Page 107 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
I flinched into a defensive crouch, only for my wide eyes to fall on the Commander. His massive frame filled out the doorframe and he gripped the wood until his knuckles turned white, lightning sparking in his eyes. He looked about ready to barge inside, but held himself back.
My cheeks instantly flamed up.
I hadn’t seen him since that terrible night and now he was looking at me like I’d offended at least five generations of his family.
“What are you doing here?” I said primly, sitting down on the edge of the bed with my legs crossed, as if I hadn’t been hunching like a feral animal only moments before.
“You’re not eating,” his gruff voice whipped through the room.
“I can’t.”
“You haven’t been out of this room since you returned.”
“No.”
“You’re not doinganything.”
I ran my hand through my hair, trying to tame it. But my fingers caught in knots that made me even more aware I probably looked like a wild, mangy thing, while he stood there in all his might, looking like a god of ice, wearing that Blood Brotherhood uniform like it had been sewn on his body.
“I consider myself a patient man, but enough is enough.” He jerked his chin at me. “Get up.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said get up,” he said, unwavering.
I stiffened. “You don’t get to order me–”
“I hope you’ll be able to order me around if you see me dying inside. Or would you stand idly by?”
I wouldn’t. But I also wouldn’t tell him that. So I stayed silent.
“Get up and do what you love. I won’t sit around and watch you wither away.”
“I’m not–” I clenched my jaw, the lie stuck in my throat. “I’m not.”
“You’re a terrible liar, has anyone told you that?”
“Did you come here to mock me?”
“No, I came to make sure my future wife wasn’t turning into a wilting willow.”
Before I opened my mouth to reply, he leaned down, picked up something from behind the wall and threw it all the way across the room, right on top of the perfectly folded duvet.
My lips parted as I stared at a gorgeous bow. Sculpted out of white wood, it looked crafted for someone exactly my height and build. It had wave motifs on the bottom and wooden flowers carved into the top.
I wasn’t sure if it was a challenge or a lifeline.
I raised my hand, letting my fingers brush against the smooth surface. It was perfect.
“What’s this?” I whispered.
“Your new bow. The string is tight, so you need to practice how to use it.”
My gaze slashed to him. “I know how to use a bow.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“I know what you’re doing.” I narrowed my eyes. “My pride is not that big.”
