Page 136 of The Ballad of a Bard

“He could, since he’s technically more Saint than you are. I could, too,” Crimson shrugged casually, a little gleefully, “Since I’m a full Saint after all, and you only bear the power of half of one. So you can either tell it of your own accord without us forcing you to, or we can use your talisman and make you. Your choice.”

Cobalt wiggled the two bone shards at him.

In anyone else’s grasp, the action might have been perceivedas threatening- which her brother was without question trying to replicate. But for him, it came off as a suggestion.

Altivar hissed in rage and it echoed the serpents he kept as his beloved pets. “Yes.Ikilled my mother.”

She wasn’t sure if Cobalt had secretly ordered him to spill the truth or if he’d done it from his own volition but it didn’t matter because they’d all heard it. Even with the guilt on her conscience for those she had killed, her spirits lifted as the inaccurate accusation was removed from her lean shoulders. They’d already carried far more over the years than they should have.

West pulled her in closer as he noticed her instant relaxation. “Why did you lay the blame on Crimson?”

“It was the perfect alibi. She had Saint-made blades, and came from the Bronze Gate with nothing to lose. After all, she’s the notorious fighter Red Lyric. The pieces lined up and it was too perfect to ignore.” He reluctantly explained and a sprinkle of anger surged through her like a rapidly increasing inferno. Her status, her way of living had bolstered his reasoning and it curved her flare into something that tasted like fury and death rolled into one sour thing.

Her brother frowned and marched to Altivar, sending his fist sailing directly into the Prince’s groin. Crimson bit back a laugh, as did Connor by the looks of it. But West barked his out, unobstructed as the heir doubled over.

“Don’t you ever talk about my sister like that again!” He fumed, shoving the talisman in Altivar’s face.

Mutters came from the doorway and she could make out the whispered words ofAltivar, traitor, punishment.

Her gut told her to remove her brother before things became too harrowing and intense for his young eyes to see. Her chin angled towards her partner.

Hersoulsaintwho knew her mind far too well as he said, “You should take Cobalt out of here.” He quietly murmured in her ear, “He can’t continue to live after everything he’s done and I highly doubt you want to expose him to that part of life yet. If we don’t act now, then the people will riot and choose their own leader in his place. We have to do this correctly, or chaos and bloodlust will ensue.”

He was right.

Crimson went to lead her brother out of the room, to find some tarts or candy to distract him whilst her father dealt with Altivar but Cobalt sent another command at him before she could stop him. “Turn into a bug. I don’t care what one, but a small one.”

Connor snapped his gaze to her as the Prince had no choice but to obey. He curled around himself with a vulgar gesture and a burning glare in his gaze, black fur sprouting as he shrank in size, a spider in his place. One she recognized from the first time she’d found an insect in her room.

And then her brother moved.

With a hard press of his bare foot, Cobalt smashed his bare heel on top of him. Asquelchsounded, dark blood splattered on the chequered tiles and the eight legs bent sideways.

“Did he just-” West swept him up into the air with hands under his arms, checking the ground. “Hedid.”

Cobalt had killed Altivar.

Crimson was horrifically astounded at his actions, taking in the glob of mashed insect parts for herself. “It can’t have beenthateasy.”

“He was only half a Saint.” Connor muttered with a hint of mirth in his low tone that she wanted to smack out for finding humour in the event. “Anything could have killed him, includingthatit appears.”

West handed a squirming,laughingCobalt to her and brought his heeled boot down on the spider’s remains, dragging it back and forth to be absolutely sure. “For good measure.” He explained at her bewildered look. “And partially because I wanted to after what he put you through.”

Not at what he’d putthemthrough, but what he’d putherthrough. Her heart constricted to the point of pain at how much she loved this man, the one that would do anything for her. She handed Cobalt to her father and threw herself at him. He caught her with ease, spinning as she lowered her mouth to his.

West kissed her without holding anything back.

She tasted the stars as they exploded in her vision, the moon as it curved through her, night-light on water. His hands roved over her back, tracing her spine and she wanted nothing more than to finish what they started when he first kissed her back. But there was an audience, and she wasn’t too particular about sharing her first time with anyone, let alone her father and brother in the room.

Her Saint kissed her tenderly one last time and dragged it out before lowering her back to the floor and setting her down. He sent a cocky wink at her that promised more to come before she flushed, wiping the residue off her mouth. Connor had his hand over her brother’s eyes, but she saw the struggle he gave in order to see past the finger blockade.

“Come on,” He grumbled and swatted it away.

Connor playfully punched his shoulder. “I can tell that not only have you been a handful for your sister in the past, but you’re going to be far worse when you grow up.”

Cobalt stuck his tongue out and crossed one arm over the other in protest, as if it would do anything to stop the ageing process. “I’m never growing up. And if I do, then I’m going to be taller than Red. Perhaps even Gold.”

West boyishly chuckled and sighed deeply as if he had to prepare for whatever he was about to unleash next. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to grow up, little man.”

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