Page 139 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
Not even I could deny that. If the Serpents had called upon their ancient, forbidden magic and taken the risk to summon the reptiles, they were readying for a historic battle.
“That’s why you were wounded that night,” I muttered. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
I’d thought it strange then to see him with gashes on his skin, but it all made a grim sense now.
“I’d only had my body maimed. You’d had your heart, after an awful betrayal,” he said. “It was better to focus on you.”
It warmed my heart, it did–but it also made me fear.
“What else didn’t you tell me?” I asked.
He hesitated.
My fear grew.
“I can’t delve into Blood Brotherhood secrets with a former enemy,” he said at last. “Throne or not, you’re still the First Daughter for us. And The Huntress.”
Was I?I wanted to roar.
“If it’s related tomyfamily, then I need to know,” I said, voice not leaving room for argument. “We’re in danger–”
His eyes sparked. “I know–”
“No, a bigger danger than I realized–”
“–but you’re in the biggest danger of all–”
“–and Orion slashing his throat wasn’t some random act of despair–”
“–after all, they shot the first arrow toward you at the wedding.”
“–it might be linked to a weird Clan–” The words halted as if I’d just stopped mid-run and it took me a few moments to recalibrate. “What–what did you say?”
He looked at me as if I should have already known what he was talking about, brows raised, eyes sparking, as I staggered back from the door and him and the awful memories that still ripped me apart from the inside out.
I’d been so focused on sending the secret message, then protecting Evie after that bastard had threatened her with a knife against her throat, then running from the arrows…what had happened between?
I turned my back to him as I wracked my brain, through layers of pain I didn’t want to touch, for that elusive memory. He’d already seen too much of me, and I needed to concentrate without trying to pretend like his gaze on me didn’t warm me up. I also didn’t want him to witness the torment on my face.
I could no longer hide from what had happened on that day. I’d skirted around the true memories, fearing even the flashes that stole the breath from my lungs and the fire in my veins.
That was no longer an option.
So layer by layer, I flogged my mind and my soul to reveal the truth.
Fabrian had threatened Evie, she’d stabbed him–brilliant girl, a true stubborn Vegheara–and I’d reached for her hand. Then…
My chest tore open as a million different regrets stabbed me at once, just as I feared they would.
What if I would have launched myself toward my father?
What if I’d paid more attention to Silas and hunted him down?
What if I’d foundTantheIssa and protected her at my side?
Too many what ifs for one person to carry.
I shook my head and closed my eyes, fighting the cascade of guilt threatening to bring me to my knees. My skin turned clammy and my fingers twitched.
