Page 65 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
I’d keep playing my part–for the good of the Blood Brotherhood.
She was still the enemy Clan’s de facto heir, as far as the Blood Brotherhood was concerned, no matter which pasty-faced uncle stole the throne from under her.
This Huntress was toying with my conscience and we’d barely exchanged a few words, all of them sharp and trained.
Judging from the way she was currently thundering down the stairs, another argument was coming.
Soon.
The damn woman could command attention just by walking. At least my attention.
She had probably realized there truly was no way out of my city–not one a stranger could find, in any case.
Good.
She had no business going back to Aquila while her uncle was spreading lies about her.
Future wife or not, no Clan member who’d defended her people so fiercely deserved being attacked like that. And by her own family.
“What if she’s pretending?” Geryll asked, looking torn between my apparent indifference and Nadya’s mighty scowl.
“Then I’ll make her tell the truth,” I said. “Through any means necessary.”
“Great.” Nadya patted her ax. “I’ve always thought the no-torture rule was exaggerated.”
My gaze narrowed on her. “The rules aren’t changing just because we have a guest.”
“A bothersome, dangerous–”
“Oh, Commander,” The Huntress’ voice reverberated through the halls.
We all stilled, my eyes narrowing on the door.
I’d expected rage.
Maybe more red eyes that refused to cry.
Not this light, almost teasing tone hauntingmyfortress.
What game was she playing now?
Nadya gripped her ax. “Speak of the she-beast.”
“She can’t find us here…can she?”
I raised my open palm to quiet them, my senses focusing on The Huntress approach.
She was limping–the cold had probably gotten to her, dressed in that flimsy gown that now barely clung to her curves and exposed enough of her legs that I had to force my gaze not to wander.
But she kept going.
Still two floors down, in the east wing, but she was coming.
Not with blades or arrows, but with a smile in her voice, sharp enough to cut.
“See, where I come from,” The Huntress went on, a bite to her words. “We don’t let ourguestsjust wander around our homes.”
Yes, yes, the grand Aquila stronghold, the center of her world, now turned into the biggest threat to her life.
