Page 104 of The Bond That Burns

As if on cue, the sound of wheels creaking made us turn. A row of black and silver covered carriages were rolling to a halt along the rough, unpaved dirt road that ran alongside the field. I assumed the regents and the rest of the Tribunal Panel were inside. Liveried attendants hopped down and quickly marched forward to open the doors.

Catherine Mortis stepped out of the first carriage, her head topped with a crown of woven silver braids, her expression cold and imperious. She turned back to speak with someone still inside and a moment later, Florence Shen emerged, looking frightened but composed. My stomach twisted as I watched Catherine lead Florence over to the platform and direct her to a chair.

My gaze drifted back to Jia Shen. Florence’s mother’s face had paled. She was gripping the edges of her coat tightly. Rodriguez murmured something to her, while Sankara stood with his hand resting lightly on Jia’s arm as if to steady her. The woman’sfear was tangible and I couldn’t blame her. Florence might be holding herself together well, but she was still a lamb in a den of wolves.

I knew I should be over there, probably talking to her myself. But what would I say? “I’m sorry my family is so fucked up and evil and involved your daughter in this highblood mess?”

Lysander Orphos was helping Elaria Avari out of one of the other carriages. I thought about what Lysander had proposed that day in the Tribunal hearing. I’d thought about it a lot since then, actually.

Then my breath caught in my throat. My uncle was emerging from another carriage. And there, stepping out after him, clutching onto his sleeve as if it was her lifeline, was Aenia.

My vision tunneled as cold fury swept through me. My little sister shouldn’t have been there. I’d made sure of it. Aenia was supposed to be guarded. Kept away from the public. Kept safe. Yet here she was, looking up at Viktor with wide, uncertain eyes, her tiny frame swamped by a too-large crimson cloak someone had draped around her.

At first glance, she looked like any highblood child. Delicate, pale, and strikingly pretty with her porcelain skin. But I knew better. Her mind was fractured.

Her eyes darted nervously over the crowd. Bringing her here was sheer folly. Not only for her sake but for the sake of the blightborn around her. For now, she was lucid, thank the Bloodmaid. But that could change in a heartbeat.

She didn’t belong here. She didn’t belong anywhere near my brother, who’d slaughtered her whole fucking family, or near my uncle, who clearly thought he could use her as his pawn.

I moved forward swiftly, stepping directly into Viktor’s path. “We need to talk. Now.”

My uncle raised a single brow. “I don’t have time for your theatrics, Blake. Step aside.”

“You think this is me being dramatic? You’ll see real theatrics if you don’t get Aenia back where she belongs right now.”

Viktor narrowed his blood-colored eyes. “Funny, Blake, to me that sounded very much like a threat. Are you threatening me?”

I growled. “Do I have to? After everything I’ve done for you and our family, why would you bring her here?”

“Perhaps your little sister—” He stressed the last word and I stiffened. “–Simply wished to see a dragon in the flesh. Perhaps she asked for us to bring here today as a treat. She is a child, after all.” He smiled slowly.

He knew Aenia was no real child. Her mind was fading in and out. Because of me. Because of my pathetic attempt to “save” her. Some savior I’d turned out to be. Part of me knew she’d have been better off dead than what I’d turned her into.

“Is there a problem here, Uncle?” Marcus stood behind Viktor, his hand tight on Aenia’s shoulder.

“Not at all. Take Aenia to her seat. I’ll be right behind you.”

My lips twisted as Marucs led Aenia away. The little girl glanced back at me once. But she showed no emotion. She reacted to me less and less.

I’d consulted a healer once, secretly. The woman confessed that she believed soon Aenia wouldn’t even recognize me. She’d simply want to feed.

The moment they were out of earshot, I turned back to Viktor. “She’s not a bargaining chip. You’re putting her at risk. You know what she’s capable of. Please. Don’t do this. I’m asking you as your family.”

Viktor’s smile was cold. “You should be asking yourself why I’ve brought her here.”

My fists clenched. “Fine. Why?”

“To ensure your compliance,” Viktor said smoothly.

“You think I’d rebel against you?” I said, barely controlling my rage. “I’ve done everything you asked.”

“Ah, but it’s not just you,” Viktor replied, his tone as detached as if we were discussing the weather. “Your little consort. I can’t risk the rider trying anything foolish today.”

“She won’t,” I snarled. “And that’s why the blightborn girl is here, isn’t it? Why do you need them both?”

“I need all three of you,” Viktor said.

So I was leverage here today, too. Strangely, I hadn’t seen that coming.

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