Page 137 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
The Borderland Bands had the Clan hatred, but not the resources.
The Serpents had lost members that day as well, including their awful heir.
Other Clans, like the Morgana, had their own territory disputes and ruling family drama to deal with. The Northern Clans had been curiously silent, but their animosity was with the Blood Brotherhood, not the Protectorate. The Fair Isles needed all the Clans strong, rich, and willing to purchase their laughably expensive trinkets.
Then there was the Clan Council. While there was something definitely wrong within their ranks, I saw no motive for destabilizing us.
Or killing me and my family.
It made no sense.
If a Clan war would have broken out between the Protectorate and Blood Brotherhood, the careful equilibrium within Malhaven would have been shattered. Millions of lives lost, no need for a Clan Council, and few survivors to witness as the world blazed around them.
Someone was playing a dangerous game, that much was clear.
But why?
Why?
Why?
Fucking why?
A snarl ripped from my throat as my hands dug into my hair, as if I could rip out the answer from my own brain. The missing link was there, somewhere, hidden in my murky thoughts, I could feel it.
I didn’t even know why I bothered. It wasn’t like I had any power to change anything. Yet my mind, which had always been restless and scheming, couldn’t stop trying to uncover the grand plot which put us all in danger.
It was how I knew to survive, just like how countless generations of Vegheara had before me.
I needed information. I had to–
A loud knock pierced the mayhem my mind had devolved into.
It was so unexpected, I flinched, body tensing instantly as my eyes flew not to the entrance door, but to the one separating my room fromhis.
A sudden flush coursed through me, born from an emotion I was too afraid to name. Excitement? Apprehension?
But it quickly drowned in the sea of righteous fury that flooded me.
Nobody in this damn city would dare enter the Commander’s room, especially at this hour.
Which meant he had returned.
Which also meant he’d somehow traveled miles upon miles in a single day.
I was so sick and tired of not knowinganything.
With my jaw clenched so hard I was sure my pointy chin now resembled a spear, any hesitation forgotten, I marched right to the door and yanked it open.
Despite the anger, I was not ready to see him again.
Standing there in all his glory, the light from behind coating him in a golden aura as he towered over me with ease.
I sucked in a breath as I kept on staring, all the sharp words I’d wanted to throw his way lodged in my chest.
Neither of us moved, the doorframe separating his realm from mine.
“Is someone tormenting you in there?” he asked instead of a greeting, breaking the stillness.
