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Slowly, the attention of the room shifted to Perry, who was glaring at Roar, his gaze burning with rage.
4
PEREGRINE
Anger made Perry feel strong and clear-headed. Sharper than he’d felt since he stepped into the cave.
He drew a few breaths, forcing his muscles to loosen. To let go of the drive to attack.
“Stay,” he said, looking from Roar to Aria. “Everyone else, leave. ”
The chamber emptied in a rush, Reef quelling Soren’s objections with a few firm pushes, Bear last to step outside. Perry waited for the knock of his walking stick to fade away before he spoke. “Are you hurt?”
Aria shook her head.
“No?” he said. She was lying to protect Roar, because the answer was obvious in her braced stance.
She looked away, her gaze falling to the table. “It wasn’t his fault. ”
Roar scowled. “Really, Perry? You think I’d hurt her? On purpose?”
“You’re out to hurt at least a few people. I’m sure of that. What I’m trying to figure out is how wide you’re casting the net. ”
Roar laughed—a bitter, clipped sound. “You know what’s funny? You, acting so superior. What I did was an accident— what about you? Which one of us spilled his own brother’s blood?”
Anger washed over Perry. Roar was throwing Vale’s death in his face. A low blow—the lowest—and totally unexpected.
“I’m warning you this once,” Perry said. “Don’t think you can say or do anything to me because of who you are. You can’t. ”
“Why? Because now you’re Blood Lord? Am I supposed to bow to you, Peregrine? Am I supposed to follow you around like your six loyal hounds?” Roar tipped his chin toward Perry’s chest. “That piece of metal has gone to your head. ”
“It better have! I swore an oath. My life belongs to the Tides. ”
“You’re hiding behind that oath. You’re hiding here. ”
“Just tell me what you want, Roar. ”
“Liv is dead! She’s dead. ”
“And you think I can bring her back? Is that it?” He couldn’t. He would never see his sister again. Nothing would change that.
“I want you to do something. Shed a damn tear, to start with! Then go after Sable. Cut his throat open. Burn him to ash. Just don’t keep hiding here under this rock. ”
“There are four hundred and twelve people under this rock. I’m responsible for every one. We’re running out of food. We’re running out of options. The world outside is burning, and you think I’m hiding?”
Roar’s voice dropped to a growl. “Sable murdered her! He fired a crossbow at Liv from ten paces. He—”
“Stop!” Aria yelled. “Stop, Roar. Don’t tell him this way. Not like this. ”
“He put a bolt through your sister’s heart, and then stood there and watched the life pour out of her. ”
The instant Perry heard the word crossbow, his body went rigid. He’d known that Sable had killed Liv, but not how. He didn’t want to know. Images of Vale’s death would haunt him for the rest of his life. He didn’t need nightmares of his sister, pierced through the heart by a piece of wood, as well.
Roar shook his head. “I’m done. ” He didn’t say it, but with you echoed in the beat of silence that followed.
He made his way out but turned to add, “Keep acting like it didn’t happen, Peregrine. Carry on with your meetings, and your tribe, and everything else, just like I knew you would. ”
When he was gone, Perry gripped the chair in front of him. He lowered his gaze to the table, staring at the grain of the wood as he tried to slow his racing pulse. Roar’s temper had brought a fine, charred scent to the chamber. It felt like breathing soot.
