Lycus?” All of the warmth and familial tone had vanished from the shah’s voice.
More of the crowd fell silent. Niko wet his lips. “I meant no offense.”
“Did the Cavilles send you?”
Shit. “I—”
The shah’s wife appeared at her husband’s side and snaked her arm in his. Through a thin smile, she said, “Captain Lajani, it’s time you left with your companion.”
“Of course, farsi.” Yasir bowed low. “Lycus, I believe we’ve worn out our welcome.”
Niko stared his grandfather in the eyes. Eyes so like his own. The man knew Niko was a Yazdan. He couldn’t fail to. This was too good an opportunity to let go.
“Leila Yazdan?” Niko blurted.
The man’s lips parted. “Leila?” His voice softened before he caught himself and the shutters came down over his expression again. “There is no Leila Yazdan. Now, best you leave of your own will. Or should I summon the guards?”
“That won’t be necessary.” Niko forced a smile. “A pleasure to meet you, Shah Yazdan. I’m sure we’ll meet again very soon.”
Yasir hastily steered Niko through the crowd and back outside to the waiting carriage. “Well, that was entertaining,” he muttered. “You probably don’t want to piss off the most important family in Seran if you want to keep a roof over your head.”
Yasir chatted some more, but Niko considered how the shah’s face had changed at the mention of Leila, Niko’s mah. “He knew her.”
“Her who?”
“My mother.”
“Yes, well. The family connection was pretty fucking obvious, don’t you think? You’re a mirror image of the man.”
“I had to be certain.”
Yasir rolled his eyes. “Seems your mother kept a lot from you.” He leaned against the carriage door and pursed his lips. “There were subtler ways to get your answers than come right out and demand answers of the shah in the middle of his summer celebrations.” Yasir watched the window. “I bet you were a riot in the Caville courts.”
“Something like that.”
They fell into an easy quiet, lulled by the rocking motion of the carriage. There could be no doubt. The Yazdans of Seran were Niko’s family, despite the shah’s denials. But what did that mean? Vasili knew, he had to. He’d always known. So, what game was the prince playing now?
The carriage pulled up outside the townhouse. Niko climbed down and turned to bid Yasir a good night, but Yasir’s smile rapidly faded as his gaze caught on something behind Niko. “Your door’s open.”
Dread chilled Niko’s blood. He climbed the steps, passing into the unlit hallway. Yasir sent the carriage off and hurried inside too.
“Vasili?” Niko called.
Nothing.
He glanced back at Yasir, finding the same dread echoed in the captain’s eyes.
Niko bounded up the floors. Vasili’s door lay wide open. Inside, the sideboard’s drawers had been pulled from the unit, their contents strewn about. Shards of a smashed wine bottle glinted on the floor. A rug lay askew, and among its folds, Niko found the jagged neck of a broken bottle. “Vasili?” he growled.
What if he lay dead in the next room? What if the dark flame had been set free?
The bedroom was empty. No bodies. No signs of any struggle. All the rooms were empty. Yasir checked the rest of the house and returned grim-faced.
Vasili had been taken.
Chapter 16
“The Yazdans did this.” Niko paced Vasili’s main room, occasionally glancing through the window at the sparkling city docks, expecting or hoping to see Vasili’s distinctive outline among those loitering on the nighttime streets. “They took him.” He had to get Vasili back. If the Yazdans likely knew about his blood, the curse, the dark flame, all of it, then they’d restrain Vasili, probably bleed him.
“I found this…” Yasir had been tidying the mess when he straightened and handed a ring to Niko.
Niko’s heart sank. The griffin ring. Gods, what did it mean? Had he thrown it there? Was it a sign?
Niko should never have left.
Vasili had said he’d brought him here to protect him, to stop him from being taken, and Niko had neglected that duty out of spite. This was his fault.
Niko’s guts turned over. He reached for the dresser and slumped against it. If whoever had Vasili used force against him, one of two things would happen. He’d snap and lose control of the flame, or he’d freeze and suffer. Neither of those outcomes was acceptable.
Niko had to find him before that happened. He bolted for the door.
Yasir stepped into his path and blocked him with a hand. “Before you go charging off—”
“Get out of my way.”
Yasir lifted his hands off but stood