Page 17 of Blood Weaver
Ronan smirked as he pulled me closer, then answered on my behalf. “Well, I’m more surprised to see you here … inthis sortof establishment. Looks like you’re no different from the rest of us.”
Caelan glared at him before turning his attention back to me. “I didn’t know you two were so well acquainted.”
“We’re not,” I answered quickly as I finally ripped my arm out of Ronan’s grip.
“And what if we are?” Ronan countered, earning a glare from me.
Caelan chuckled. “Then it would confirm my suspicions.”
“Which are?”
Caelan straightened and looked at Ronan unflinchingly. “That you and your people don’t have the lost princess.”
I peered over at Ronan, who maintained a carefully neutral expression. After a beat, he smiled. “And what gave you that crazy idea?”
Caelan nodded in my direction. “It’s not a what, but a who.Shetold me.”
I bit down the groan that threatened to escape. The last thing I needed was for Caelan to snitch on me to Ronan. He’d just put me in a deadly position.
Ronan glanced over at me in surprise. He sized me up and down, observing every inch of me, not caring that Caelan was standing right there. My neck and face flushed and I feared I’d unintentionally outed myself.
Ronan laughed and turned his attention back to Caelan. “I can assure you, Your Highness, that the lost princess is in our custody. And if Valoria doesn’t meet our terms, she will soon be married …to me,” he said as he looked straight at me.
My eyes widened in surprise. I couldn’t help but blurt, “You’rethe chief’s son?”
Ronan smirked. “The one and only. Who else did you think I was?”
“I … I just thought you were a regular Crimson Clan soldier …”
He snorted. “Far from that, sweetness,” he said with a wink.
Oh. My. Gods. I wasn’t just getting close to one of my enemies; I was getting close to someone far worse. I barely had time to register the shock when Caelan’s voice boomed across the parlor.
“You willnevermarry the princess!”
Marcellus, who had been standing off to the side waiting for Madam Rose, turned his attention our way and jogged over just as Caelan took a threatening step toward Ronan.
“I won’t allow it!” Caelan gritted between his teeth.
Ronan looked unfazed. “Your approval matters little to me. Unless Valoria agrees to the terms, she and I will be married by the next full moon.”
This was the spark that ignited Caelan's fury. Without hesitation, he unsheathed his sword, his intent clear. Ronan mirrored his movements and readied for battle. I instinctively darted aside as steel met steel. Seizing the chance, I attempted to discreetly exit the scene, but Marcellus swiftly intercepted me.
“And where do you thinkyou’regoing?” he inquired as Ronan unleashed chaos by slicing a table asunder.
The pleasure house was filled with screams from courtesans as they ran away in fear, and the scuffle of men trying to leave as fast as possible, while Caelan and Ronan made a mess of things.
“This is none of my business,” I blustered. When I tried to go around Marcellus, he cut off my path again.
“I think it has everything to do with you.”
The last thing I wanted to do was fight my own brother, so I stayed put and hoped I could wait out this brawl. Feeling the weight of Marcellus’s wary eyes on me, I turned around to watch the fight between Caelan and Ronan. The sound of clashing swords reverberated around the Rose Petal, creating a deadly symphony in the silence left by the musicians and patrons who had fled.
At a glance, I could tell Ronan was a stronger sword fighter than Caelan and Caelan relied too heavily on his fae magic. I watched in horror as Caelan spun out of the way of a deadly lunge, but Ronan was quick on his feet and aimed the sword straight at Caelan’s heart.
Without thinking, I lunged between them and felt the sharp sting of steel piercing the back of my shoulder. Even as Ronan realized what happened and tried to halt the blade, the momentum caused the blade to sink even deeper.
Caelan stared at me with wide eyes, clearly bewildered as to why I would save his life. “What are you doing? Why?”
