Free Illusion: Book Four of the Grimoire Saga by S.M. Boyce Page A

Stone’s idea went over well.
    “Let’s get on with it,” Evelyn said.
    Kara took a deep breath. “We have bad news and good news. I’ll start with the bad news.”
    “I prefer good news first,” Evelyn interrupted.
    Too bad. Kara had practiced by telling the bad news first and continued as if the queen hadn’t spoken. “The bad news is Niccoli is dead.”
    “That sounds like great news to me,” Gavin said.
    She nodded. “I thought so, too, until it became clear the other isen in his guild are fighting for control. Among them is Deidre, Carden’s pawn.”
    Frine cursed.
    Kara flinched. She’d never heard the old king curse before.
    “This war keeps getting better,” Aurora muttered.
    At least they were on board thus far. Kara continued. “If Deidre convinces the remaining isen to join her—to join Carden—there’s no telling how many will add to Carden’s army. The estimate is in the tens of thousands.”
    This time, Aurora cursed under her breath.
    “You’d better have amazing good news,” Gavin said.
    Kara frowned. “In a way, yes.”
    “Well, out with it,” Evelyn said.
    “I can go to the guild and convince them to join us instead.”
    All four Bloods began shouting at once. Kara couldn’t make any sense of what they said, but everyone frowned—Gavin worst of all.
    “—insanity—”
    “—murderous leeches—”
    “—lost your mind—”
    “—and absolutely not!” Gavin shouted over the rest.
    “Stop!” Braeden roared.
    The room hushed as quickly as it erupted. The Bloods sat back in their chairs, almost all of them looking at something other than Kara.
    Only Evelyn held her gaze. “You would go to them because you’re an isen, too? How is that enough?”
    Kara lifted her chin in defiance. “I have connections that will help me.”
    It wasn’t the whole truth, but it wasn’t quite a lie, either. Her maternal connections to Agneon’s heritage would, in fact, help the isen of Niccoli’s guild see her as a leader rather than a common newborn isen. And Stone was probably something of a legend among them—one of few to ever escape his master’s command. If she could avoid it, she wouldn’t tell the Bloods of her heritage. The royals of Ourea still hated Agneon for his murder sprees, even if he had only been following orders.
    A pang of guilt rocked her core. She cleared her throat. She had to focus.
    “We need more information on these connections,” Evelyn answered.
    Gavin slammed his fist on the table. “It doesn’t matter. I won’t fight beside isen.”
    “You already are,” Braeden snapped, nodding toward Kara.
    “That—she—no, she doesn’t count,” Gavin said.
    Kara leaned back in her chair, frowning. “Of course I count.”
    “That’s not what I mean. I won’t have a horde of isen in my armies. They could turn on us!”
    Like you all turned on me? Kara bit her tongue, suppressing the impulse to snap at the people she needed to agree with her. She snuck a glance toward Evelyn, her gut churning with how much she looked like her aunt.
    Under the table, Braeden’s grip tightened around Kara’s hand. She sat up straighter.
    Braeden shrugged. “We’ll establish terms of the alliance. No isen will turn on you.”
    “Isen can’t be trusted,” Gavin snapped.
    “Enough!” Kara shouted.
    Gavin flinched and looked at his hands. “That’s not—”
    Kara interrupted. “It’s exactly what you meant. But look at what we did today! A wedding reception between an isen and an Heir. That’s—”
    “What’s a wedding?” Evelyn interrupted.
    Kara suppressed the impulse to roll her eyes. “Sorry, a bonding ceremony between an isen and an Heir. It’s never happened before. This is a time of firsts and overcoming prejudice, of change and growth. I figured everyone would have learned that by now.”
    “You ask too much,” Frine said.
    Kara shook her head. “I’m not making a request. It would be a mistake not to go. Yes, we can sit this out and let