Page 179 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

His amber eye flared—pupils narrowing as fire sparked behind them. Satisfaction was a balm to my livid soul.

I’d just wrapped an arm around Calypso to haul her behind me when he swung. I ducked low, sidestepped, grabbed his arm, and yanked him past me—delivering him promptly into an antique chair.

“Stay down.”

Shadows erupted from every direction. Nix’s lunged for me as mine did the same, but Calypso’s burst between us like a bomb. She flung Nix’s chair screeching back against the wall as I stumbled, catching my footing.

“Enough, you spoiled fucking brats,” she snarled.

Her shadows swallowed Nix’s like a snake, binding him to the chair. A single tendril pressed against my chest in warning.

“Next one to throw a punch greets the sun at the whipping post. Do you fucking read me?”

“Yes, Heiress,” I said flatly. I smirked at Nix over her shoulder, daring him.

His lip curled, but then he glanced at Calypso—and dropped his gaze.

“Good. Now away, both of you,” she said, waving us off. Her shadows retreated like loyal subjects. “There’s a mountain of shit to do, and you’re standing here fighting like children. We got bested. Get over it. Set things right. Brace for the impact tomorrow. Our people are watching you, idiots.”

They were. And some pathetic whisper of shame fluttered through me.

When I looked around, the entire coven was behind me—including his brother.

With a furious huff, Nix pushed out of the chair and stalked past me, muttering, “This isn’t over.”

“Counting on it, buddy.”

Only when his storm cloud presence passed through the archway did the room breathe again. Cali tracked his retreat. Thea Blair from Vesper’s coven darted after him.

Stupid. Reckless to provoke him here. Of all places. But I was fuming.

All of this—every ounce of it—because I shared blood with the worst Wing in history. What the fuck had Eris been thinking when she gave him that ink?

I’d demand answers from Poe when I saw him next.

Calypso laid her hand over my chest, feeling the fury hammering inside me.

“He’s dangerous, Cy,” she cautioned gently. “Angry enough that we sit in the line of succession and he doesn’t. One day, you’re gonna push him too far—and I won’t be here to stop it.”

“Then he better fucking finish it,” I muttered.

“I need you, little brother. Don’t forget that.”

“Prince Cyrus!”

“Heiress!”

We both turned as Portia and Sidra skidded to a stop, their cloaks fanning out around their boots. Breathless, both women knelt.

“What happened?” we asked in unison.

“Healers,” Portia panted. “Up in Appalachia. Under attack. We just got their S.O.S.”

My eyes met Calypso’s. I dipped my chin—and stalked after our rogue cousin.

“What are you doing?” she called after me.

“Praying that, for once in his life, Nix will do his fucking job.”