Page 6 of Clash of Kingdoms

I knew what they really wanted was blood, but they couldn’t have that.

We all sat at the table, and for a moment, all was quiet, as if my brothers didn’t know how to speak candidly in front of Queen Rolfe, a stranger.

The staff brought rounds of ale and scotch, and my brothers immediately went for the good stuff. Harlow had a hot chocolate, and I found that cute for some reason. I wasn’t sitting close to her at the table. I was on Queen Rolfe’s right, while Harlow was down at the other end, closer to Fang. She continued to glance at him, like she found him fascinating.

I spoke first. “I guess Father said no, then?” It was a defeat, a terrible one.

Kingsnake threw back his head as he took a drink, treating it like a shot rather than a beverage meant to be savored. “We were just victorious in the battle against the werewolves, and now he’s busy structuring his new rulership over the humans.” His tone implied all his disapproval for that. “Another war is deeply inconvenient.”

“I guess I’m not the favorite after all.”

“He said he needed more time to think about it.”

I was shocked once again. “Yes, because wars only happen on his timetable.” My father was a fucking prick. “Then why are you here?”

Kingsnake exchanged a look with Cobra. “You thought we’d abandon you?”

“Abandon isn’t an appropriate description,” I said. “I can leave anytime I want, but I’ve chosen to stay here. My decisions should have no bearing on yours.”

Cobra rolled his eyes before he took a drink. “He’s stiffer than this drink.”

Larisa gave a quiet chuckle.

I didn’t find it the least bit funny, and my look made that pretty clear. “Just because it’s my decision to fight this war doesn’t mean it needs to be your decision too. I appreciate the fact that you came all the way over here?—”

“In the freezing cold,” Cobra said. “And our boat almost capsized… But glad you appreciate it.”

I ignored the sarcasm. “I appreciate your loyalty, but I don’t want you to die for me.”

“And we don’t want you to die alone,” Larisa said.

I looked at her, the only member of the family I actually liked at the moment.

“There’s more to our decision,” Kingsnake said, capturing my attention. “We know Father will feel a greater urgency when three of his sons are at risk. Now that we’ve left, he’ll worry, and then he’ll send that army quicker than he would have otherwise.”

“Sounds like a risky plan,” I said.

“We’ve done it before,” Cobra said. “When he rode to Evanguard to burn it to the ground, we stood in his way until he was forced to change his mind. It worked.”

Evanguard should have burned to the ground as far as I was concerned. But I held my tongue in the presence of my new sister-in-law.

“I think Father would have come instantly if he weren’t preoccupied with so many other things,” Kingsnake said. “And I know he’s perplexed that you’ve chosen to give your sword to humans.” Kingsnake said nothing else on the topic, but his stare implied all the things he chose to conceal from the humans sitting with me, that my usual ruthless politics weren’t in their favor. “He is worried about you. Deeply.”

“You’re still the favorite,” Cobra said coldly. “Don’t worry about that.”

Harlow gave a chuckle from where she sat at the table.

We all turned to look, seeing Fang perch up to look at her, his tongue sliding in and out.

She rubbed his chin, grinning as she watched him regard her with those luminous eyes.

I like her.

“He likes it when you rub his head too,” Larisa said. “Especially if you have sharp nails.”

“I bet she has sharp nails…” Cobra said to himself before he took a drink.

I glared at him, Harlow’s mother sitting right there.