Ani wasn’t sure which “he” Bananach meant. Gabriel? Niall? Irial? Some other “he”? With Bananach, clarity was elusive.

Bananach was beside her then, her lips against Ani’s ear. “Your father won’t approve. You mustn’t tell him. You mustn’t tell them anything.”

“Tell him I… I don’t even know what you mean.” Ani tried to keep her tone respectful and even, but following the raven-faery’s comments was impossible.

“That’s a good answer, Gabriel’s Girl. You tell them that when they ask. Pretend ignorance. I’ll speak for you.” Bananach nodded once, as if to affirm something. “Women’s secrets. You give me what I want, and I will give you much.”

“What do you want?” She was sure she was respectful now. Rabbit had taught her the importance of the right words and phrases, the right tones and gestures, all of the right ways to speak to the mad or the dangerous. Bananach was both mad and dangerous.

She cackled and tilted her head again. “I require your strength and your blood, little Hound.”

“Would I be alive at the end?”

“Perhaps.” Bananach crouched before her and gazed up at her. “I cannot see that clearly yet.”

“Oh.” Ani looked around for an exit. Fighting wasn’t an option, not against Bananach. Ani could run though, not like the fastest Hounds, but faster than most faeries.

Faster than her?

Bananach petted Ani’s arm like she was a stray dog. “There’s something special inside you, and I need it. I’m offering you the chance to keep breathing while I take it.”

“I—”

“First, you will kill Seth… and Niall. Perhaps Niall first. You aren’t bound by fealty as I am. They won’t suspect you.” Bananach reached up and stroked Ani’s face. “You will do this. Then you will come to me and give me your blood.”

Ani shuddered. The sliver of mortality she carried wasn’t just a limitation on her strength: despite her best efforts, it also meant she was less cruel than her court. Considering the murder of those she knew felt wrong. She forced herself not to flinch and asked, “Or?”

Bananach crowed. “No ‘or.’ There aren’t choices, child. Disobeying me would be very… foolish. I will come for you.”

The thoughts in Ani’s mind, the threat to those she loved if Bananach came after Ani… it was more than Ani could process.

“You were born for this. If he’d killed you, it would be different, but he didn’t, did he?” Bananach stood and stepped back. “He wants me to win. That’s why he let you live. For me.”

“If who killed me?”

“I am done with speech. Run along and do as I bid, or I will be displeased.” Bananach turned away and left Ani sitting in the midst of forges and computers. The raven-faery wasn’t even looking, so—half expecting resistance—Ani ran. She threw herself across the room with a speed she’d rarely found. In that instant, she was every bit the daughter of Hounds, every breath a Hound herself.

No mortality slowed her, and no one stopped her.

Chapter 13

Devlin stood at the mouth of the alley as the Hound left. With her blood as his guide, he’d followed her trail to Irial and Niall’s house, and then to War’s den. What were you doing, Ani? He wanted to follow. It was illogical that she should matter. If she were dead, she wouldn’t. He’d thought about her death as he waited outside the Dark King’s home, thought about the terror inside of him as he stood outside Bananach’s nest.

Then Ani was gone.

“She’s unpredictable,” Bananach whispered into his ear. Her black feathers brushed against him as she embraced him.

Devlin stepped away.

She slid around the front of him, talon-tipped hands spearing into his sides. “Chaos sheathed in skin. Too much for you, darling Brother.”

He took her wrist in his hand and squeezed enough to fracture her delicate bird bones, giving her the pain she enjoyed. “Must you try to provoke me?”

Bananach laughed, a grating caw that was accompanied by a congress of ravens on the rooftop above them. She cradled her wrist happily. “Have dinner with me, Brother. I am lonely.”

“What business do you have with her?”

Bananach didn’t pretend confusion. “She will free me. Her blood’s the secret they didn’t want us to know.”

“What about her blood is import—”

“Tsk. Tsk.” Bananach covered his mouth with her hand. “No questions. She’s special, and I need her.”

Devlin removed Bananach’s hand. “You do?”

“Of course.” She crowed, and the bevy of black-winged birds replied to her.

“You need the Hound,” he repeated.

Bananach looked on him with pride. “And you know why, don’t you? That’s why you didn’t kill her. I see it now. She’s the key. With her blood, I can win. After all this time, Brother, I can defeat Reason.”

“Why I didn’t…”

“Kill her.” Bananach caressed his cheek. “When they brought her to the Dark Court, brought her in like a little lamb among the wolves, I saw her difference. I listened. I know it was you who didn’t end her life.”

Devlin stared at his sister, mute and afraid. His hands did not tremble. Could I silence her? He couldn’t kill her any more than he could kill Sorcha. How do you eliminate problems you cannot kill?