"That sacrifice would not have been necessary had it not been for the two of you." Lynx turned icy eyes on Lukan.
Lukan's mouth dropped. "Don't include me in this. I was as shocked as you were when that second quarrel hit."
Liar! Dismissing him, she said to Felix, "The safety of my people is no mere detail." She bit her lip, hating what she was about to say, but she knew Axel would not only understand but approve. "You want an antidote for your son's poison, but it comes at a price-a full disclosure of how you got the murghi and how many stocks you hold."
Felix's jaw set in a hard line, and she wondered if he'd answer. Felix Avanov clearly didn't like receiving ultimatums. Trouble was, despite her agony at every one of Axel's ragged breaths, she wouldn't back down. He would answer her, and she would save Axel. It was the only way this would end. She ignored Malika's gasps of shock and focused on Felix.
Finally, Lukan broke the impasse. "He only had one dose. He got it off a dead raider who took you and your sister to Tanamre."
Lynx had barely processed his words when her knees buckled. She had to grab onto the bed for support. "You . . . you murdered one of my raiders? Which one?"
On arriving at Tanamre, she had commanded three men who had accompanied them to reconnoiter the Chenayan military base-Onyx, Ash, and Buzzard-while Heron escorted her and Kestrel into the camp. Which of them had been killed? It couldn't be Heron, could it?
"What does it matter?" Felix snarled. "These are trifles compared to my son."
Lynx swung her fist to hit Felix, but Stefan grabbed her arm.
"No, Your Majesty," Stefan whispered, as if he were reminding her of her station. "That would not be wise." He gestured to Axel writhing on the bed. "Please, focus and save my friend."
Lynx lowered her arm, then fixed Felix with her hardest, coldest stare. "From your own lips . . . how much murghi do you hold?"
Felix pulled out his handkerchief and started blowing his nose. Lynx leaped forward, snatched the filthy cloth away, and tossed it on the floor.
"Answer my question, or I walk out of here, and Axel dies." Her firm voice betrayed nothing of the pain and anguish hiding behind the façade of her gambit.
Malika's accusing stare was almost too painful to bear. Hopefully, she would give Lynx a chance to explain when all this was over. Who could have imagined that the opinion of a Chenayan girl could ever mean so much to me?
Lukan, who had been strangely quiet, now drifted over and stood next to Lynx. Sneering, he said, "Well, Uncle, it seems you have finally met someone who will not let you hide behind your rag. It looks to me as if she has you on the run."
Lynx shot him a look, wondering why he was siding with her. Whatever he wants, he's not getting it. Ever.
Felix pulled his cape tighter around his shoulders and brushed his wispy hair from his face. "There was one dose, and only one raider died. My operators barely escaped with their lives. Heron . . . your raider? Is that your lieutenant's name? He tracked them mercilessly."
Lynx wanted to heave a sigh of relief, but she didn't, working hard to maintain her icy stare as Felix said, "If it hadn't been for the waiting airship, he probably would have caught them."
Lynx studied Felix's face. Finally, she let out that sigh. For the first time since meeting him, the Lord of the Household's expression blazed truth. She moved to Axel and ran her fingers gently down his beautiful arm. Then, she picked up the cloth and knelt to wipe his face.
Although she knew he would not understand her, she pressed her lips to his ear and whispered, "Even if he had more stocks of poison, I would have found a way to save you. You know that, don't you?" Ignoring Lukan's gasp of protest, she dropped a kiss on the side of Axel's face.
She stood to face her audience, delighted to see a softening in Malika's eyes. Perhaps she understood after all. "My uncle, Bear. Summon him so I can brief him on what to write to my father."
Felix and Lukan exchanged heavy looks.
Lynx's heart raced. "I haven't seen my uncle since the ball. Where is he?"
Felix cleared his throat. "Beyond our service. We will have to plan without him."
"What does that mean?"
"He's dead," Lukan said bluntly. He pointed to Felix. "He killed him. Apparently, Bear said he would help you spy."
A combination of rage and guilt almost floored Lynx.
Lukan seemed not to notice. He glowered at Felix. "Just another bit of conniving my uncle has been engaged in these last few days."
Lynx struck Felix across the face. He staggered, falling back toward the chair, missed it, and crumpled onto the floor.
"You murdered my uncle!" she screamed. "And my raider! You planned to kill me! And now you want my help? If it wasn't for your son, I would tell you to drown in your own snot, you despicable little man."
Lukan snorted a laugh, and Stefan's and Malika's eyes widened. Felix's hands clawed at the air, and he tried to rise.
"I warned you, Uncle, but you didn't listen," Lukan said, with obvious delight, doing nothing to help him.
Lynx longed to know what Felix had done to anger Lukan, but there was no time to worry about that now. She had another agenda with her new husband. While Stefan and Malika helped Felix up, she spun to face Lukan. "And you, you rat. You wanted me dead, too. You won't get away with it. I keep a long memory of my enemies."
"How dare you," Lukan said right back. "I told you, I had nothing to do with this. Like you, I'm an innocent bystander. This was all Felix."
"Then why did Axel see you talking to the assassin about killing me?"
Lukan's face paled. His mouth snapped closed; clearly he was marshaling his thoughts.
With no interest in what he had to say, Lynx pivoted back to Stefan. "Colonel Zarot, it seems you are the only one here I can trust-"
"You have other allies, too, Lynx." Tao stepped into the room. "I will ensure any message you send to your father is carried by a loyal bearer." Cold eyes turned to Lukan. "Someone not so easily swayed by my uncle."
Lynx just resisted the urge to throw her arm around him. "There is no time for a message." She brushed Axel's matted hair. "Those airships Felix spoke of," she glared at the Lord of the Household, who glared right back with vengeance and fury, "how fast are they?" She had no idea what an airship was, but she wasn't going to waste any more time to find out.
"Faster than a train," Stefan said. "He'll be in Norin in three days. Unless your tribe has moved."
Another squeak of relief escaped Lynx. Thanks to the egg raid planned for the wedding, the Norin would still be camped near Tanamre. "Three days it is. I'll write to my father. Bring me ink and paper."
Stefan moved to obey. He returned moments later, handing her everything she needed. She sat on the edge of the bed, next to Axel, with the paper balanced on her knee. Felix loomed over her expectantly. Stefan held the ink pot. Her skin burned, aware of Lukan watching her through hooded eyes.
"What are you going to say?" Malika knelt next to her brother, gently caressing his unharmed shoulder.
Lynx had no idea.
Father, I love him. Heal him for me. She couldn't see her father accepting that when she was honor-bound to marry Lukan. But I did marry Lukan. That doesn't mean my heart belongs to him.
She dipped her quill in the ink and wrote: Father, My honor remains in Cian, but I send you my heart. Please counter his murghi. She paused, realizing her father may think she had written the letter under duress. That meant she had to include something more personal. It was risky, but she added: The ruby next to his eye means nothing. But the guardsmen's jaspers contain powers derived from technology predating the Burning. Axel will explain everything. She signed and folded the letter, wishing she had some sealing wax.
Felix obliged, dripping the melting wax onto the letter. Lynx hesitated, unsure of what to seal it with.
Tao stepped forward and pressed his signet ring into the hot wax. "Let him know you have other friends here." Tao was still shooting glares at Lukan. Clearly, Tao had no trouble believing Lukan wanted her dead.
The wax had not yet hardened when Felix commanded, "Out with the bed. The airship is waiting at the launch pad."
Tao and Stefan each grabbed an end and hefted the bed up, ready to march Axel from the room.
"Wait, Father," Malika cried. "You can't let him go alone. He needs someone to watch over him."