Page 80 of Siege of Blood and Betrayal

I take a breath, forcing the rage down, forcing my fangs back into place. “Stay out of our way, Tucker. Last warning.”

He doesn’t budge, doesn’t even flinch. Instead, he just holds my gaze, unyielding. “That’s the thing, Zane. If she chooses you and asks me to step back, I will. But it’s her call—not yours. I’m not going anywhere, so if you’re smart, you’ll figure out how to deal with it.”

The words hang between us, heavy and cold. My chest heaves with the effort of holding back, of not lashing out. I don’t know if I hate him more because he’s challenging me, or because deep down, I know he’s right.

Scottie isn’t mine to control, and she never will be.

Without another word, I turn on my heel and leave the garage, my thoughts a tangled mess of frustration and jealousy. One thing is clear: the fight for control, for Scottie, and for this city is far from over. If Tucker wants to make himself part of that, he better be ready for what comes next.

Huntley

I sit alone in Bran’s office, the video file marked ‘Huntley’ called up and sitting open in front of me. Bran’s familiar face stares back at me from the screen. It’s a face I’ve known and trusted since I arrived here. Bran has been a father figure in my life since I was fourteen. He raised me, trained me, taught me everything I know about loyalty, strength, and duty.

But tonight, it’s like looking into the face of a ghost.

Bran’s image shifts slightly as he adjusts the camera. There’s a weary smile on his face as he finally settles into place, clearing his throat like he’s about to deliver a speech. “Huntley, myboy,” he begins, his voice a low rumble. “If yer watching this, it means… well, it means I didn’t make it, doesn’t it?”

The humor in his tone is forced, and my throat tightens as I stare at the screen.

“It’s a strange thing, making a message like this, searching for the right words to say what needs to be said.” He takes a deep breath, and the edges of his smile soften. “I’m proud of ye, lad. Proud of the man ye became despite a rough start. Ye’ve shown great strength, and it’s been an honor to train ye and to watch ye grow.”

I blink against the sting behind my eyes. “Then why did you fuck me over in the end?”

It guts me that Bran’s life was cut short, but if he was so proud of me, why didn’t he choose me? Why give the Sacred Squire magic to Scottie, someone who’d been out of our world for years? Someone who didn’t even want to be part of it?

“I’m sorry, lad. Ye must be gobsmacked right now, wonderin’ why I changed the plan.”

“Uh, yeah. You could say that.” I grit my teeth, my hands clenching into fists in my lap. I don’t want to hear whatever excuse he has for passing me over, but I can’t bring myself to stop the video, either.

Bran takes another breath, his gaze dropping for a moment, like he’s gathering his thoughts. “I love ye, lad. Like yer born of my blood. But I couldn’t give ye the squire magic with what’s been happening between you and Zane.”

The words land like a blow, and my stomach twists with a sudden, sickening lurch.

He knew? How long did he know?

“I’m happy for ye, son, don’t misunderstand. I see how the two of ye are and I’m glad ye found one another, but ye crossed a line a squire can’t cross. In the clutch of violence, loving Zane could cloud yer judgment.”

A bitter laugh escapes me, and I press a hand to my mouth, and fight to hold back the scream clawing its way up my throat. I thought I kept my feelings for Zane buried deep enough that no one would notice.

Of course, Bran saw the truth—he always did.

“Desire and duty make poor bedfellows, lad. Hard choices—the necessary choices—need to be made without the fear of hurt feelings or the impulse to please yer charge. And, as much as it pains me to say it, I couldn’t take that risk. Not with Zane’s life on the line. Not with the future of this city hanging in the balance.”

I see the weight of the decision that must have been eating away at him. “If yer watching this, then it means my time’s run out. I didn’t have time to tell ye face-to-face, and for that, I humbly apologize.”

The screen blurs as my eyes burn, and I force myself to take a shuddering breath. Scottie had nothing to do with this. She never asked for the magic. She didn’t steal it from me.

It was never her fault—it was mine.

Bran rubs a hand over his face, looking suddenly older, more tired than I’ve ever seen him. “I know it isn’t fair, and it’s not what ye wanted, but if I hope ye can forgive me, son.”

The video cuts off, leaving me staring at a blank screen. For a long moment, I sit there, the silence pressing in around me, my thoughts tangled up in a snarl of regret and loss.

He was worried I couldn’t be objective. He thought my feelings might impede my duty. And the worst part is, I can’t say that he was wrong.

I would do anything to keep Zane safe. Anything. Even if it meant crossing lines that shouldn’t be crossed.

I clench my fists, and I swallow back the bitter taste in my mouth. That’s why I wasn’t chosen. Not because I wasn’tgood enough—but because he thought my feelings for Zane compromised my suitability for the role.

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