Page 51 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
“We’re not to blame for the arrows or the mist. We didn’t plan on killing anyone except Fabrian.”
In another reality, I would have thanked the Blood Brotherhood for freeing Malhaven of that louse. Maybe even sent them a bottle of the best Aquila wine, instead of wielding one at their Commander.
“A lot of effort to kill a man whose liver would have done the job for you in a few years,” I said.
“No effort is too great to defend our honor.”
Bleeding Blood Brotherhood and their bleeding honor. “I can’t imagine the effort it took you to find Sanctua Sirena and–”
“We received an anonymous lead.” His blue eyes sparked. Triumph? Annoyance? I couldn’t tell. “Had a magic map and everything.”
Betrayal.
The word hissed in my ears stronger than the ghost of the sizzling mist.
I had been considering the possibility back in the maze, but doubt had become my unwanted companion for years.
It was one thing for me to over-analyze and another to have my fear repeated back to me.
If the Commander was telling the truth–and he could have been lying through those sculpted lips of his just as easy as my mind was racing–then the sudden loss in the Protectorate vaults made a lot more sense.
Only someone who had been to Sanctua Sirena could reveal its location. Not even the Serpents had been given that information, we’d brought them there with our own ships.
The Blood Brotherhood had been called on the day of Evie’s wedding, the only moment we’d all be gathered there.
Someone had to know the source of our Protectorate powers to nullify them.
The Protectorate leader had been murdered in the chaos.
The pieces fittoowell together.
No.
I wasn’t about to trust the Commander of our enemy Clan.
I shook my head. “If you and your bleeding Clan are so innocent in all of this–”
He shrugged. “Judging by what I saw at the wedding, it’s your Clan’s that’s bleeding, not mine.”
“Careful, Commander.” I clenched my jaw. “I might be your prisoner, but I’m still The Huntress.”
“You’re not my prisoner.”
Despite my best efforts, my pulse began to race and my mouth turned bone dry. If I wasn’t a prisoner…then what fresh horror awaited me? “Then what am I doing here with you?”
“Accussing me, annoying me, and I suspect attacking me very soon.” He kicked himself away from the door with a predator’s patience and began to prowl toward me.
My entire body tensed, a cold shiver racing down my spine.
I held on tighter to my pitiful bottle even as I forced a cold smirk on my face. “If I’m so annoying, you can drop me off at the nearest carriage station, and I’ll find my way from there.”
“As appealing as that sounds, it’s not possible.” He stopped an arm-swing away from me, his ice eyes never leaving mine for a moment.
Alarm bells roared in my ears. He truly did seem pissed off at my presence, jaw clenched, lips tense.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because there is nowhere left for you to go.”
