Page 120 of A Crown of Tears and Treason
“If Banu and Valuta are from the Northern Clans,” I forced myself to go on. “How could they use Blood Brotherhood magic?”
Zandyr leaned away, gaze freezing over. A cold look. A calculating one. “They have a bare grasp of our magic, given to them by the Senate, but not enough to control a human body, magic or not. Since you described the attack, I suspected they–” He clenched his jaw. “Godsdamned oath. I suspectedatrue Blood Brotherhood member might be involved. A powerful one. Which complicates matters.”
I didn’t want to ask. I really didn’t. But given everything I knew, I had to. “Is Kaya true Blood Brotherhood?”
Zandyr narrowed his eyes. “You can trust Kaya. I’d say with your life, but she’s been protected and shielded too much to hold her own in battle.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Yes, you can trust her. I do.”
I sighed in relief. Kaya was one of the few people I liked in Phoenix Peak. Xamor, she’d been the only one to truly warm up to me from the start; even Goose had hesitated to properly talk to me at first.
“How could such a person come out of Banu and Valuta?” I asked.
“The gods have a grim sense of humor. Or they’re trying to restore balance, who knows?”
“I’m just glad she’s not horrible.”
It would’ve been awful to suddenly fear one of my…friends? Were Kaya and I truly friends? We were about as close to it as the fairytales said.
“Gods,” I whispered, realization dawning on me. “I’ve never really had a friend.”
Bewildered silence flowed from Zandyr. “Your mind works in very peculiar ways.”
“It’s true. Unless I count my cousins, who are family…” I shrugged. “Why not speak the truth? The legends say it sets you free.”
I was damn tired of secrets, small or huge.
“Sometimes, truths can cause more harm than good,” Zandyr ventured, as if it pained him to say it.
“Spoken like a true Blood Brotherhood member. Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask anything about the oath again and bleed you dry.” The mere thought of it turned my stomach to mush. One thing was becoming blatantly clear–I didn’t want Zandyr to die. Not now, not ever. “Who do you think Banu and Valuta are working with? Can I ask that?”
“You can, but I have no answer.” He grit his teeth, as if he could intimidate reality itself to answer the question. “But I will. Secrets like these always find their way to the surface.”
If only the secrets he couldn’t tell me would do the same–without killing him.
“It’s like someone sicked the Serpents on us right now to keep me occupied,” he went on. “I can’t risk chasing theories when my Clan and wife are in danger.”
Wife. Such a simple word, said so casually, sent flutters through my chest.
“The advisors haven’t tried anything for some time,” I said as shadows crowded Zandyr’s gaze. I didn’t know what ghosts had taken hold of him, but I wanted them gone. “Maybe they realized I’m not a real threat.”
I was more powerful than when I’d first arrived in Phoenix Peak. Stronger than I could have imagined when I’d shivered with fear in front of that altar. If Banu and Valuta would have known the truth, that razborback snake might’ve been child’s play compared to what else they could concoct.
The sensation of the snake’s fangs in my flesh pierced through the dark recesses I’d sent it to. But that was nothing compared to the hopelessness I’d felt at not being able to move.
“We can only hope they’ve redirected their attention elsewhere. And youwillbe a real threat.” Zandyr’s gentle murmur brought me back to reality. I was safe, I sat next to him, and the snake was dead. I flexed my fingers on my thighs for good measure. He nodded at the candle waiting patiently before us. “If you practice.”
I huffed a sad laugh. “It’s not as easy for me as it is for you. Your magic deals with blood. Something physical. My magic is…ephemeral. It deals with intentions.”
“Physical and ephemeral.” He hummed, the sound mesmerizing. “Body and soul.”
The next laugh was real and free. “I guess you can say that.”
Zandyr looked at me expectantly, tilting his chin at the candle. “I showed you mine.”
“Are you that curious?”
