Page 39 of Of Blood and Banes
Cole stills his fidgeting fingers into fists. “What did you call me?”
A coy grin tugs at Darian’s mouth. “Do I need to speak slower for you?”
Cole shoves off the table and prowls toward him. Darian stands and kicks his chair back, Melaina mumbling something under her breath as she tightens her grip on the chains and rises from her seat as well. Cole stops in front of Darian, towering over him by inches. Both lock into a tense glare—neither of them faltering.
Cole lifts his bearded chin at him. “Say it again.”
Darian snorts, his lips pulling up in a half smile. “I don’t repeat myself.”
Cole leans forward and whispers, “And I don’t ask twice.”
I jolt out of my seat and stride across to the two of them before someone throws the first punch. Melaina tugs at the chain confining Darian half-heartedly, her wide eyes bouncing back and forth between the two heated males as she slides her free hand to her waist where her sword should be. I’m cursing myself, we still haven’t had our weapons returned yet.
Cole’s knuckles whiten. “Need I remind you, I’m your captain.”
“You ain’t shit. Look around you, we aren’t in Arterias. Which means I owe you no loyalty. And if you remember correctly, I’m your prince, you lowly fucking bastard.”
I fling myself straight at Cole, shoving my hands directly into his chest to back him up as he lunges toward Darian. “Stop!”
Melaina rips Darian’s chain back. Other squad members and rebels rush in to help me push Cole back, while others crowd around Darian and Melaina. An earth-cracking roar bursts out from behind me, so loud I almost see waves. Everyone turnsto the sound, eyes wide and faces drawn pale as they recognize where the roar is coming from.
“Listen!”Daeja’s voice melds with the roaring. Though only I can hear the words, I imagine everyone else understands.
No wonder this building is enormous, and the entrance is a drawbridge. Despite her size, she fits comfortably inside the dining hall. Along with A’nala at her side, who slinks with pounding steps toward the table where Sethan is.Sethan’s back? So much for leaving for a couple of days.
The squad and rebels still, and Daeja ceases her roar. Her lips are still pulled up into a silent snarl and twitching to reveal more of her fangs longer and thicker than any man’s forearm.
“Thank you,”I whisper.
She blows a short breath into the crowd, several people flinching. I swear that’s going straight to her head.
“A’nala says when the two leggers don’t listen, we make them.”
I’ll have to ask her what she’s been doing with A’nala lately. With a grateful smile at her, I take a few steps away from Cole to address the squad. “I know some of you may be upset with me. You might feel like I’ve made a wrong decision. But the truth of the matter is, if you don’t stay, you die. And that would have been the case whether I made the pact or not. Look around you. We’re all sorely outnumbered here. You wouldn’t be able to make it to the border of Arterias. I’ve made a blood pact with Sethan—one that binds thebothof us. I negotiated our safety with this pact, so none of our squad will be hurt or killed. Sethan’s own soldiers have already sworn allegiance to him through their own blood pacts, therefore binding them to my agreement with Sethan. So, if you don’t wish to stay, then be my guest. Leave. Now.”
I scan the group, but no one moves, all frozen to their spots as they stare at me and Daeja. “Anyone?”
Daeja growls from behind me, and several people shake their heads. I catch Tawny’s gaze from across the room, and I swear I see her smile.
Ignoring the racing beat of my heart, I tear my attention away from her and the rebels. “Good. I understand many of you have family and friends you want to return to. But the best thing we can do for them right now is to stay put until we figure out what the King is up to.”
“What do you mean, ‘what the King is up to?’” Archie asks.
Darian looks up at me, his brown, messy hair dipping into his eyes.
With a steady breath, I announce, “The rebels haven’t been burning down the towns. The King has.”
A collective gasp rolls through the group of Arterians.
“This is an outrageous claim! She’s making it up because she bound herself to Sethan and the rebels!” Nolan fumes. “Propaganda!”
“I could just end him right now,”Daeja purrs casually.
“That won’t be necessary. And not exactly the way I want to convince them.”
“If you don’t believe her, then perhaps you should all go see for yourselves,” Melaina grumbles, watching the squad with Darian’s chain wrapped tightly around her fist.
“I believe her,” Archie chirps. “Kat wouldn’t lie—and she wouldn’t put herself above the rest of you. Don’t you remember our battle in Blackfell? She was supposed to be a healer’s apprentice, and she risked her life to sneak into Blackfell. She saved all those civilians who were being held hostage and set them free.”
