Page 34 of Of Blood and Banes
“They don’t necessarily trust us either, but we all have to start somewhere. We have to work together.”
“Fine, you can trust them all you want. You made a blood pact—but I didn’t. These people might want to save you because you’ll save the world, but I want to save you because Iloveyou.”
“Cole…” I sigh, taking a step back away from him.Now isn’t the time for late night confessions.As much as I don’t want to hear those three little words from him, I’m hungry for it all the same.
He splays his hands out to the side in a silent apology. “I’m not trying to scare you. I’m just trying to protect you.”
I snort. “By guarding my room?”
“By making sure anyone who tries to hurt you has to go through me first.” His warm, honey eyes search mine. “If I tell you something, will you promise not to make any rash decisions?”
I cross my arms over my chest, leaning back into the wall. Tossing a glance over my shoulder down the hallway, I scan the shadows like I won’t have to agree. “Maybe.”
“I need a yes, Kat,” he nearly pleads.
I meet his eyes. “Fine. Yes. What is it?”
He grabs my wrist gently, twisting my hand so his mother’s ring catches the moonlight and glimmers brilliantly. “Marge told me this ring needs to stay with you. On you. You cannot take it off.”
Sethan’s words ring in my head.This ring has much power, more power than you could ever imagine.As far as I know, it has enough power to release a ripple. But what else can it do?
“Why does Marge say I can’t take it off?” I murmur.
“Because…” He blows out a quick breath. “...because it links you to the King.”
“What do you mean ‘links?’ And since when do you have private discussions with Marge?”
“This ring links your life to King Aaric’s. Which means, if you die, he dies. Arterians won’t kill you, even if you’re a dragon rider.”
I recoil, the news striking me with a sudden rush of panic. “How…how is that even possible?”
“I don’t know. Some ancient magic, Marge said. She didn’t want me to tell you, and I was hesitant because we didn’t want you thinking ahead of yourself. But…I don’t want to keep things from you anymore.”
Must be why I woke up with healed ribs. Not because of anything Daeja or I had done…but because the King must have done something to mend them. I thumb my ribs, testing to make sure they’re still healed over, and am met with a faint soreness. “Then what’s this rash decision she’s wary I’ll make?—”
As it dawns on me, my eyes round, and my face falls. If I die, King Aaric dies. I could shove a sword through my heart, sacrificing myself to single-handedly take down the King.
CHAPTER 12
TOUCHING AND TERMS
“Iwouldn’t risk Daeja’s life,” I whisper, crossing my arms tight over my chest.
Cole’s voice dips even lower. “Even if you decided not to, the ring puts a massive target on your back. If any of the rebels recognize it, they could decide to kill you because it’ll kill their greatest adversary.”
“That’s…why you were standing guard outside? Not because of Darian, but because you think the rebels might kill me in the middle of the night?”
He nods.
I clear my throat and push off the wall. “I signed a blood pact—a binding contract with one of the terms being our safety. Do you really think they would go through the trouble of such a thing if they intended to kill me?”
“Sethansigned the blood pact. It doesn’t mean everyone in this entire town will agree to it. And this is just one town—there’s the entire northern continent who might question Sethan’s decision and decide they don’t need to follow it.”
I swallow. He has a point, and it’s one I had already considered. But hearing it resurface from someone else only strengthens the fear. Now, not only does the King and all hissubjects want me dead…but I’m in the Dragon Lands where I can be an easy victory for the rebels.
Fuck.I might be in more danger here than I was back in Arterias—not that my own safety concerns me as much as Daeja’s. I can’t risk her. The thought alone tears a rip in my heart.
“Don’t let that scare you. I’ll never let anything happen to you…” Cole trails off and mindlessly brushes a strand of hair out of my face. Instinctively, he twirls the piece of hair before tucking it behind my ear.
