Page 44 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

I want to follow her—but I don’t. Turning in the opposite direction, I stalk to my shared quarters with my siblings. In the sitting room, they’re sprawled out, the pale blue furniture bright compared to our battle-weary bodies.

Three doors off the room leads to our private rooms and my body suddenly aches for my bed. The battle was long, my control weak and all I want to do is rest.

Fee has a different idea. “Tell me, brother,” she interrupts as I unfasten the blade from my hip, dropping on to a seat beside her. “Did you drain the bastard because your beast was in control? Or because he said something offending? Tell me now, so I know what to do next.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I ignore the urge to throw a dagger at her head. I wouldn’t hit her, but I may lose my blade in the process. “No, Fee. My beast is not in control. Besides,” I scowl at her. “Why did you think it was me?”

Reid snorts, dropping back into his chair, legs stretched out wide before him, a wet rag in his hand. He look as tired as I feel. “Please. We can smell you all over him. You practicallydevoured.”

Shrugging, I ignore his taunt. He’s not wrong. It took everything in me to hold back the beast from eating him whole.

It was as if the beast wanted him to pay for thinking to harm that woman. It wanted to protect her. It’s never been like that before.

“Why him?” Fee asks now, eyes narrowed. She’s watching me, assessing me. Of all the beings in the world, Fee knows me best.

“His face bothered me.”

Reid barks out a laugh. “All the Humans bother you. That doesn’t answer the question.”

“He’s a lord, Kade.” Twin spots of anger redden her cheeks. “He is important to the king. Killing him brings attention to us. Attention we don’t need as we sneak around, looking for any information to send to Father.”

I wave her concerns off, kicking my boots with more strength than necessary. “He’s a drunk, Fee, with power that will pass to his young son. His wife, who he beats on the regular, will not ask for anyone to look into his death. And as far as this court is concerned, he was killed by the Crimson Army.”

“I’m going to ignore how much you looked into him,” Reid teases, lips twisting in a grimace. “Before eating him.”

“And he just so happened to be found outside theBlackwoodsCoven advisor’s door? That hasnobearing on this, right?” Fee prods.

My eyes narrow on my younger sister. I’ve never laid a hand on a woman, but she might be the first. “Right.”

“Males,” Fee growls. “Fine. We’ll ignore the kill. But we need to send Father something. We’ve located no maps, no dealings, no secrets that he can use to cripple this palace. If we finish this peace talk and return home, Father will take his aggression out on us.” There is the slightest tremble in her hands, but she busies herself with her braid.

My jaw clenches, eyes flat. “He won’t touch us. I have a plan.”

“Such as?”

“What do you know of the advisor?”

Reid whistleswolfishly, amber eyes flaring with heat. “Very cute. Very sexy. Long legs. Firm ass?—”

“Of herpower, idiot.” I have to stop myself from strangling my brother. “I didn’t ask for her measurements, her magic.”

I don’t appreciate the way he’s noticed her body. Or how wistful he looks, thinking of her.

No one is touching her. No one.

Except me.

I lock that want down and throw it into the recesses of my mind, never to be thought again.

“Magic?” My brother’s eyes widen. “You mean?—”

“Yes.”

“You’re telling me,” Fee begins, dropping her sword to the floor, “That the stray Nessa took in years ago, raised, somehow possesses magic? Magic, that no other being in our world has—minus you and her son?”

I shrug as she snorts. “Convenient. Do you think she took her in because of it or it developed after?”

“The why isn’t the concern,” I reply, clasping my hands behind my head. “All we need to focus on iswhatshe is. And how she’ll help us.”