Keane takes a strong step forward and speaks for everyone to hear.
“While I do not agree with the Ancient Rule and think it is has extended far past its time, it is still the law of the Old World. Lady Alexis will forfeit all green agate weapons when present in Gaumond, beginning tonight.”
Tadeo smiles next to me as I take a step towards the Prince in anger.
“You will leave me defenseless should this happen again?”
Keane turns to me with the coldest eyes I’ve ever seen.
“It willneverhappen again, Lady Alexis.”
“I will not-”
“-Alex,” Cal calls my name quietly, shaking his head once again. I look back at him in genuine astonishment, not understanding why he’s okay with me being defenseless.
“Which hand,” Keane asks coolly.
“What?” I look back in confusion.
“Which hand, Lady Alexis…”
I blanche in embarrassment, closing my mouth in defiance as realization dawns on me what he’s asking. Tadeo shifts uncomfortably at our side as everything and everyone becomes tense and quiet.
“Lady Alexis,” Desmond looks at me directly, “the Prince asked you a question.”
No.
Don’t make me say it.
I had this handled. I had Tadeo cornered with my blade.
The brothers watch me silently,expecting, and I know that this night will go nowhere until I tell Keane what he wants to hear. The whisper barely escapes my lips as I glance away from Keane in shame.
“Right.”
“Prince Desmond,” Keane replies with an edge in his voice, “escort Lady Alexis to my quarters and strip her of all green agate.”
Desmond takes a hard step in my direction, his gaze warning me not to challenge him. He reaches for my arm but I pull away from his grip, stalking straight past him and leaving Lord Tadeo and Keane behind.
“You will be stripped of your title in Backer, Tadeo,” I hear Keane state as the ground below us begins to rumble again, “you are no longer welcomed in the Court of Warriors. We tolerate no unwanted advances on any being here. Human, magical, male or female…”
The ground starts to shake violently as Desmond pushes us through the crowd and away from the two Discerni. He reaches for my arm again and walks us past my regular traveling crew, all of their eyes narrowed on the Prince over my shoulder and whatever is happening behind us.
I stop in my tracks at the double doors and see Desmond scowl in annoyance. His grip on my arm tightens but he lets me turn around, both of our glances falling on Keane as he stands tall and commanding before his Lord with his palms pointed down to the black granite below him.
Lord Tadeo trembles before Keane with an intense look of hatred and takes an involuntary step back. The ground around the castle starts tomove, and I watch as, with a flick of his hand, the Prince summons the dark stone below him. The ground reaches out sharp and fast in the shape of a broadsword as Keane catches it with ease. He slices down on Lord Tadeo’s right hand without any hesitation, his wrist cleanly falling off within a blink.
My heart stops in my chest at the sight. My feet stutter below me. Desmond catches me at the waist before I can fall to the ground, his muscular arms helping me up just as Keane turns around with a dark look on his face. Lord Tadeo falls to his knees behind him and screams in agony, his left hand gripping his right arm where now only a stump remains. I feel Desmond start to push me forward again, his steady hold leading me through the double doors as Keane meets my gaze with an absolute coldness that rattles my bones. It’s the last thing I see before I’m ushered away from the crowd and into the castle.
It’s him.
Fucking Ancients.
It’shim.
My body starts to tremble as I’m pulled through various halls, my mind racing in a single direction.
“The Shadow Oak,” I whisper violently as Desmond leads us up a twisting set of stairs, “it’s him.”
