Page 55 of A Blaze of Fire
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“Imeanyou and your brother have done a shitty job protecting Lady Violet up until now,” he replied nonchalantly.
I whirled on him. “Excuse me?”
He laughed. “You’re excused.”
“We’ve done everything to keep her safe! Everything!” I exploded.
“Your brother practically offered her up to the King on a silver platter,” Kazimir noted dryly. “And while he did that, you didn’t protect her. You gave up on her.”
I couldn’t exactly tell him that she made the choice without me knowing, all in a misguided attempt to protect me. It would just make things a million times worse. But he wasn’t wrong – I did give up on her.
I furrowed my brows and looked over at the General. “Why are you telling me all of this?”
“Because from here on out, whatever happens to Lady Violet, just know it was you and your brother’s fault,” Kazimir declared. “And now there’s nothing you can do to protect her.”
22
ALEC
Iwas buttoning my shirt when a knock came at the door. “Come in!” I called out as I looked in the mirror and straightened my shirt.
Rosemary hustled inside, quickly closing the door behind her and scurrying toward me. “Lord Alec, where were you?” she pleaded mournfully.
I turned to her and frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Lady Violet said you would be in the dining hall.” Worry laced her voice.
My frown deepened. “I was, but someone spilled something on my shirt, so I returned to my room to change. I was distracted with answering a few letters, so that’s why it’s taken me a bit longer. What’s the problem?”
“Lady Sage provoked Lady Violet in the dining hall,” she grimaced. “It was a spectacle.”
My eyes widened at the news. “Is Violet okay?”
Rosemary nodded, her abnormally large eyes wider than normal. “Yes, she’s in her room now.”
“Did she eat?”
“She decided to finish eating in her room,” Rosemary said. “Everyone was watching, and Lady Sage was making a lot of insinuations about you and Lord Ansel.”
“Damnit, Sage,” I growled and turned to the open balcony of my room. The curtains billowed in from a light breeze, carrying with it the scent of the ocean. “Keep Violet in her room. We don’t need any more confrontations. Let Rook know as well.”
“Yes, Lord Alec,” Rosemary said with a bow.
As if summoned by the devil himself, the door to my room burst open and Sage strolled in, wearing the black tactical gear that all Unseelie wore when going out in the field. It was form fitting and hugged every ample curve of her body.
I glared at her. “No one invited you,” I said, barely reining in my anger.
“Get rid of the help.” Sage shooed Rosemary away as if she was nothing but a gnat.
I gritted my teeth, barely holding on to my restraint. “Don’t talk to her like that,” I growled.
Sage rolled her eyes. “Please.”
“If you’ll excuse me, sir.” Rosemary quietly shuffled out of the room and shut the door behind her.
I stormed toward Sage and grabbed her neck. “You don’t get to come into my room and demand a single thing from my people. You understand?” I growled.
