Page 85 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
Too personal.
I quickly turned back around to the palaver portal, still tense.
The Commander hadn’t given any indication he’d seen Orion’s message.
Instead, he’d defended me as I secretly plotted to leave him.
Guilt I should not have been feeling still somehow wormed its way inside me.
“Big words coming from the Usurper,” The Commander said. “Don’t forget my words, Silas. I won’t forget yours.”
With a final grimace, The Commander rose and stepped to the side, but not straying too far away from me. As if he wanted to let me end this conversation on my terms, but wouldn’t be too far away unless needed.
The guilt bloomed.
“Leash that bastard’s tongue before I do,” Silas hissed.
I huffed a disbelieving laugh. He sputtered before and now wanted to play big, did he? “But, Uncle…with what army?”
“Myarmy, which I will command–”
“Pray The Commander finds you first.” I leaned forward, bringing my face as close to the palaver as I could, like a predator ready to snap its jaws. “He will have more mercy on your miserable soul than I will.”
“Listen here, girl–”
“You listen and listen well.” I rose slowly. Now I was looking down at Silas, as it should have always been. A waste of good Vegheara blood, this louse. This dangerous, powerful louse. “I will take back my throne. I will protect my people and my Clan. And I will make sure your name will only become a cautionary tale for the rest of Malhaven’s history. I will bring the storm, Uncle, and there will be nothing left of you in its wake.”
Silas opened his mouth to argue.
I slammed the palaver book shut–not before giving Orion a furtive glance which needed to tell what I couldn’t speak.
I got the message.
I pressed my hands on the desk, breathing deeply, scared I might give myself away.
My knees shook.
My heart wept.
My mind still couldn’t understand this heinous reality.
But I was not alone in fighting it.
“You laugh in the strangest moments,” the Commander said softly, startling me away from plans of escape and vengeance.
I gulped.
Then gulped again and licked my lips, the words on the tip of my tongue stinging like poison.
“Thank you,” I muttered, not looking at him, but at the shadow he cast before me, cocooning mine, but still a breath away.
Perhaps that’s why they called him The Shadow.
Always there, always seeing, always watching.
His shadow nodded. “Don’t worry about it. I know what it’s like to deal with an insolent uncle. He should have never dared to talk to you like that.”
“Not just for that.” I inhaled sharply and turned to him. “For telling me the truth, even when I didn’t believe it.”
