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

Niccoli’s isen do what they will, but we can’t risk Deidre controlling them. It would ruin everything. More of your soldiers will die if Carden gets those numbers on his side.”
    Many eyes in the room glossed over as the Bloods lost themselves to thought. Only Evelyn, now surprisingly quiet, continued to watch Kara.
    “If we want to win, we need all the help we can get,” Kara added, trying not to look at Evelyn.
    “I need assurance they won’t hurt my men,” Frine said.
    Aurora nodded. “I second Blood Frine. How can we defend against that many isen within our own ranks?”
    Kara tensed her jaw as she regrouped her thoughts. “Like Braeden already mentioned, we need to outline terms, rules they have to follow. In exchange, we need to offer them a compromise as well, something they want, something powerful enough to convince them not to turn on us. We’ll create an enforceable contract with them and mark those who agree.”
    “What should the terms be?” Aurora asked.
    “There aren’t any terms I’d agree to,” Gavin said.
    Kara sighed. “Gavin, we need them.”
    “They’ll kill us the first chance they get,” he snapped.
    “No, they won’t. We’ll still outnumber them, and if any violate the terms, they’ll be killed. They’ll know from the start this agreement is binding.”
    He crossed his arms. “Who’s going to enforce the contract if we’re all in the middle of a battle?”
    “My contacts,” Kara said.
    The lie slipped out before she could stop it, but she withheld the desire to cringe at her own comment.
    “And these contacts are whom, exactly?” Frine asked.
    Kara shook her head. “I need you to trust me on this. I need you to trust everything I’ve done for you thus far, all of the sacrifices I’ve made for you thus far, and trust that I want what’s best for your people. I don’t want them to die, and if we don’t do something, that’s going to happen. The Stele is already a force to reckon with, but it will get worse if Deidre steals away those isen. We won’t get every isen in Niccoli’s guild. Not all of them will want to join us. But I need to try to get as many isen families on our side as possible.”
    Frine grumbled. Aurora stretched her good wing in her chair, eyes out of focus as she stared into the wall. Gavin hunched over the table, eyes on his hands as he slowly shook his head. Only Evelyn continued to stare at Kara.
    “Evelyn, you’re awfully quiet,” Braeden said with a frown.
    The Ayavelian queen laughed. “I’m amazed, that’s all. Once more, the Vagabond is actively convincing everyone to side with another of Ourea’s monsters. First drenowith, now isen. It’s proof to me she’s trying to kill you all, and yet no one else sees it. I gave up trying to make the rest of you see reason long ago.”
    The hair on Kara’s neck stood on end. Evelyn smirked, her eyes locked on Kara’s. That had deeper meaning, but Kara couldn’t figure it out. Her grip tightened on Braeden’s hand. He flinched in her periphery. She glanced over and released her grip with an apology pat on his arm.
    “I trust you, Vagabond,” Aurora said softly.
    Frine nodded. “If we can come to agreeable terms, I will consider this peace treaty.”
    “I’m in,” Braeden said.
    Kara turned to Gavin. The Blood paused, now still as a stone and glaring at his hands. He finally sighed and leaned his forehead into his fists. “I second Blood Frine.”
    Evelyn laughed. “Fools.”
    Kara frowned. Her gut tensed again, concern rippling through her chest like a bad cough. Something was not right with the young queen.
    The Ayavelian Blood stood. “I want no part in this, but yet again, I am outvoted. Enjoy your debate, and send word when you have something of interest to share.”
    Evelyn ripped open the door and stepped into the hall. The door slammed shut behind her, the bang shaking the windowpane.
    Kara clenched her hands into fists and suppressed the urge to run out into the hall