Page 43 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

“It starts with me leaving you alive to serve your Heiress when she rises next season. And ends with a location. In return, you’ll supply me with knowledge of your own.”

Dread settled like a stone in my throat. Cold sweat crawled down my spine.

Next season? This motherfucker thought my mother would be dead by winter’s end?

Mercifully, my voice was steady. “And what location is that?”

Easing to his feet, he finally sheathed the golden blade at his hip. A twin dagger rested on the other side. Peculiar. Two blades strapped on his back—all mirrors of the other. The shadows knew there was significance in that, even if I didn’t.

“The armory nearest the Sisters’ Divide. She strikes at high noon tomorrow. A dozen Wings should be adequate, I presume.”

High noon. What the fuck kind of Western did I just step into?

“If we apprehend her, how do we contact you?”

“Your Queen knows that, too.”

“And if we don’t?”

“You don’t strike me as suicidal,” he drawled.

I supposed I should’ve expected that answer.

“And the information you requested?”

“The nomads that scattered during the divide of our Mother Hierarchy…where do they gather in your territory?”

Confusion pinched between my brows. Mother. Hierarchy?

Was this asshole Bellpost? Or further rooted? The Knights?

“Mmm. Interesting. So not all youths disregard their heritage,” he murmured, evidently responding to my unspoken question.

So, he’s a clairvoyant.

“Correct, Princeling.” He exhaled, a bored sigh. “Though I’ve grown tired of our conversation, and our time is fleeting.”

“The nomads settled in our Northern Rift, high in the Appalachians.”

“Excellent.”

He studied me—measuring my resolve. “All debts must be paid, Princeling.”

Then, he vanished.

So much for damned wards.

A roar of chatter slammed down the mental line as Carr’s panicked voice echoed off the walls.

“Cy!”

“Throne room,” I barked back.

Taking a steadying breath as that unnatural silence gave way to an entire hierarchy of voices, I glanced up at the moon, its silver glow spilling through the grand cathedral windows.

My mother owed us a mountain of explanations.

Mind-to-mind, I summoned Calypso, both my parents, and our Wings.