Page 48 of Vows Forged in Blood

When I’d plucked up the courage to finally see the others, the first words from my lips had been an apology, but Viktor had stopped me.

“My Lady, please. None of this was your fault, you must know that. This is the world we live in, the world we chose to be a part of because each of us answered a call in our blood to fight and to protect. We all knew what the outcome may be for us on any given day when we joined this army. You cannot blame yourself.”

The others had agreed and though I would forever feel guilt, it did make me feel a bit better. I’d sniffled and nodded, pushing my shoulders back and forcing the tears away.

“That’s our Lady of the Serpents,” Malcom said softly with a grin and I’d huffed out a laugh, surprising myself.

“I…I asked my father to make these for you all…before…before that day.” I swallowed hard, but forced myself on. “I wanted you all to have something special, something that—I hope—shows how much I appreciate and care about each of you.”

I’d presented the swords and Cyrus and Viktor let out low whistles of awe. Malcom was silent, but I would have sworn I saw him wipe a tear as he took up his blade, turning it this way and that so the sun glinted off of the dark gray metal, only a few shades lighter than Night’s Fury. The snarling wolf’s head was set in each of the cross guards, ruby eyes gleaming, anelegantCGbeneath it in gold.Consort’s Guard. My protectors. My friends.

“These gifts are too much, Lady Dahlia,” Cyrus said, shaking his head. “We couldn’t possibly accept them.” He looked to the others, a mix of longing and uncertainty and confusion in his eyes.

“Oh don’t be daft,” I said, making them all laugh, “of course you can accept them. It’s my wish and I don’t know if you’re aware, but a Consort is supposed to get almost anything she wishes.” They’d grinned at that, excitement bubbling up within them like children once they accepted that these were truly their blades now.

Later that night, Takara told me how much the blades truly meant to them.

“Malcom told me that he’d grown up in the gutter, starving most of his life, hardly a night spent with a roof over his head. To have a Clayburn blade now, made specially for him on the request of a prince’s Consort, the High General’s at that…Well, it means more than you can imagine, Dahlia.” She eyed me in that way of hers that made me feel as if she were looking into my very soul and taking my measure. “You really are the kindest person I’ve ever met. It’s a pure sort of kindness that I don’t see often. Many people are kind, but in hopes of getting something in return for it. Your kindness is simply for the sake of being kind. It is…beautiful.”

I hadn’t known what to say to that, so I’d snatched her cup away and thrown it across the room, spilling the blood across the wall. She’d stared at me wide-eyed, mouth gaping.

“But I can still be a little shit.” We’d both laughed so hard we had tears streaming down our faces, Takara’s pink from the faint tinge of blood.

I clean up the desk a bit now and try to decide what to do. Despite feeling more relaxed than I have since Alaric left, I’mnot ready to climb into bed. Now that the utter exhaustion from training has eased, I’m back to having nightmares and I put off sleep as long as possible most nights. So, I throw a robe over my nightgown and pad quietly from my room. I pause in the entry, staring down the hallway to Alaric’s wing, straining to hear him, but all is silent.

I quickly slip through the room and down the other hallway towards the study, silent as can be. I don’t know why, exactly. It isn’t as if I’m not allowed to be out of my wing or barred from the study, but I still slink through the cabin like a thief. I think part of me is nervous to see Alaric. I know I’ll see him tomorrow, but I need the night to prepare myself, to ease these nerves flaring through my body like fireworks in my veins.

I ease the door to the study open and quickly slide inside, keeping an eye down the hallway outside. Nothing at all. I ease the door closed, exhaling quietly as I lean my forehead against the cool wood.

Chapter 24

ALARIC

Istand before the fire in the study, one arm propped on the mantle as I stare into the flames. I tilt my head when I hear footsteps in the house, catch Dahlia’s scent and hear the beating of her heart. Every nerve in my body stands at attention. I turn towards the door and see her open it just enough to slip inside, glancing back out into the hallway…as if she’s sneaking into the room? Is she trying to avoid me?Well, too late for that, I think as I brace myself for being so near her again. My body tenses even as it seems to sigh in utter contentment at the sight of her. Her hair spills down her back in loose waves of fire, and the thin robe and gown beneath do little to hide the shapely curve of her ass. I swallow hard and call on my control. I’ve been training myself, shoring up my defenses at it were, every day that I was gone, preparing for this new…relationship I’m going to attempt to cultivate with her.

No more avoidance. No more denying the bond. I may not be able to have my mate the way that I want, the way I need and crave, but I will have her in the only way I can, and that will have to be enough.

After she appears to be sure she hasn’t been followed or found out, she quietly pushes the door closed and exhales in relief, leaning her forehead against the wood. I arch a brow and wait, honestly curious what she’ll do when she realizes I’m here.Might as well find out.

“Good evening,” I say in a low, even tone.

She whirls, screaming and grabbing a small statue from the shelf next to the door. She hurls it towards my head with all her might. I move to the side easily and it slams into the stone of the fireplace with a loud crack, the pieces of marble flying in every direction. I blink and brush one from my shoulder.

“Fucking hells!” Her heart gallops in her chest, so loud I think the whole camp can probably hear it. She holds one hand to her chest and runs the other through her hair, pushing the strands away from her forehead.

“I didn’t mean to alarm you.” I realize now that I should have let her know I was here. The fear that flashed in her eyes for a moment before she processed who was standing across the room reminded me with a visceral punch what she’d been through so recently. She didn’t need to be startled. I want to kick myself for being so stupid.

“Ye scared the living shite out of me,” she says, breathless. My lips twitch as her brogue slips through more than usual.

“As opposed to the dead shite out of you?” I say, and to my surprise, after a moment, her lips curl up at the corners.

“I didn’t know you were in here.”

I study her for a moment, and realize that she’s surprised to see mein this room, not in general.

“But you knew I was back at the camp.” A statement, not a question. She nods.

“I felt it when you were close again. I guess with all the blood you gave me when you saved my life…well, the bond is strongerthan it was after the Choosing. I could feel you gone like a bow string pulled too tightly, and I felt it when the tension eased.”

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