❈ invisible string ― nikolai lantsov ❈

Yizhi

"And this is why your sister is the head of my intelligence network. Kings need spies, and spies can't afford to fiddle about with ethics. Do you have a problem with overseeing an eavesdropping campaign, Tamar?"

"Not in the least."

"There you have it. The party will take place six weeks from now."

"Six weeks?" Genya exclaimed. "We can't possibly organize an event of that size in such a short time. The security concern alone―"

Nikolai gave her a wink. "If I had anyone but Genya Safin on the job, I might be worried."

Yi paused and regarded all of them for a moment. Five minutes in and they had a solution. And what had she provided? Moral support? Something in her chest tightened. She had been gone for three years, what more did she expect?

She wasn't one of them anymore.

She looked at them, their determined eyes, the way they spoke so easily with each other. They didn't need her. She could offer them nothing.

She could offer them nothing except for peace.

Yi walked forward, looking down at the map placed on the table. "You'll need a better excuse than a festival for the equinox," she pointed out, folding her arms. "And I see an opportunity here."

Nikolai visibly stiffened. "Yi―"

She knew they were all thinking the same thing. She knew Zoya saw it too, but Saints forbid someone as loyal as her would speak out about it. Yi didn't care. She needed to be the one to say it, and she damn well would.

"This is the perfect chance to find you a bride, Nikolai."

"Absolutely not."

Yi raised her eyebrows, though she knew she'd already won. "You said it yourself. They'll all be here, Nikolai. There's no better way. Have them bring their brides to offer to the palace."

Nikolai shook his head. "I cannot take a bride. The risks are too great."

"Which is why you have to," Yi said firmly. "If the monster is growing stronger. . ." She pressed her lips together and took a bracing breath. "You need a queen. And you need an heir, because if this doesn't work out, Ravka is going to hell."

Nikolai stared at her for a long time. Even now, as reluctant as she was to admit it, his gaze had an effect on her. She wondered what he saw.

The girl he used to love?

The one he'd fought next to?

Or just another Shu princess?

It didn't matter to her. Soon he would find a bride and this would be over. She would help them save Ravka as she'd done all those years again, and she would do it right this time. She wasn't that little girl anymore. And Saints forbid she ever let her guard down like she had.

"We'll need to come up with a list of candidates," Nikolai said, sounding defeated.

Yi felt her lips curve upwards. "Done."

"You're going to manage this like a military campaign, aren't you?"

Yi shrugged. "It's been three years of sitting pin-straight in court. I'm a commander, and to be fair, this is a military campaign."

"My ministers and ambassadors will have their suggestions."

"We'll invite them all," Genya suggested, drawing a pen towards her. "We can house everyone in the palace. Just think of all the dinners and teas and dancing."