How did he lull me into such a false sense of security?
How long has Lanlin known that I’m King Daire?
“My name is Dove,” I say as evenly as I can.
Lanlin’s lips quirk up like he’s strangely pleased by my answer. “I can tell more about someone by how they fight than anything else. Do you wish to know what I worked out about you?”
“Not really.”
“I learned that you are the only fighter who has ever been able to land a blow on me during sparring.” He leans even closer to whisper in my ear, “And my dear, I know that you are poisoned by iron…and almost blind.”
I startle.
Then I try to escape Lanlin’s hold, but he presses me more firmly against the wall.
He hushes me. “I will keep your secret. By my blood, I am impressed with how you compensate to move around and fight. But I watch people; it’s what I’ve spent my life doing. And I noticed your…”
“Weakness.”
“Strength,” Lanlin corrects. “This connection between us. There is something that I don’t understand. You will be honest with me about who you are, or barbaric as it is, I will break you like my court wishes me to.”
My breath stutters.
Lanlin doesn’t yet know who I am, or at least, maybe he suspects.
He guesses that I am no ordinary featherglass but he doesn’t know that I am a king.
I laugh. “Oh, may you forever miss the honey and only ever find the bees, you fanged bastard. Folks have been trying to break me since I was a child. Look at my body. Add more pretty scars. I still won’t tell you anything. Who am I? I’m a brilliant fighter who was poisoned by that pet-hater Maximinus and doesn’t want my Omega to worry. But go ahead — hurt me too. Pain means nothing to me anymore.”
Lanlin draws back, studying me. “I bet that Relius was tricked by your clever words. Did he melt, soft and protective, when you played the victim? The same trick worked for me with him.”
My blood chills.
I grip the wall, as my heart races.
Maximinus could not have been more wrong about Lanlin.
I have never been manipulating Lanlin.He’s been manipulating me.
“Look at the welts on my back and tell me that Aurelius was soft on me,” I hiss.
“We both know that he would never have done that to you. He hates the whip.” Lanlin tilts his head. “But do you think that I am the type of monster who would scar a Blood Lover?”
I narrow my eyes, remembering the scar on Sobek’s face and the exchange between Lanlin and him.
I won’t let Lanlin be the only one to stick in the knife.
“You’re the type of monster who scarred your own brother,” I guess.
Lanlin flinches back from me.
“Half-brother,” he corrects automatically.
I knew it.
Lanlin turns away. “You feel like mine, but also, likelies. My duty is to protect my Omega first, and kingdom second. Until Itrust you, I can’t allow you into my nest again. I am sending you to the Guild of Blood Lovers to be trained. I don’t know their practices or traditions because I have never taken a Blood Lover. I will ensure, however, that whoever you are matched with at the end still allows you to take part in the Blood Moon, when I will feast on your blood to fulfill our deal. Then you may rut with our Omega. But you will belong to someone else. Aren’t you pleased, dear, to no longer need to spend time with thismonster?”
I shake in horror.
