Then he leveled his mate with a thin-lipped stare. “I’m disappointed in you, Édouard. This isn’t how we behave towards each other.” His lowered his voice. “Do I need to put you in time out?”
Édouard and I winced. The commander backed away from me, sheathing his blade. He tried to play off the trouble he was in with an impassive expression, folding his arms over his chest. But his mate was six feet plus of Fae warrior anddisappointed.
I almost laughed.
Arddie boy was going to be punished tonight.
Saved by the puppy,Darkan said, voice slithering through my mind before his presence faded again. He hadn’t meant me—Tereille’s intervention hadn’t savedmylife.
I straightened as the mates faced each other, silent. “Before you get the fuck out of my office, remember that six of our people died.” My voice cracked “Bad timing for a debriefing, Édouard. I promise you my tutor isn't a threat.AndI can promise if you ever follow through on the threat you made, I can't protect you.”
“From what?”
Interesting. He didn't ask from whom.
ChapterEight
Itook a few hours to sleep and prepare after my little talk with the commander. Once Faronne and our allies decided to strike, we organized fast, mounted horses and rode out through Faronne towards the palace the next afternoon.
Cobalt-and-vermillion clad warriors lined the cobblestone streets, falling into formation as I cantered past, Édouard, Juliette, Numair and Tereille at my sides and rear. Our mounted knights clopped behind us, metal armor reflecting the anemic sunlight. Rain scented the air though the storms gathering on the distant mountain horizon had been teasing us for days; no clouds moved, no rain fell. But the threat was felt. Why it felt like a threat, rather than weather, I didn’t know.
I also wore armor; pauldron, breastplate, vambrace, poleyn and greaves, a spring weight House cloak over my shoulders, my hair tightly braided on the sides and left flowing down my back.
It would be gauche to attack a Prince wearingleathers.We honored him with our House armor, he’d better appreciate the gesture. The suits were expensive, old, and a bitch to maintain. Humans could not produce Fae armor.
Did you hit your head during the last battle?Darkan ranted, his internal voice frigid. He’d always been a master of icy-hot.Have I taught you nothing of strategy? Your play is to launch a frontal assault? I should kill you myself and save Montague the embarrassment of fighting an infant leading a House of Low Fae fools.
Well, he was in a mood.If we wait,the Princewill be at our doorstep.
Yes, he cleared the field and halted the progress of your injuries because he is interested in further war.
Don’t you always say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit?
Silence.
I sniffed.I think you give him too much credit.
But I second-guessed myself, envisioning a line of white-clad warriors. To be of the White Guard was to swear fealty to the throne, give up allegiance to House and Line. No one outside the White knew your name or face. You were simply an extension of the will ofthe Prince.
Each one of them was as deadly as a half dozen of our best trained warriors, which was why we abandoned the rules of honorable combat and didn't bother to warn the palace. They posted scouts like we did—they'd know within the hour that our forcesmarchedthrough the city.
Eliminating any opportunity to take your enemy by surprise. I am all ears. Please. . .explain your reasoning. I will wait. It should amuse.
You don't sound like you think it's amusing.I smirked.
There is always entertainment in spilling blood, Aerinne,was the clipped reply.If I had understood the depth of disregard you have for your own, I would have addressed your education differently.
I'm baffled. Do you know me?Whateducation? College doesn't count—Juliette and I were mostly drunk. And let me tell you, holding a glamour while drunk is harder than it seems. Whenever humans see the Fae, theymob usfor selfies. Or justmob us, like we haven't been around for the last eight hundred years. Those were fun times.
I flinched from an internal rush of his scalding anger. Yes, if I survived this, we would be having a long talk.
Not just one talk, Aerinne Capulette.
That sounded far more ominous than it had any right to be.
I could force you to turn around.
If I'd been walking, I would have tripped. I'd never heard his voice so silky, so chillingly thoughtful.
