CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

KYRION

F or a moment, I remained rooted in place, shocked by the appearance of the man and woman, who were the very last two people I'd expected to see.

The man was in his early sixties, and a few silver threads glinted in his blond hair. His skin was tan, but his eyes were a familiar ice blue that matched his tailcoat and frilly shirt. The woman was older, in her eighties, with rosy skin and silver hair that was piled on top of her head. She too had ice-blue eyes that matched her sequined gown, and the resemblance between her and the man was obvious.

Wendell Zimmer, Vesper's father, and Beatrice Zimmer, her grandmother. What in all the stars were they doing here? But as soon as the question popped into my mind, I knew the answer.

They were here for Vesper—and they weren't alone.

Wendell caught sight of me. "Kyrion!" he called out. "Kyrion!"

Wendell started winding his way through the crowd toward me, as did Beatrice. If the Zimmers were here, then Zane was here too.

Shock, dread, and anger whipped along the velvety ribbon of Vesper in my mind. A dagger of worry plunged deep into my gut. Zane had already found her.

I spun around and focused on the bond, letting it point me toward Vesper. Then I started running.

The dome was even more crowded than before, and I didn't run so much as I shoved people out of my way, threading through the throngs of Erztonians who were talking, laughing, drinking, and dancing as though they didn't have a care in the galaxy.

"Hey!"

"Watch where you're going!"

"So rude!"

Annoyed shouts rose in my wake, but I didn't care. All that mattered was getting to Vesper before Zane . . . did whatever he had come here to do. Given how mercurial Zane was, that could be anything from mocking Vesper, to demanding she leave his family alone, to gifting her a bottle of the Galactic Suds for Studs shampoo he was currently hawking on the gossipcasts. But given the fact that Zane had been publicly vowing to bring us to Imperium justice for weeks, I was betting he was here to capture Vesper—or worse.

I finally broke free of the crowd. I picked up my pace, still following the vibrating ribbon of Vesper in my mind. I ran right past a couple of Hammers. The warriors gripped their weapons and stared at me with open suspicion, but they didn't follow me, probably because I was heading away from the guests.

I burst out of the back of the open dome and plunged into a large garden filled with those topiary trees and hedges the Colliers loved so much. I took the first path I came to, winding my way deeper and deeper into the shadowy landscape.

"Vesper!" I yelled. "Vesper!"

"Over here!"

I quickened my pace and rounded a bend. The trees and hedges fell away, revealing Vesper standing in an open space, a single peony clutched in her hand. My frantic heart slowed down a few beats. Perhaps Zane hadn't found her yet—

"No! Kyr! Wait!" Vesper threw her hand up in warning.

I skidded to a halt . . . and a fist erupted out of the darkness and slammed into my face.

My nose broke with a loud crunch . Pain exploded in my jaw and radiated out through my skull, and a warm gush of blood dripped over my lips and streaked down my chin. I staggered back, trying to blink the flashing white stars out of my eyes.

Fuck, that hurt.

I blinked a few more times, and a man came into view. Blond hair, tan skin, ice-blue eyes, insufferable smirk.

"By the stars, that was satisfying!" Zane crowed.

I growled, stretched out my arms, and lunged toward him, but he spun to the side and skipped away.

Zane spun back around, that smug smirk still on his face. "Aw, Kyr, let's not fight. I would hate to get your blood all over my spiffy new tailcoat. Fergus, the House Zimmer tailor, worked extra hard on it, making sure it conformed to Erzton standards. It's a thing of beauty, don't you think?"

He planted his feet and held his arms out wide as though he was preening for the gossipcast cameras.

"I don't care about your tailcoat," I snarled. "I'm going to rip you apart with my bare hands."

I moved forward, putting myself between Vesper and Zane. I also scanned the garden, expecting to see a squad of Arrows converging on this position, but no other warriors appeared. Had Zane come here alone? And why had he only punched me instead of slicing my guts open with his stormsword?

Zane looked over at Vesper. "I told you he wouldn't listen to reason. That he wouldn't believe I came here in peace. You've shackled yourself to quite the monstrous beast, little sister."

Vesper stepped up beside me. The peony slipped through her fingers and fluttered to the ground. " Do not call me that."

Footsteps smacked on the tiles, and another voice rang through the air. "What in all the moons is going on?" Lord Aldrich demanded, striding into the garden.

Asterin hurried in after him, along with Leland, Siya, and Rigel. Verona followed them at a more sedate pace, as if she already knew exactly what was happening and wasn't overly concerned about it.

Wendell and Beatrice also hurried into the garden and stopped beside Zane, who kept right on smirking at me. My hands clenched into fists, and my nose throbbed in time to my pounding heart.

Lord Aldrich glanced at me, Vesper, and the Zimmers all in turn. "What is going on here? Why are these people here?"

"I invited them," Lady Verona said, coming to stand beside her husband.

Asterin gaped at her mother. "You invited the Zimmers here? After everything that happened at the summer solstice ball? You practically ordered me to return to Sygnustern because Corios was no longer safe from the Techwave!"

Verona gave a delicate shrug. "And I stand by my assessment. The Techwave has already launched an attack on Corios. It won't be long before they do so again. But Lady Beatrice made several convincing arguments about why House Collier should continue to explore an alliance with House Zimmer."

" Invited is a strong word," Zane drawled, jumping into the conversation. "Your mother made us pay through the nose for the privilege of coming to this shiny little marriage slaughterhouse."

Asterin slapped her hands on her hips. "Marriage mart . It's an Erzton tradition."

Zane waggled his fingers. "Call it what you wish, but I know grasping treachery and desperate deception when I see it. If they could, all the Erzton lords and ladies would eliminate their rivals and take what they wanted, rather than going through the tedious, torturous rigamarole of marrying their offspring together."

"You were right about one thing," Siya chimed in. "He's certainly a jackass. I don't envy you, sister."

Asterin gave her a sharp look, but Siya grinned back, merriment dancing in her eyes.

I looked at Vesper. Are you okay? Did Zane hurt you?

I'm fine , she replied, her voice soft and dull in my mind. I can't believe he's here. I can't believe the three of them are here. Why are they here?

Her heartache rippled through the bond, along with sparks of anger.

Wendell held his hands out in a placating gesture. "Vesper, we came here alone. No Holloway, no Arrows, no one else. All we want is to talk. Can we do that? Please?"

An earnest plea filled his voice, and even more heartache rippled off Vesper. This was the first time she'd seen and spoken to Wendell since they'd both learned that he was her father.

A third wave of heartache rippled through the bond, but Vesper crossed her arms over her chest and gave Wendell a cool look. "We have nothing to discuss."

Beatrice stepped forward, her long skirt rustling with the movement. "We have everything to discuss."

Vesper gave her grandmother the same cool look she had given her father. "The last time I checked, I wasn't a member of House Zimmer, so you can't order me to do anything."

Several seconds ticked by in tense silence. Then Beatrice cleared her throat. "Wendell is right," she said in a much softer voice. "All we want to do is to talk, Vesper. Please."

Vesper kept glowering at her grandmother, but doubt crept into her eyes, and her stern expression softened just a bit.

"You might as well give in and say yes," Zane piped up. "We've come halfway across the galaxy to see you, and I, for one, am not leaving until we have a proper conversation."

He grinned at Asterin. "Although I'm sure I can find all sorts of things to amuse myself with on Sygnustern while I wait for my sister to grant us an audience."

Asterin's eyes narrowed in commensurate measure to Zane's grin growing wider. He really was an arrogant, insufferable jackass, but unfortunately, he meant every word. I'd seen Zane dig himself in and be far more obstinate about far less important things than the long-lost sister he never knew he had.

Vesper glanced at me, and I shrugged back. It was her choice, and I would support whatever she decided.

"Fine." Vesper ground out the word. "Let's talk."

She crossed her arms a little more firmly over her chest, almost as if she was shielding herself from whatever the Zimmers had come here to say. I stepped closer to Vesper, letting her feel that I was right beside her, no matter what happened.

"Well?" Vesper snapped. "You wanted to talk, so get on with it."

"Not here," Zane replied. "Too many prying eyes."

He jerked his thumb to the side. Several Erztonians had gathered at the edge of the garden, peering in this direction. Zane was right. This wasn't a conversation to have in front of an audience.

" Fine ." Vesper ground out the word again. "Where do you suggest we talk?"

Zane perked up, as if she'd asked a question he'd been just dying to answer. "Lady Verona was kind enough to offer us some suites at the Collier estate."

I bit back a curse. Not only was Zane on Sygnustern, but he'd finagled his way onto the estate. This just kept getting worse and worse.

Asterin whirled around to her mother. "You invited the Zimmers to stay with you? That breaks all sorts of marriage mart protocols!"

Verona shrugged again. "I thought it would be the simplest and easiest solution to have everyone in the same place. Especially given the complicated matters Vesper, Kyrion, and the Zimmers need to discuss."

Asterin threw her hands up in exasperation. Siya, Rigel, and Leland frowned, as did Aldrich, all clearly confused about Vesper's connection to the Zimmers.

" Fine ." Vesper ground out the word for a third time. "Let's leave the antiques emporium, return to the estate, and discuss how House Zimmer has denied my existence for the last thirty-seven years. That will be a pleasant chat, don't you think?"

Wendell flinched at her harsh tone, while Beatrice's lips pressed together into a tight line.

"Excellent!" Zane said, seemingly undisturbed by the simmering tension and angry accusations. "I'm so glad you're finally listening to reason."

"There's no reasoning with you," Asterin muttered.

Zane winked at her, then tilted his head at Wendell and Beatrice. The two of them nodded at Vesper, then left the garden.

Zane turned to me, another smirk on his face. "Broken noses really hurt, don't they, Kyr? You'd better wipe the blood off your chin, put some ice on your face, and give yourself a skinbond. I wouldn't want to ruin your dark and dashing good looks that my sister finds so appealing."

My fists squeezed even tighter, but somehow I resisted the urge to pummel the other Arrow. A few weeks ago, Zane had insulted Vesper while the two of us had been sparring in my training ring at Castle Caldaren, and I'd broken his nose to shut him up. Zane had vowed to pay me back, and he'd finally found a way to get his revenge and hurt Vesper in the process.

Zane smirked at me a moment longer, then strutted away.

"Excellent!" Lady Verona chirped in a cheerful voice as though nothing was wrong. "I've arranged for transports to take you all back to the estate."

"Zane gave you his word that he isn't here to capture Vesper?" I asked in a sharp, suspicious voice.

Verona nodded. "He did, and I made sure Lord Zane realizes he will see the inside of an Erzton prison—or worse—if he attempts something so foolish."

Her voice rang with sincerity, easing some of my worry.

Verona gave us all a bright smile. "Aldrich and I will be along later. Give you all some time to sort things out."

Vesper shook her head. "There's nothing to sort out."

Her face was calm, yet more heartache rippled through the bond. Vesper tipped her head to the Colliers, along with Siya, Rigel, and Leland, then strode past them. I fell into step beside her, with Asterin trailing along behind us.

Vesper didn't say anything, but thoughts whipped around in her mind like a whispering whirlwind, and one emotion after another streaked off her like stars shooting through the night sky—shock, confusion, anger, hurt.

Zane might not have captured Vesper, but in his own way, he had already wounded her. He was going to pay for that. So were Wendell and Beatrice if they dared to do the same thing.

My inner monster roared with rage, but for once, I couldn't help Vesper. There were no Imperium soldiers to escape, no bounty hunters to cut down, no mercenaries to battle.

No, right now, Vesper was being confronted by the most dangerous enemy of all: family.