Page 33 of Season Warriors & Wolves

He took a long moment to study all of me. The more he stared, the more it dawned on him that I was clueless. Because I truly was. I did not know where they were, presuming that the servants had already sent away the castle waste to be disposed in some hole or fire far from here.

He retreated a couple steps back, still clenching his jaw and fists tightly. “You will stay in your room.”

“I was staying in my room, dear.”

“The child is born.”

That took me by surprise. Not the birth. Him telling me. When I spun round to him, the emotion on my face was as natural and real as it could get. “Born?”

“Early this afternoon.”

“And why are you telling me?”

His vile grin was back. “We are only a couple steps away now. Thought I'd remind you.”

“How thoughtful of you.”

“Do you think I do not understand your game?”

“Game?”

His jaw was set tight. I knew how to tickle some nerves. It was my speciality. “Your father is not fooled. No one is. But keep playing nice.”

“Dear, if I don’t play nice,” I started, approaching him and running a hand over his silent chest. “How do I get to rip your lover apart, feather by feather, hm? I need for her to rise from whatever grave she is lingering about.”

“Whatever keeps you happy.”

“A blanket with guardian feathers would,” I said, giving him a saccharine smile. “With you I’m going to make a pair of lovely leather boots.”

He backed away and my laughter filled every corner of the room and all the way down the corridor before the doors were shut with a thud.

As usual, Moregan waited for me on the training grounds, her focus set forward. Nothing in her reactions to me had changed—smart.

Demir studied me intently when I climbed the court fence and approached Moregan. It was almost as if the bastard could smell something was wrong.

So, I did what I do best—I played. Putting on my sweetest smile, I said, “What has soured your candy today, dearest? You’re particularly ugly today.”

Moregan’s face twitched and she took a fighting stance opposite me. “All mouth and no action, as usual.”

I blocked her fist and twisted under her elbow, releasing her and pushing back. “I’ve heard otherwise actually.”

She snarled and made for me again, this time a shard of ice extending from her elbow as she threw it back, aimed at my stomach. And she got to make me bleed. Perfect.

“Moregan!” Demir bellowed, climbing the court and reaching my side. “Have you gone insane?”

“She…she,” Moregan mumbled, blinking at the large wound gushing out blood.

“I’ve told you to not let her get to you,” he said, blocking my wound with a hand whilst signalling his soldiers.

“I’m sorry,” the bald general offered quietly, throwing me a quick look before fleeing the courts.

Demir hissed, crawling back and away from me, staring at his sizzling palms coated with my blood.

Hm. Nia has said it neutralised dark magic, not that it would literally scald it away. It was worth all the upset belly I’d gotten from ingesting blue gyre, seeing him trying to comprehend what had just happened.

“Help me up, sailor boy. I might need to see a healer,” I said, trying to stand.

His attention snapped to me, and he stood, backing away, looking almost afraid. “The guards will take you back to your room.” His shaking hands curled into fists and he quickly fled the scene.