put him on guard. I watched him unnoticed for a moment, admiring that muscled body while knowing it was wrong to do so. Sneaking up on him was impossible, though. He could smell me. My sweat and skin alone would have given me away, let alone the vanilla sunscreen and violet perfume I also wore.

"Eugenie," he said, turning around. "Nice to see you." He seemed impassive, but his eyes made me think he really did like seeing me - physically at least.

"Sorry for the abrupt request," I said. "You were probably visiting Luisa, huh?"

The mention of his daughter softened his expression a tiny, tiny bit. "Yeah, she's ... she grows every day. It's amazing." He flipped back to alert mode. "But that's not why you asked me here."

"No." I settled into one of the chairs, crossing my legs and hoping I looked casual and unassuming. "I need your help."

He continued standing. "That's unexpected."

"Well, I got an unexpected offer. Do you still want me to get out of this war?"

"Of course." He made a face. "Oh, Eug. Please tell me you don't want me to negotiate or something."

I smiled, both at the suggestion and his use of the nickname. "No, I need you for something that's more your specialty. I don't suppose you've ever heard of the Iron Crown?"

Kiyo hadn't. I provided a brief rundown, explaining how the person who fought through and won it could allegedly inspire fear and awe.

"And that's enough to make Katrice back off?" he asked skeptically.

"So they say." I shrugged. "It's weird to me too, but everyone I've talked to claims it'll intimidate Katrice and her armies." Best not to mention that "everyone" was Dorian, a ghost, and a crazy seeress. "It'll prove what a badass I am. And if that forces her into peace talks ..." I let him draw his own conclusions.

"It's a gamble," Kiyo said. He still sounded doubtful, but there was a crack