Page 270 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

Whatever your plan is, wrap it up by the equinox.

Cyrus

Before I even pulled into Luminark Manor, a trio of ravens soared overhead. My eyes landed on Poe before he spoke.

Trouble brews, young leader.

Of course it did. What kind of trouble? I growled back.

I suggest you hasten.

Muttering epithets, I leaned into the throttle, kicking up dirt as I tore down the driveway.

I didn’t bother turning off the ignition. I launched out the driver’s side and sprinted for the porch. Raised voices reached me before my boots even hit the decking.

“Because I have nothing to say!”

“My, she speaks.” Oh good. Cali poked the dragon. Dread twisted low in my gut.

Aside from that meeting with The Six, I’d successfully avoided my mother like the plague she was. But a screaming match between her and Calypso? That was a disaster the hierarchy couldn’t afford.

“And here I thought you’d sulk indefinitely like a scolded child.”

“And I assumed you weren’t so heartless as to humiliate your own son in front of the entire Council and all of leadership.”

“I’d hardly say Cyrus was humiliated—he fought well.”

“And you robbed him, Mother!” Cali snapped as I pushed through the cracked door. “Stuarts are supposed to stand on honor, and you stole a victory he rightfully earned.”

“I was protecting the balance.”

“The balance, or your ego?” Calypso’s voice sharpened like a blade. “Because I’m starting to think there’s no difference anymore. If there were, you’d have trusted your son to finish what Nix started, instead of sparing the worm.”

Shit.

I padded on silent feet across the entryway and found them nose-to-nose in the library, framed in front of one of the tall arched windows like a war painting. Cali’s fury mirrored our mother’s, down to the fire in her eyes. Only our father’s coloring set them apart.

“Watch your tone,” Mom snapped.

“I could say the same,” Cali replied, cutting and cold. “Or I fear you’ll find yourself standing before a court of slaves rather than subjects. I’m not the only one who saw your hypocrisy for what it was.”

“You forget your place.” Power rose like a tide.

I leaned into the doorframe, watching carefully. If this escalated, I honestly didn’t know who would win. Cali preferred her lab to the sparring mat, but our mother hadn’t worn a cloak in years—she’d grown comfortable wielding others as weapons.

“My place? What is that, exactly, Mother? You raised us to believe honor and discernment were our greatest assets—shortly followed by ruthlessness. But God forbid we use those to hold you accountable.”

“There are some consequences a queen’s rule can sustain, and some it cannot.”

“Your son had the gall to challenge a Wing for treason. He stood his ground. Proved his case. Offered Nix the dignity of dying by the blade—and you pulled that bullshit?”

“One outcome would have preserved our family’s rule. The other would have sparked insurrection. Spilling my nephew’s blood—the Captain of the Wings—for doing what he believed to be his duty would’ve lit a fuse.”

“I didn’t see you interfering on my behalf,” I drawled, pushing off the frame as both women turned livid eyes on me. “Guess the death of their prince wasn’t consequential enough for you?”

“I’ve got this, Cy,” Cali snapped.

“I have to agree,” Mom said coolly. “You’re interrupting a conversation not meant for you.”