Right now, the new ability was highly annoying.
Kieran laid his sword on the chest, placing it beside mine. “Can you all give us a moment?”
Hisa didn’t hesitate. With a nod, the commander stepped out. Delano, however, remained where he was. Kieran unsheathed the short swords strapped to his back and sent the wolven a pointed look.
He grumbled before rising and hopping down from the bed. As he prowled across the chamber, he bared his canines at Kieran and let out a low growl.
“I don’t think Delano is happy about us asking him to leave,” I remarked.
Placing the final sword on the chest, Kieran closed the door. “Well,you’renot going to be happy with what I have to say.”
“Then don’t say it.”
Kieran faced me. “If I don’t, it would not only make me a terrible Advisor to the Crown, it would make me a shitty friend.”
I held his stare. “Why do I have a feeling I’m going to disagree with what you just said?”
“Because you’re a stubborn jackass when you want to be?”
I smirked.
He glanced back at the table. “By the way, the mortal soldiers sworn to the Blood Crown have been questioned.”
I raised my brows at the change in subject. “And?”
“About fifteen thousand in custody disavowed the Blood Crown,” he said. “Double that refused. And about seven thousand or so…aggressively refused to swear allegiance to Atlantia.”
My jaw tightened. “After being given the choices we discussed?”
“Yep.”
“Set up the transfer for the seven thousand. Hopefully, they will change their minds. Those who didn’t violently refuse should be given another chance to choose, with the understanding that we will make it for them if they don’t.” I closed my eyes briefly and then let out a slow breath. Neither of those things made what needed to be said any easier. “Begin the executions for any remaining.”
My orders settled in the chamber with a weight I never wanted.
Kieran nodded after a few seconds. “Have you slept at all today?”
“For a bit,” I said. And that was the truth. I’d made myself sleep to see if I could reach Poppy in her dreams. I hadn’t.
“Cas.” He sighed. “You haven’t been sleeping more than a couple of hours. You haven’t been eating much—”
“This is what you wanted to talk to me about in private?” I cut in. “If so, can we skip it? I don’t need a second mother.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t want to be standing here lecturing you about the basic needs of self-preservation. But here I am,” he retorted. “Andwhyam I here having to say this shit? Because you’re a fucking mess, Cas.”
My hand tightened around Poppy’s cold one as I fought the rise of anger. “You’ve seen me when I’m a mess. You should know that I’m nowhere near that state.”
“You’re a different kind of mess,” he argued. “Instead of feeling guilt for your brother—”
“Kieran,” I warned.
He ignored me. “You’re feeling guilt over Poppy.”
“No shit,” I spat.
His jaw flexed. “Her condition is not your fault.”
“We’ll have to disagree on that.”
