Page 12 of Of Blood and Banes
Melaina slams the side of her forearm into his throat, cutting off the rest of his sentence. “Watch your mouth!”
Nolan swings a left hook, connecting with the side of Melaina’s jaw and spinning her off him. Archie drops onto Nolan, straddling him with ease before pressing a fork to his throat. Got to give the man some credit—at least he’s resourceful.
“Stop!”a deep voice rolls over across the room as loud as thunder.
All of us freeze, turning to the front of the room where Sethan stands. Even Nolan has the sense to discontinue his fighting.
Sethan clears his throat, scowling as he rakes his gaze across the room. “Need I remind you all of what’s at stake here? I will not tolerate this childish bullshit. One more outburst, fromanyone, and you’ll be thrown into the dungeons. Is that clear?”
He looks at Tawny, waiting for a response. She dips her head and sheathes her sword. The rest of the rebels follow suit, sheathing swords and daggers before settling back into their seats.
Leaving us Arterians still standing.
Sethan then settles his attention on me. “You,” he jerks his head over his shoulder, “come.”
I can’t help but look over my shoulder to make sure he isn’t referring to someone else. My gaze skips past the other Arterians to Cole, waiting for him to step forward. My skin heats as everyone turns their stares onto me.
Oh Gods…not Cole.Me.
“Now!” Sethan barks.
I flinch before hesitantly turning and following Sethan and his guards out of the room through the hallway the servants came and out a side door to the streets.
We wind through the town wordlessly, and I glimpse Daeja’s black figure following us from a distance where the streets spill out into the forest blocks away. Every townsperson watches her pass street after street, their stances all rigid with wonder. Despite her keeping a comfortable distance between us, I know if things turned south, she could reach me within the blink of an eye. The awareness of which settles my nerves.
Even Sethan’s guards positioned around us toss her wary glances.
“Tell her you’re not in danger,” Sethan calls without looking my way.
I snort. “I will not tell her of which I do not know.”
“Tell him he’s the one in danger,”Daeja growls.
“I’m not sure he’d be keen on threats…when did you wake? How long have you been following?”
“Long enough to keep an eye on you.”
We arrive at another large structure at the northern end of Midkeep—the same one I’d first met Sethan at and found out Darian was a prince. Sethan leads me into the building, with two of the guards staying outside and the other two following us in. As one of the guards closes the door, Sethan stalks around to the other side of a large mahogany desk and swivels to face me. His hands are tucked behind his back and out of sight. Somethingabout it makes my fingers dance anxiously at my hip, where my sword should be.
Sethan stares at me. So completely still he could convince anyone he’s a figment of imagination. I’m starting to think this is his technique of intimidating others into his will.
“What?” I ask finally. “I don’t play silent games. What do you want?”
“You need to get your people?—”
“Mypeople?” I laugh. “I’m not the captain here, Cole is?—”
“Don’t you interrupt me, child. They are just as much?—”
“First of all, I amnota child.”
He growls and slams a fist into the desk. “You need to practice some self-discipline.”
I take a half-step back before I snap, “Andyouneed to learn to speak to me with respect. I will not be spoken to like this—I’m not a child. I’m a grown-ass woman.”
“Then act like it,” he snarls.
“Excuse me? I was just trying to stop you while you were ahead—you’re talking to the wrong person. I am not their captain.”
