Page 25 of A Dawn Of Blood

“You’re absolutely right, but that wasn’t my intention. I’d like an opportunity to explain myself and—”

“Oh there’s absolutely no need for anything likethat,” she cuts me off, finally putting the pen down and turning all her focus onto me. “I know exactly why it is you did what you did.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Really?”

“Yes. Do you know how I came to be the leader of this particular cell?”

“No, but I’d like you to tell me.”

The look in her eyes grows distant. “When he rose to power, I’d just given birth. It was the happiest time of my life — my husband and I had started renovating this run-down old house we got for next to nothing, my friends were starting to accept the fact that I’d married a Scion, and the baby was…” Her expression grows hard. “In the blink of an eye, listening to the news wasbecoming deeply unsettling, my vampire friends were starting to turn on me, I was being summoned for interrogations simply for being a shifter… Until they arrested me, for real, and started processing me. It was only thanks to some old, powerful friends from my Academy years that I got released and initiated into the Resistance. I know my husband and child are still alive, but it’s been thirty four years since last I saw them.”

My eyes well with tears. “I’m so sorry to hear that, Nuala.”

She shakes her head. “That was just the beginning. You’ve had the fortune of going missing for the last thirty three years, Aurora. You weren’t here to see it with your own two eyes, what he spent decades doing to us. So you’re still a romantic, aren’t you? You think it’s possible to save everyone everywhere you go.”

My jaw clenches. “This is not my first life, Emberlord. I may not remember things like I remember things in this one, but the last time I breathed air on this planet, what Baldur did to people was just as bad as what he’s doing now, and I witnessed all of it. It’s one thing to be an unrealistic romantic. It’s a whole other not to let the bleak state of things stop you from believing in love, kindness, and the potential of people to change things for the better.”

She lets out a scoff, but I think I catch discomfort flashing through her eyes. “Those are all fine words, Aurora. But they don’t change the fact that this is not a world in which we can put our faith inlove. Right now, there’s only duty and perseverance. We need to act as one, otherwise we’re all doomed.”

I think for a second and decide not to challenge her view, mostly because I understand exactly where she’s coming from. I choose to reassure her when it comes to my character instead. “I apologize,sincerely,” I start, looking deeper into her eyes, “for going rogue and putting you all in danger yesterday. I can’t promise it won’t ever happen again, but Icanpromise it willnever happen for reasons that are less than majorly significant for all of us.”

She takes a moment to observe me, giving me a tight-lipped smile. “Is that why you need the books? For reasons that aremajorly significant?”

“I’d rather disclose that once I’m done with them.”

She blows out a soft laugh. Then she reaches inside her desk drawer and slams a few books on the table. “You have twenty four hours and then I want the books back.”

I smile. “Alright, thank you,” I say as I rush to grab the books. “I won’t be taking up any more of your time. I’ll see you at the meeting tomorrow, Emberlord.”

With the books under my arm, I leave the office. It would fill me with sadness, to try to do my research back in the Library, so I head for the Main Hall instead.

There, I curl up next to the fire, and open the first of the four books, filled with hope.

But it dies down very quickly, because this is all information I already know about the prison.

Chapter 18

It’s with determination in my step that I make my way to the meeting. I haven’t exactly succeeded in finding any information that would help me devise an actual plan, but I still have such a strong feeling that there’s something vital for the war waiting for us in Nasgard.

So the plan is still to suggest it and be honest about the reason I’m doing it in the first place.

Once I get to the war room and see Dryden, I get a little distracted, but I don’t let it mess with my focus.

“I know it’s disheartening,” Nuala starts as soon as we all get settled in, “what happened at the last mission, but what’s done is done. Right now—”

“What’s done is done?” Lorcan cuts her off with a scoff. “I don’t think that’s the right attitude, Nuala.”

Damn, I think as we all exchange an awkward look.

Nuala glares at her father. “It’s Emberlord MacArthur,Lorcan. And we don’t interrupt each other at these meetings.”

He blinks and for a second, I think he’ll protest. Thankfully, he immediately retreats, albeit with a sour look on his face. “Of course, Emberlord MacArthur.”

“As I said,” she repeats pointedly, “what’s done is done, and right now, all we can do is move on. Let’s see what our next mission could be.”

“With your permission, Emberlord,” I start, with both caution and determination, “I’d like to suggest going to Nasgard.”

All of a sudden, everyone is leaning forward.

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