Page 48 of Hunger in His Blood (Brides of the Kylorr #3)

CHAPTER 48

KALDUR

“ H ow dare you,” Lydrasa hissed when I pulled her into an empty room out of earshot. “For centuries House Azola has always been at your table, Kaldur. It’s the highest of insults. Everyone is already talking. And if you thought I’d lie down and?—”

“You’re lucky I didn’t do worse,” I said simply, keeping my temper in check.

But just knowing that Lydrasa’s betrayal had only driven a larger wedge between my mate and me, she was lucky I hadn’t made an example of her entire family. Once, House Kaalium had not been so diplomatic . There was a reason my ancestors had once been feared. Never had I been tempted to return to such use of power, but with Lydrasa, I was really fucking close .

What stopped me was the realization that I didn’t want to be that kind of leader. For a socialite, her own punishment would be the expulsion of her House from noble society, of which she’d placed the highest of values. It would be a slow death. And only that would satisfy me.

If it was known that House Kaalium didn’t do business with House Azola any longer, if they were no longer welcome to the keep, others would want to know why. And they would discover that Lydrasa had betrayed my trust, that she’d forged a letter in my hand with the sole purpose of sowing discord within my own family. She’d tried to keep my pregnant blood mate away from me, making her believe that I’d turned my own back on her.

Just remembering that made my blood boil, but I kept my temper in check. My mate was in the next room, as were dozens of other invited guests.

“You’re making a fool of yourself,” I said, glaring. “Barging into my keep and making a scene in front of my guests? That’s a little shocking, especially for you, Lydrasa. But I suppose when one is desperate and backed into a corner, there’s no telling what they’ll do.”

Lydrasa’s nostrils flared. “It was one letter. What does it matter? You got her back. I was doing it to help you, Kaldur.”

“To help me?” I asked, hissing as disgust burned through me. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of my hatred. Truthfully I wished I could forget that Lydrasa even existed. I couldn’t believe that once, I’d believed she was a friend.

“Krynn is on the cusp of war,” she snapped. “We need to show strength right now. Not weakness. She is a weakness.”

“She is my kyrana ,” I growled. “Weakness? I could raze down this entire territory on a drop of her blood. How it that for weakness? Standing at my side, that makes her one of the most powerful females in the Kaalium, don’t you think?”

Lydrasa’s jaw tightened.

“But you didn’t know that. Not for certain. You suspected, but you wished it wasn’t true,” I finished. “Why? Because you were always jealous. It wasn’t even about my affections. You knew I never cared for you in that way. But you always wanted to be first . You always wanted to be seen . That’s why you did what you did. You can stand here and try to lie that you were doing it for the Kaalium. We both know you were doing it out of spite.”

She glared. “That’s not true. ”

“I won’t waste my breath anymore,” I said, straightening. I wanted to get back to Erina, not argue with a female I’d once believed was an ally. “But let me make one thing clear: Fuck with my House again, Lydrasa, and I will burn yours down. Go near my kyrana or my child again and you’d better make friends with the Thryki because no one will welcome you in the Kaalium any longer.”

“You don’t mean that,” she said, a thread of fear finally lighting up in her eyes.

Kythel would be proud because my tone was controlled and ice cold when I said, “If you think I won’t, then you never knew me at all. Because what’s the one thing I would do anything for to protect? At all costs? My family. Don’t underestimate the lengths I will go to for them.”

The door swung open, and Erina stepped inside the room. Her scent seemed to envelope me as she approached, and I breathed her in deep to keep my control.

“Listening at the door again, are we?” Lydrasa rumbled, annoyed, as if she’d heard nothing of what I’d just said.

I growled in warning, but Erina touched my chest, her palm firm.

“It’s best if you leave, Lydrasa,” she said, voice quiet but calm. “Braanelle will see you out if you choose not to go.”

Her personal guard appeared in the doorway, arms crossed, ready to intervene if necessary.

“You don’t want a scene,” my mate continued. “You don’t want to be the talk of the village come morning. Leave now to save your family the embarrassment. Let this be.”

She was much too kind, even to the female who’d thought nothing of her.

Braanelle stepped further into the room, and Lydrasa snapped, “I’m going. Don’t touch me.”

“Will you tell me one thing before you go?” Erina asked. She didn’t wait for Lydrasa to respond. “How’s Velle? ”

Lydrasa scoffed. “Working in my House.”

My mate had much too big of a heart. Even now, she asked about the friend who’d helped betray her. But I knew that they’d been friends once. And Erina had told me why she chose to forgive. Because it was her power, her choice to make. No one could take that from her.

“And her lover?”

“He changed his mind,” Lydrasa said, sliding past. She cut me a sharp look. “That’s the thing about hearts. They’re always so fickle.”

Then she swept from the room.

“Always one to have the last fucking word,” I sighed, pinching the space between my brows.

Braanelle followed after Lydrasa, to make sure she left. I took Erina into my arms. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” she said, looking up at me, giving me a small smile. She actually was . The encounter didn’t seem to have phased her in the slightest.

“I’ll deal with her later,” I promised.

“Don’t,” she said. “She heard you. Loud and clear. And if she knows what’s best, she’d be wise to fear your warning. I don’t think she’ll cause any more trouble. She wouldn’t risk it. I’ve worked for nobles like her before.”

I wasn’t so certain we’d seen the last of Lydrasa, but for once, I wanted to be a little optimistic like my mate.

“Besides, don’t give her that power,” Erina said, sliding her hand over my chest again.

“You’re right.”

I pressed my lips to her cheek, savoring her warmth as I tried to forget about Lydrasa. Erina had the right idea. Why give her the satisfaction of my anger? She deserved nothing from me.

“Did you like my speech tonight?” I asked, to try to take her mind from the sourness of Lydrasa’s unexpected presence .

My lips were trailing to hers, and so I felt, rather than saw, her smile. “Yes. Though it took me by surprise.”

“What was surprising about it?” I asked, confused.

“That you said it in front of everyone,” she said, pulling back to look up into my expression. “Now they’ll all talk. Aren’t you worried about what they’ll say? That I’m the keeper who manipulated you and trapped you with a child?”

Her tone was soft, almost teasing. She cared about what people might think of me, now that the truth was out. It was what I’d feared after all, to have history repeat itself within these walls of the keep.

And I realized I didn’t care. Because this was me and Erina.

“I’ll tell them the truth if they dare to ask,” I said, grinning.

“And what truth is that?”

“That you didn’t trap me in the slightest,” I said. “I’ll tell them that I wanted you so much that I briefly lost my mind with it.”

“Is that what happened?” she asked, laughing a little.

“You were there that night,” I grumbled. “I would say that’s an accurate assessment of what happened. I could barely see straight, I wanted you so much. Looking back, I think I was a little in love with you already. And half-mad with jealousy because I thought you loved someone else.”

“All right,” she said, going up onto her tiptoes to press a kiss to my cheek. “That’s what you can tell people.”

“Good. I’m glad we’re in agreement.”

“Me too,” she said. “Now, let’s get back to the party. I’m starving.”