Page 56 of The Mercy of Dawn (Fires of Carinae #1)

Chapter 55

“ I think now is an appropriate time for me to ask what the fuck is going on?” Lars spoke with a harsh whisper and forced smile as he leaned into Mikael's space.

Mikael tensed.

He hadn’t realized the trio of lords that had come up to their table to talk his father’s ear off had already left. He grabbed his wine glass, the dry red clinging to the sides, and cast a sidelong glance at his father. “What do you—”

“You’ve disappeared twice already, and you’ve got this look in your eyes like a lamb that’s about to go to fucking slaughter.” Lars’ voice was low, but his displeasure was palpable. “Don’t make me ask you again.”

Mikael shot back his wine.

“Cyril is in Brynnhold, by herself, trying to gather intel on our missing guards, and I—” He clenched his teeth. “I’m fucking worried.”

Lars’ eyes flared.

“You sent Cyril, alone , to—”

“ I did not send her anywhere.” Mikael ground out. His father would assume he made poor decisions in spades. “ I didn’t want her to go, but she found out about Ezra’s bullshit fucking decree about our resourcing, and she insisted on going.”

Surely he didn’t need to explain that nothing he or anyone else could have said would have stopped Cyril from going.

His father scrubbed his fingers across his brow, cursing quietly.

“Go,” Lars said, and Mikael blinked. “Get out of that fucking chair, get your ass to Brynnhold, and find her .”

Mikael moved faster than he was sure he ever had before.