“You’re making a fool of yourself,” I said, glaring. “Barging into my keep and making a scene in front of my guests? That’s a little shocking, especially for you, Lydrasa. But I suppose when one is desperate and backed into a corner, there’s no telling what they’ll do.”
Lydrasa’s nostrils flared. “It was one letter. What does it matter? You got her back. I was doing it to help you, Kaldur.”
“To help me?” I asked, hissing as disgust burned through me. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of my hatred. Truthfully I wished I could forget that Lydrasa even existed. I couldn’t believe that once, I’d believed she was a friend.
“Krynn is on the cusp of war,” she snapped. “We need to show strength right now. Not weakness.Sheis a weakness.”
“She is mykyrana,” I growled. “Weakness? I could raze down this entire territory on a drop of her blood. How it that for weakness? Standing at my side, that makes her one of the most powerful females in the Kaalium, don’t you think?”
Lydrasa’s jaw tightened.
“But you didn’t know that. Not for certain. You suspected, but you wished it wasn’t true,” I finished. “Why? Because you were always jealous. It wasn’t even about my affections. You knew I never cared for you in that way. But you always wanted to befirst. You always wanted to beseen. That’s why you did what you did. You can stand here and try to lie that you were doing it for the Kaalium. We both know you were doing it out of spite.”
She glared. “That’s not true.”
“I won’t waste my breath anymore,” I said, straightening. I wanted to get back to Erina, not argue with a female I’d once believed was an ally. “But let me make one thing clear: Fuck with my House again, Lydrasa, and I will burn yours down. Go near mykyranaor my child again and you’d better make friends with the Thryki because no one will welcome you in the Kaalium any longer.”
“You don’t mean that,” she said, a thread of fearfinallylighting up in her eyes.
Kythel would be proud because my tone was controlled and ice cold when I said, “If you think I won’t, then you never knew me at all. Because what’s the one thing I would do anything for to protect? At all costs? My family. Don’t underestimate the lengths I will go to for them.”
The door swung open, and Erina stepped inside the room. Her scent seemed to envelope me as she approached, and I breathed her in deep to keep my control.
“Listening at the door again, are we?” Lydrasa rumbled, annoyed, as if she’d heard nothing of what I’d just said.
I growled in warning, but Erina touched my chest, her palm firm.
“It’s best if you leave, Lydrasa,” she said, voice quiet but calm. “Braanelle will see you out if you choose not to go.”
Her personal guard appeared in the doorway, arms crossed, ready to intervene if necessary.
“You don’t want a scene,” my mate continued. “You don’t want to be the talk of the village come morning. Leave now to save your family the embarrassment. Let this be.”
She was much too kind, even to the female who’d thought nothing of her.
Braanelle stepped further into the room, and Lydrasa snapped, “I’m going. Don’t touch me.”
“Will you tell me one thing before you go?” Erina asked. She didn’t wait for Lydrasa to respond. “How’s Velle?”
Lydrasa scoffed. “Working in my House.”
My mate had much too big of a heart. Even now, she asked about the friend who’d helped betray her. But I knew that they’d been friends once. And Erina had told me why she chose to forgive. Because it was her power, her choice to make. No one could take that from her.
“And her lover?”
“He changed his mind,” Lydrasa said, sliding past. She cut me a sharp look. “That’s the thing about hearts. They’re alwayssofickle.”
Then she swept from the room.
“Always one to have the last fucking word,” I sighed, pinching the space between my brows.
Braanelle followed after Lydrasa, to make sure she left. I took Erina into my arms. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she said, looking up at me, giving me a small smile. She actuallywas. The encounter didn’t seem to have phased her in the slightest.
“I’ll deal with her later,” I promised.
“Don’t,” she said. “She heard you. Loud and clear. And if she knows what’s best, she’d be wise to fear your warning. I don’t think she’ll cause any more trouble. She wouldn’t risk it. I’ve worked for nobles like her before.”
