Page 54 of Fragile Oath

“To Wolf Estate, to await your betrothed,” he corrected.

I blinked. He wanted me to return to Socair, to go to the same estate where my parents had been held hostage, to stay with a man who hated me while I awaited the return of the husband we both knew was dead.

He continued in the same commanding tone. “You will apologize for any hardship you caused him and his nephew, who you care deeply for, and explain that you were coerced into leaving Socair and all ensuing communication.”

The irony of that was not lost on me. I had been coerced into leaving somewhere, but it wasn’t Socair.

“And in return…” He paused, his gaze boring into mine. “I will graciously overlook your disloyalty to your family, your clan, and your kingdom. In the event that your betrothed does not return from wherever in Socair he journeyed to, I will arrange another suitable marriage for you.”

It was an offer I would have killed for only months ago. Forgiveness. A marriage to anyone who wasn’t Alexei. The ability to return to my parents.

But it wasn’t one I could accept now.

“The king has demanded my presence for Davin’s Assembly proceedings,” I said, my fingers absently tracing the grooves of my whiskey glass.

My uncle sucked in an irritable breath at the subtle refusal.

“After which time you will return,” he said in a low, controlled tone.

“And if I don’t, will my parents be in danger again?” It was as close as I would come to asking if he was behind the threats.

There was a flash of anger in his eyes, and his hand clenched around his glass.

“They were never in danger from me,” he said plainly. “But it would be a shame if Laird Davin was accused of yet another murder.”

So he wouldn’t threaten my parents because they werehisfamily, just the man he knew I cared about. He couldn’t have known beyond a doubt what had happened, but it wasn’t hard for him to surmise when I had left with Alexei and returned with Davin. He had to know Alexei was dead, and if he did, it wasn’t a secret who had killed him.

“I agree, it would indeed be a shame,” I said, fire building up from a place I scarcely recognized. I chose my words carefully. “To say nothing of the dishonor it would bring Sir Nils to believe my chosen betrothed deprived him of his remaining heir. I only hope that it wouldn't reflect badly on Ram, all things considered.”

Or that Nils wouldn’t exact retribution from my uncle.

Any doubts I had that Davin’s father was fluent in Socairan disappeared in the tilt of his lips at my thinly veiled threat.

Anger and disappointment warred in my uncle’s features as he held my gaze for several heartbeats. Finally, he sighed, like he was exasperated by this conversation and me.

“You need rest. We will discuss this again after you have slept.”

For the first time, I noticed that I wasn’t the only one who was tired. The lines in my uncle’s face had never been so pronounced, and guilt pricked at me in spite of myself. The stay of execution was as good as anything else I was going to get tonight, so I nodded, setting my glass down on the side table before getting to my feet.

“As you say.”

Oliver moved to join me, and together we turned to leave. Just before he opened the door, my uncle’s voice sounded out.

“There are debts to be paid, Galina, whether either of us would wish to do so. Whatever you may believe, I have no desire to punish the man who kept you safe, but our obligation is to our clan.”

I left without responding.

Maybe his obligation was to our clan, but I wasn’t so sure where mine rested these days.

ChapterTwenty-Six

DAVIN

After our delightfulmeeting in the Assembly room, the members finally filed out, leaving us in a somewhat stunned silence.

Uncle Finn walked a quick round to ensure the doors were shut and no one was lurking, nodding when his perusal was complete.

“Well,” I spoke first, breaking the uneasy hush. “Now would be a phenomenal time to tell me all about how you caught the Viper whilst I was off chasing my beloved.”

---