Page 17 of Of Blood and Fire
Anger flicked across his features. “I amking, and you had best remember that, my dear child.”
“If you wish to play that game, then it’sQueenBryn to you.” I had to clench my fists against the heat that burned at my fingertips. As much as I’d wanted nothing more than to burn the condescending arrogance from his face, I wanted answers more, and they’d be rather hard for him to provide through cindered lips. “I repeat, what game do you play?”
He studied me for a moment, then motioned to the cask sitting on the table. “I suggest you partake in some wine. You’re going to need it.”
“What Ineedis answers.” My gaze cut to the man who was Damon’s image but not my Damon. “Who are you?”
Cold amusement cut through his stony expression. “I am, as my father has said, Damon Velez, the man that, according to tradition and treaty, you married.”
“You arenotthe man I married.”
“No,” Aric agreed. “The man you married is Damon Tor, a by-blow of mine whose near identical resemblance to my firstborn has proven exceedingly useful these past ten years.”
I stared at him for what seemed like minutes, unable to digest his words.MyDamon was one of his bastards? Then I remembered the comments Damon had made about Aric using his bastards as bridal bait to gain advantages on trade deals with foreign leaders and merchants, and how his father would do anything, use anyone, to get the power he’d desired. Remembered the bitterness and anger that had flowed through him whenever he’d talked about his parent.
He’d been talking about his own situation just as much as any of Aric’s other bastards.
It would certainly explain the tension that had been so evident between them in the days before and after our wedding, and the confusing disdain Aric appeared to hold for his sonand heir. But if he considered Damon nothing more than a tool to be used as he wished, it totally made sense, even if itwasinexcusable.
“If that is true,” I bit back, “then the trade agreement and indeed our marriage is nothing more than a lie and therefore void.”
“In that, you are wrong,” Aric drawled. “The agreement simply mentioned that my firstborn son shall marry Rion’s only daughter, and there is no lie in that—Damon Tor was born first, if only by a matter of minutes.”
I motioned toward the stranger wearing Damon’s face. “That still invalidates my marriage tohim.”
Aric raised an eyebrow. “Not in the eyes of the church, my dear. You married Damon Velez, not Tor. Therefore, in accordance with the treaty, my true son will now take control of Esan and this situation.”
I was so damn angry, it felt like heat was radiating from every pore. And perhaps it was, because Damon looked somewhat uneasy, as did the woman and the stout man. Only Aric remained unperturbed; maybe he had more faith in my restraint than I did.
“No, hewon’t.Wehave not consummated our marriage, and it will therefore be annulled.” I took a step forward and met his cold glare with utter fury and determination. “Let me state this plainly, so even a soul as simple as your son can understand it—Esan ismine.These people aremine. I will not allow a stranger to simply step onto her throne when he has no understanding of the situationorher people. The military will not follow any order issued by you, your son, or whoever that fucking fellow is behind you.” I sucked in a breath and tried to keep hold of my anger and the inner flames. Tried to be at least half the monarch my father had been. “I will, however, listen to any suggestion or guidance you two might have while you are both still here.”
“Oh, dear child, you will do far more than that. In fact, you will not only publicly stand down, but endorse my son as the full grand commander. Francesca?”
Her name was barely out of his mouth when the burning began. In my mind, on my wrist. She was trying to force compliance.
No. Fucking. Way.
I took two quick steps and hit her with all the fury and anger that burned within me; the blow landed fair and square on her chin, and she went down like a tree, her torso hitting the sofa first before her body slithered to the floor. Air brushed past me, the briefest warning of movement. Without even looking, I flung out a hand; fire boiled from my fingertips, creating a wall between me and the stout man. By the time I turned to face his threat, he was swearing and nursing blistered fingers. In truth, he was damn lucky he still had fingers, let alone a hand.
My gaze slipped to Aric’s. “Your mind enforcer will not help you or your son gainthisthrone.”
He raised that eyebrow again, amused and undeterred. Perhaps he thought it was only a matter of Francesca waking before his plans could continue. And in truth he was right; she would continue to be a threat as long as she remained here. Perhaps not to me, as I was protected by my Damon’s magic, but everyone else—Jarin, those in the war room, the other generals—they would all be easy targets.
My gaze flicked to the stranger I was married to. His expression was a touch more perturbed than his parent’s; perhaps he’d suddenly realized the little woman he’d presumed was merely playing at being a soldier was a whole lot more dangerous than rumors and his father had let on.
Good.
“Lenny? Can you come in here, please?” I called out, then reached for Kaia and added,Can one of the drakkons cometo the wall? I have a parcel that needs delivering out to the wildlands.
Parcel needs to be killed, Kaia grumbled.She mind attacked.
She was only following orders, and I cannot fault her for that.Because Vahree only knew what threats Aric was holding overherhead to ensure compliance.But make sure the drakkon you send understands that she is to be delivered unharmed onto the ground.
Rua do. Needs fly strength.
She’s awake?
Yes. Has fed, so will not eat.
