I hoped to god that wasn't what he was planning now.
My gaze met Ilianna's, and in the green depths I saw fear and fury combined. She didn't say anything – maybe she couldn't – but her gaze flicked toward her mate. I stepped closer, and saw the luminous blue threads that had been wrapped around Mirri's neck.
Only it wasn't any type of thread found here on Earth. It was energy.
I stopped and stared. "What the hell have you done?"
"It is what you would call an insurance policy." His voice was heavy with menace. "I have threatened the life of both the witch and the wolf, but it hasn't appeared to make much difference to your actions —"
"My actions?" I all but exploded. "What about your fucking actions? If you'd been up front about what Lucian was and who he was working with, the damn sorcerer would not have grabbed the first key, nor would he have gained access to the second. That blame lays on your shoulders, not mine."
"Indeed," he continued darkly, as if I hadn't spoken, "one could almost think you do not take my threat seriously."
"That is not true —"
"And yet, you appear to fear the Raziq more than you do me. That cannot be allowed."
I clenched my fingers against Amaya's hilt, but resisted the urge to throw her into the haze of energy that was my father. I had no idea what that thread around Mirri's neck was and, until I did, I had to practice restraint.
Thread bad, Amaya muttered.
I knew that without asking. Can you destroy it without hurting Mirri?
Know not, she replied. Taste first.
And if you taste it?
Kill might.