Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“I really want to snap your neck.” But I can already feel Maeve’s caution warning me not to. At this point, we can’t afford to ignore the possibility of answers. And so I carefully set them on their feet and release them.
They lift a hand to their throat and laugh again. “I appreciate the care. Let’s go somewhere we can talk more privately.”
This is absolutely a trap. I can’t decide if I want Maeve in front of me or behind me, and my indecision makes me furious. “One wrong move and you won’t have a throat to worry about.”
“Noted.” They don’t sound like they’re particularly worried. In fact, the gravel in their voice has already smoothed out as their magic heals the damage I did. Fucking shifters. They heal even faster than vampires, and that’s saying something. Even more inconvenient, they don’t need blood to do so. A bad injury might require a shift into their animal form to handle it, but I barely bruised them.
They lead us down the stairs into a small house that appears to be privately owned. I’m so tense that I’m practically vibrating, ready to spring into violence at the first sign of trouble. But there’s no one in the room, or even in the house. No one except us. The stranger shuts the door between us and the rest of the village.
“I believe some introductions are in order.” They push back their hood, revealing a person with tanned skin, a square jaw, and long straight brown hair. They grin, revealing straight white teeth. “I’m Siobhan.”
I glance at Maeve, willing to take my lead from her. Recognition rolls over her face and all her tension bleeds away. “Siobhan! What are you doing here?” She turns to me, holding out a hand in a way that cautions me to peace. “She’s a trader, though she’s usually not sailing with a crew. She’s come through Viedna a few times over the last few years. Tells some great stories. She’s okay.”
I have my doubts about that. The woman shrugs out of her cloak and drapes it over the chair, revealing a body that’s tall and muscular and looks like she can run through brick walls without slowing down. Trader, my ass. She’s obviously a warrior. Not to mention her instincts are stellar, because even as I was crushing her throat, she was poised to take my heart. That kind of reaction requires training. A lot of it.
“Please. Sit. Like I said, I have information that you might find helpful.”
“In exchange for what?” I ignore Maeve flapping her hands in a bid to keep me quiet. “We both know that nothing comes for free, and if you simply wanted to give us some information, you could’ve done it at any point tonight. Instead, you skulked around and stalked us. Explain yourself.”
Siobhan laughs, flashing teeth that suddenly seem a little bit sharper than they were a few moments ago. “I like you, vampire. Let’s just say that I’m not unaware of your plight and your aims. The Crimson Hag has become a thorn in my side, and I would like it removed. Permanently.”
Maeve’s jaw drops. “Why do you care what the Crimson Hag is up to?”
“I’m afraid I haven’t been perfectly honest with you in our previous meetings. Your work toward the rebellion has been invaluable. Which means that you’ve earned the right to know exactly who’s behind said rebellion.” Siobhan holds out a hand. “Me.”
chapter 29
Maeve
Siobhan is the leader of the rebellion? But that doesn’t make any kind of sense. The few times I’ve met her, she’s looked more like a penniless trader than the kind of person who would inspire loyalty from someone like Nox and the rest of the rebellion. She’s always alone. I’ve never even been quite sure how she gets from island to island, because she doesn’t have a crew herself or a ship. She seems to travel with the wind, though that’s a fanciful thing to think.
But this is Threshold, so perhaps not.
Even so, no one in their right mind is going to claim to be the leader of the rebellion. Not when occupying that role is an automatic death sentence once the Cŵn Annwn crews and the Council become aware the rebellion exists and has been working under their noses for years. And they will become aware eventually. We can only operate in the shadows for so long.
Even with all that in play, there’s one thing I don’t understand. “But why are you here? Why are you revealing yourself to us?”
“Like I said, I have business with the Crimson Hag. They’re currently sailing east to Drash. There was a confrontation at one of the shifting islands a few days ago and they need to restock their supplies before they head south to Lyari.”
I frown. “How could you possibly know any of that?”