Page 38 of Of Blood and Banes
Silence falls for a few moments, concluding our conversation. Pulling a breath in through my nose, I clear my mind to slip off into sleep once more.
“I could make your dreams come true, you know,” he purrs.
I snag my pillow from underneath my head, spin, and chuck it straight at his head. Lucky for him, he catches it.
Rumbling an arrogant laugh, he tucks the pillow underneath his head and pats it. “Thank you. About time you showed me some hospitality.”
CHAPTER 13
I DON’T REPEAT MYSELF TWICE
“Candidly speaking, why in the Gods’ names would we do that?” Nolan challenges me, his fist wrapped tight around a fork. His thick brown brows are furrowed by the mounting frustration bubbling around us in the other squad members seated in the community hall.
Good grief, here we go again.How can Sethan possibly think these men and women will listen to me? I don’t necessarily blame them for wanting to return home, but it’s imperative they stay. Even if they don’t agree with it.
I can’t quite place why Nolan has gotten so irrationally angry since our time here in the Dragon Lands. Melaina mentioned back in Arterias he was hired to protect her after they believed Sethan died.
The rest of our squad and the rebels occupying the long tables in the massive hall turn their attention toward us. Piece by piece, a silence falls like snow in the room. Until the only thing audible is when Archie drops his fork to his plate.
“Because if you leave, they’ll kill you anyway,” I say, holding Nolan’s gaze, unwilling to show a lick of anxiety.
“You’re just saying that to save your own tail. We all have friends and family we want to go back to. We don’t belong here!” Nolan flicks his hand out to the room.
Other Arterians chime in with their mumbled agreements, and I glance around at the angry faces. Shit. It might have been a mistake telling them I made a blood pact. Sethan made it sound so simple that they would listen to me. And now look at us—half the men and women can’t even look at me without wanting to drag my face through the mud for such a decision.
Not to mention the tension spiking between those individuals who support my decision and those who don’t. We don’t even need to worry about the rebels fighting us—we do a perfectly fine job fightingourselves.
“Do you even have a family, Nolan?” Gavin bites back.
It’s the first time I’ve ever heard such a tone from him. He normally melts back into the shadows, far from anyone’s attention. His onyx eyes narrow as he jerks his head toward Melaina, his long raven hair swinging with him. “Last I remember, you and I swore an oath to Sethan and Melaina to protect them.”
“Just because you apprenticed Sethan and feel so obligated to follow him around like some eager puppy doesn’t mean I will. Our vow was voided as soon as he became part of the rebels,” Nolan barks.
Gavin slams his fist onto the table, silencing the rest of the squad’s arguments bubbling to the surface. Melaina darts her hand out and grabs Gavin’s shoulder to keep him from launching across the table at Nolan.
“A vow is a vow. Have you no honor?” Gavin challenges.
Before Nolan can respond, Archie jolts up to his feet, his hands splayed out to both men. “Guys, guys. Let’s slow down for a second. I have family back in Helmbrook, too. But we should hear her out?—”
Nolan interrupts, glaring at me. “She’s an incompetent woman who made the hasty decision to?—”
“Enough!” Cole roars as he shoots to his feet, the sound deafening in my ears.
Everyone stops and turns to him, and even Nolan has the sense to be quiet.
“You speak about her like that once more, Nolan,” Cole points a finger at him, that’s just as threatening as a weapon, “and I’ll kill you my fucking self.”
Nolan holds his stare but swallows uncomfortably.
Cole scans the rest of the group as he leans forward onto the table, his eyes challenging each individual, picking them apart one by one. “You may not agree with staying here, but there is no choice. Even if Kat didn’t agree to this blood pact, they would have killed us if we tried to leave. Or they could have killed us to get rid of this mess. We’re outnumbered. Either way, you wouldn’t have made it back home alive. Don’t you understand? She made a decision that potentially saved all of your lives. She pledged her own blood and life for your safety—how could youpossiblybe angry with that?”
Silence. Even the conversations at the other tables are at a standstill. I swallow, heat spanning from my chest to my cheeks. Thankfully, everyone’s gazes are glued to Cole. He always has a natural tendency to draw people to him. An air about him that commands people to listen. That, and he has everyone beat in height and muscle. Challenging him would be asking for a death sentence.
“Well?” Cole threatens, spinning his attention back to Nolan. “Anyone care to answer?”
“You fucking imbecile,” Darian spits from down the table. “You’ll all die if you stay here.”
I instantly regret allowing him out of the room, even if he’s managed by someone I trust. Curse my own sympathy. Nexttime, I’ll leave him to stare at a brick wall for a few days. Melaina holds the chain to his manacles and tugs it to silence him.
