Page 114 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

“They were inseparable.”

“Then how the hell did she end up on the east side of the river?”

He was already shaking his head, rising to pace again. “Val had a calling. Said she could feel it—but couldn’t find it. We gave her our best trackers, but no one found a trail. She went a little mad, Cy. Kept saying she had a vow to keep. One night, long after witching hour, she left. Never came back. Your mother was rocked, son. Don’t ever accuse her of something like that again. She didn’t get out of bed for months after Val was killed. The Guard kept up appearances so the people wouldn’t know how bad it was—but she wasn’t right. Hasn’t been the same since.”

My theory dissolved on contact. I groaned, dragging my hands over my face.

Back to ground zero. If Ma wasn’t behind Valora’s death, then what else had angered her enough to make our lives hell now? It didn’t make sense.

“Got any other murder accusations to fling around, or are we done here?” Dad asked, insult bleeding into his tone.

“The big man on the security cameras the day before Uptown burned. Was that who I think it was?”

A long breath. Then a curt nod.

“What the fuck,” I muttered, turning in a tight circle before glaring down at him. “The strongest Commander this realm has ever seen strolls onto Paladin property and you don’t think that’s something your head of security should be privy to?”

“He came as an old friend. Didn’t seem relevant.”

“Fucking hell, Dad. What did he want?”

“Commander Amadeus came to see where we stood in the coming war.”

“And?”

“I told him I didn’t know. And that our queen wouldn’t see him.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s the truth.”

As luck would have it, that was the last bit of truth I’d get tonight—because Vesper and Portia came flitting inside, both out of breath, sparks dancing in their eyes.

“What?” Dad demanded.

Portia’s box braids swayed as she stepped forward, chest heaving, eyes landing on me.

“The Renown are moving, my Prince. They have more of the cursed ammunition.”

Surprise lifted my brow as I rose to my feet. “Take me there. Now.”

She stretched out a rich amber hand. “Yes, Your Highness.”

August

A gentle squeeze on my shoulder had me jerking awake. I hadn’t even realized I’d started to drift off—still sitting at Ally’s feet, head in my hands, elbows braced on my knees.

Some guard dog I was.

I blinked up to find Kingsley staring down at me with that permanent scowl of his.

“Eat,” he ordered curtly, handing me a steaming bowl of…stew. My mouth filled with saliva at the savory aroma of meat, herbs, and spices.

Blowing out a breath of relief, I reached up and accepted the offering with a quiet, “Thank you.”

A grunt was his only reply as Terramyst’s king turned his focus to my mate, his sorrowful eyes scanning her face—those haunted emeralds still trained somewhere far away.

“No change, I see.”