Page 90 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

She avoids my gaze, chewing on her lip. “What does that mean?”

I don’t know.“It means I need to be smarter. I need to figure out how to prevent it and work around it.”

As much as I may want her, wish to fully posses her, it’s dangerous for me to do so.

My mission comes first. I can’t risk it for her.

She’ll be a tool for my father and I’ll need to keep my heart away from her.

“Then figure I out quickly,” she mutters, shoulders back. Fee’s façade changes, back to the hard-ass that is my sister. “You’re only alive because of her. You think it was me bringing you back? No, she used her blood to trick you, so we could subdue you long enough to be healed. Atherrequest.”

Swallowing, she gazes into the fire. “She convinced me to disregard my promise and let you live. You owe her your life.”

Relief curls around my gut as my heart warms and breath rushes from my lips.Max is the reason I’m alive.Gratitude so overpowering knocks me back by an invisible hit.

But the sorrow on my sister’s face is stark. She was ready to kill me—end the beast to save everyone. All because of a promise she made to me years ago.

I can’t image the toll it took on her.

Clasping her hand, I say, “Thank you.” My throat clogs with emotion.

Fee cares about her word—her honor. She was ready to kill me tohonorme. The grief on her face, mirrors the one in my heart.

Pointing a finger at me, she threatens, “Don’teverfucking do that to me again. Do you hear me, Kaden Moorgate?Neveragain.”

“Oh, cool, we’ve reached the threatening portion of our day,” Reid quips, dropping beside me. Cool amber eyes flicker over my body, and I stare back, waiting.

Reid’s been avoiding me since I awoke. He’s never been around me when the beast gained control, never had to worry that I wouldn’t be able to fight it back.

He wasn’t there for Sose, being too young to understand. He didn’t visit me in the dungeon where I learned to harness the beast. This is new territory for him.

Breaking the staring contest, I ruffle his hair like he’s a child again and I’m an annoying older brother. Of all the beings, I never wanted Reid to be afraid of me.

“And what did you learn today, little brother?”

“Besides to never bring a beautiful woman to a Fury’s nest? Even with those legs and lips?”

At my glare, he holds up his hands in surrender. “Sorry. Point taken. While Fee was off looking for blood, that you clearly don’t need,” he gives me a poignant look that I refuse to acknowledge, “I overheard the lords.”

“Overheard?” I prompt.

Reid doesn’t look guilty. “Fine, I spied. They want to travel to Wulf’s village in the mountains. Without Hastings, we’re severely outnumbered. Max was right. Without that lord, the raid is ready to fall apart.”

“Not like we care,” Fee scowls. “We’re here to capture a weapon and head home. It’ll be easier to ignore Wulf’s village and take them through the forest. Eventually,something will pick them off. By that time, the blood summoner should be ready.”

Both siblings look to me and I crack my neck, easing the discomfort.

Fee isn’t wrong. We didn’t come on the raid for the agreement or the allies. We came for her. By taking them through the forest, the monsters will pick them off until we have no choice but to return home.

Reid shifts beside me and I sigh. “What else?”

He holds up a small parchment, a message from our father. It’s the first we’ve had in days. “It came this morning. He wants to know what you’ve found and where you’ll be to intercept. He’s getting impatient.”

Of course he is.I nod, taking the missive as a growl leaves my lips.Fuck. Fee glances at me and I unroll the missive, pretending to read it.

This is what she was afraid of happening. The beast is too restless. Any harm to the blood summoner and he’s ready to break free, my control be damned.

I don’t want to give her to my father. I know this in the deepest part of my black heart, that I cannot let my father have her.