Page 98 of A Crown of Tears and Treason
But he wasn’t.
He was bleeding on the sacred stones in the mountains to get his magic.
My heartbeat turned frantic.
He would survive it. He had to. He was The Dragon.
Kaya cleared her throat, grabbed the crate from my hands, and turned to the closest healer. “Master Sylvannis, our future queen has brought supplies. How can we aid you?”
Sylvannis’ long, black beard bristled as he looked at me.
The silence turned suffocating.
“Over here,” Ryker’s gruff voice cut the stillness. He stood up and handed me a piece of cloth, eyes digging into mine. “I heard you’re good with knots.”
There it was.
The seal of approval from the famed Blood Brotherhood Commander, a powerful member of their Clan.
It might’ve been my imagination or the sudden rush of gratitude flowing through me, but I felt the crowd relaxing.
I nodded at him, mouthing, “Thank you.”
“Don’t,” he said, barely moving his lips. “Let them hate you for a good reason if they must, not because of where you come from or whispers on the streets.”
“So dramatic,” Kaya said, clearly more at ease now that nobody stared daggers at me. “Next we can go help the healers prepare extra ointments. Restoring so much blood will leave them exhausted.”
I nodded as my fingers worked in well-rehearsed patterns to tie the fabric around Ryker’s palm, where a ghastly gash took up half of it. “I still have to tell Allie.”
I appreciated Ryker’s gesture, I did. But I didn’t want to keep any other secrets from my cousins. Ever.
Ryker shrugged. “Do it. She doesn’t care if I live or die.”
From the blushes I’d seen on Allie lately whenever his name was brought up, I doubted it.
Kaya carried the conversation, growing more excited by the second. “Oh, and then we can go to the kitchens and distribute food and tea. Let everyone see–”
“Kaya,” a sickly sweet voice slithered our way.
Kaya instantly stiffened, face draining of color. The crate slipped from her hands. I reached out and caught it right before it hit the polished stones.
“My sweet child, I’m so happy you came to aid your Brothers and Sisters.” Valuta slunk next to us, a glossy layer of gold and too many gaudy jewels adorning her thin fingers. She was just as dressed-up as her daughter, but Kaya made the gems and sparkle on her seem elegant. Valuta looked like she’d rolled around in gemstones and forgot to shake them off.
Kaya gulped and forced a shaky smile on her face. “Hello, mother.”
“You need a bit more blush, darling. Make those cheeks I gave you really stand out.” Valuta’s dark gaze swung my way, narrowing on the crate. “So it’s true, the Protectorate Lost Daughter is here to serve us. I just had to come down and see it for myself.”
The information had reached her fast. Too fast.
I glowered her way. “I thought you came here to help. Same as me.”
“But I am. Every single day.” She gestured toward the guards flanking the area. “Offering protection so we can treat our wounded warriors. But it’s nice that you brought…sweets.”
“They need to regain their strength. Can’t eat protection.”
“Can’t live without it, either, can you? Though I know the Protectorate, despite its name, has some serious issues when it comes to protecting their own.”
I clenched my jaw. What she’d said wasn’t entirely untrue, was it?
