Green Wild (Thrones of the Firstborn Book 2) Read Free Page B

had nothing resembling ethics. But he was very much like a person, bound by limitations and shaped by loss she could barely imagine. Once, briefly, she’d seen those limitations intimately.
    Tiana’s attention snapped back to Lisette. “Anyhow, where’s Kiar and Cathay? We need to plan.”
    Lisette didn’t rush to answer, taking her time to slice a fondant covered cakelet into quarters. “They’ve been helping with the recovery effort. Everybody’s coming by to eat though, so I’m sure they’ll be here soon.”
    A guilty expression flashed across Tiana’s face. “Should I have stayed awake to help, too? I was so tired.”
    Calmly, Lisette asked, “Do you feel like you have something to prove?” When Tiana hesitated in answering, she added, “ I don’t feel bad for resting. Your sword is an exhausting burden to carry, even only for a short while.” Her body still ached from what Jinriki had put her through when he’d borrowed her body to speak to Tiana.
    Tiana frowned. “It isn’t like that for me.” She glanced down at the sword and added, “Oh. He says it’s because he doesn’t fit you like he fits me. Because of what that monk did when he passed him on to me, I suppose.”
    “Just so,” agreed Lisette, despite how disturbing that sounded. It took training not to shiver. Instead she ate one of the cake quarters and gave Tiana one of the other ones, while she studied the sword.
    Wicked fangs jutted out near the guard of the long, jagged blade. Those fangs moved when somebody took unwelcome liberties handling the sword. They could bite. But the sword also invaded minds. Twice now, Jinriki had opened Lisette’s mind like a cupboard door. The first time, it had been attacking her—punishing her for interfering with Tiana’s attempt to go fight a monster alone. The second time, it begged for her help so it—he—could talk to Tiana despite the disintegration of their magical bond. Lisette had shared the thing’s black despair and felt sorry for him, even wanted Tiana to save him. That momentary sympathy was all the sword needed to steal her body and throw her into an icy-cold pool.
    “Ooh, dessert,” said Prince Cathay, as he stopped beside the table with Tiana’s other cousin. “Just what we need, Kiar.”
    “Lovely,” said Lady Kiar, a tall young woman with the dark cinnamon skin of the of the Blood but the pale hair of a commoner. It spiked around her angular face in short tufts. As she slumped down into a chair, the stink of her sweat wafted over. Lisette made a note to at least make sure Kiar took a bath later, even if she couldn’t make her rest.
    Cathay sat down more gracefully, smiling tiredly at Lisette and Tiana. He was a typical specimen of the Royal Blood, with thick black hair and the Blood’s delicate features. Even more than Tiana, he resembled any number of faces in the history books. Handsome, athletic and brave, he could be a romantic young lady’s dream prince. But he’d chosen the path of a rake.
    Alas for any young ladies with romantic dreams, thought Lisette wryly. Cathay had stopped at her bed while working his way through the Court and she’d enjoyed the attention. Not in any romantic sense—Regents were not allowed romance—but the experience had been.... educational. And adventurous.
    Tiana bounced in her chair. “Come, eat something. We have to plan. I’ve been thinking about which of the lights to go after first.”
    Lisette offered Kiar and Cathay the two remaining cake quarters. Kiar took one. “Thank you. What do you mean, Tiana?”
    Tiana bit her lip, looking between the three of them. “You all saw what happened, right? When all the Citadel magic went away? After the lights went out?”
    Cathay said cautiously, “I saw something, right before we were yanked into the phantasmagory. I didn’t know if it was real or not. I know that damn sword did something.” He gave the blade lying between Tiana and Lisette a malevolent look, and then winced and