Page 136 of Feralheart

Vella’s voice cut through me from behind. I didn’t turn, just kept my attention on the ridge of scar tissue under my fingers.

“If we could have a word?” She came closer, her boots crunching on the sand.

“I’d rather not.”

“You need to listen.”

“I do as I please.”

But did I? Or did I always do what pleased my mother?

I glanced Vella’s way. “Speak.”

Her shoulders fell, and she shook her head. “You removed your dragon’s harness.”

“I did.” I traced another pressure point. Aristus groaned with pleasure when I found it.

Blair grunted. “Your mother is going to…”

“Do what?” I glanced his way, my lips twitching when he took a stumbling step backward. “Be disappointed? Explain how I’ve embarrassed House Lancifer in front of witnesses who cheered at the thought of me dying?”

Shock, then fury flashed across Lady Severine’s face, before she smoothed it.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Her voice cracked, but it didn’t sound like anger.

Fear.

“My father sent word. The betting houses are in chaos. The queen has ordered loyalty assessments for anyone who ‘showed questionable judgment’ during the first trial.” Her hands twisted together. “My family’s name is on that list because I’m on your team.”

My stomach dropped. I’d thought the cost would be mine alone. “I didn’t mean⁠—”

“Intent doesn’t matter when your choice affects all of us, Sire.” She met my eyes. “I’m still on your team. For now. But if you keep making decisions without consulting us, I can’t guarantee the others will stay.”

“I removed my dragon’s harness. I didn’t commit treason against the crown.”

“In front of everyone.” Vella stepped closer, her voice dropping. “My family has been negotiating alliances based on our team’s projected victory. Grain contracts. Mining rights. Everything was positioned around your success, and you threw it away.”

She wasn’t concerned about Aristus or even her own dragon. She was worried about damage to her family investments.

I turned to face her. “I’m not asking them to bring me a new harness for the next trial.”

Vella’s eyes widened. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, but I am.” My voice stayed flat.

Vella gaped at me like I’d announced I was abdicating the throne, and maybe in a way, I was. I was certainly giving up on the role she’d built such careful plans around.

“You don’t understand. You’re endangering the future we were building.”

My mother and her parents were negotiating the terms of our potential marriage. It wasn’t set in stone, and she knew that.

“We weren’t building anything,” I said. “We were performing.”

Her glare could rip me apart.

“We’re done speaking,” I said, turning back to Aristus. “Leave.”

She stalked away, her footsteps fading into the general noise of the camp.