His life wasdefinitelyabout to get worse.
Leap stopped just a foot shy of the table and clasped his hands behind his back. “Hello, Uncle.” He inclined his head, the most respect he was willing to show under the circumstances.
“No hello for me?” Ryker raised an eyebrow. “How rude.”
“I don’t consort with murderers,” Leap said flatly. He plucked a cucumber sandwich off one of the trays and popped it into his mouth, teeth coming down in an audiblecrunch.
Uncle Oren opened his mouth to chastise Leap, but Ryker spoke first. “It was an accident,” he snapped, his yellow eyes flashing with annoyance. “Besides, it was an animal, so even if I’d done it on purpose, that still doesn’t make me a murderer.”
“You miserable bottom-feeder.” Leap whirled on his cousin, teeth bared in a snarl. His power crackled to life inside him, pushing against the bonds on his wrists, but the manacles held fast, preventing him from unleashing it. “If I didn’t have these blasted things on my wrists—”
Uncle Oren raised a hand, and a thunderclap ricocheted through the air just outside the room, loud enough to rattle the window and startle Leap and Ryker into silence. “That’s enough arguing,” his uncle said, his voice eerily quiet. “Sit down, Leap.”
Leap did as commanded, a wary look in his eyes as he stared at his uncle. He’d expected Uncle Oren to shout or get angry, which was his usual response whenever Leap acted out. This grave side of his uncle was one he had never seen before.
Uncle Oren waited until a servant had poured tea for all three of them before he spoke, but when he did, he got straight to the point. “My informants have told me Tempest is dead,” he said in that same quiet tone. “Bloodied scraps of her clothing, and the jade amulet she wore, were found at the border between Kaipei and Gaoth Aire. When the peasants in the nearby village were questioned, they admitted a female matching her description was attacked by shadow creatures in the forest and killed.”
Horror and pity welled in Leap’s chest. He’d never met Tempest, as she’d been shipped off to Kaipei as a hostage before he was even born, but he still felt sorry for his uncle’s loss, regardless of the bad blood between them. Tempest hadn’t deserved that fate—she should have been returned to her family after King Aolis’s death, just like the others.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I wish I could have done something to save her.”
“Yes, well, that would have required you honoring your loyalty to our family,” Ryker said. A muscle worked in his jaw, and Leap clenched his armrests. “I bet you didn’t even remember she was locked up in the castle when you rained your lightning and bombs down on it, did you, you—"
“I said that’s enough!” Uncle Oren’s yellow eyes flashed as he turned on Ryker, and Ryker’s mouth clamped shut as the air between them crackled. He turned back to Leap, his posture stiff, his tone rigid. “I had planned to have you punished appropriately for your crimes, Leap, but Tempest’s death has reminded me that safeguarding this family is my number one priority, next to safeguarding our realm, that is. Regardless of your recent behavior, you are still my sister’s son, and she would be very disappointed in me if I wrote you off as a delinquent.”
“What are saying?” Leap asked, cautiously optimistic. Could he have been wrong? Was his uncle actually going to throw him a bone?
“I’m giving you another opportunity to follow in your parents’ footsteps,” Uncle Oren said. “If you swear a blood oath that you will not abandon this family again, nor collaborate with any of the other fae races without my express permission, I will allow you to enroll at the lightning rider academy and rejoin our house.”
“You want me to swear a blood oath?” Leap said, aghast. Blood oaths were old magic, and once made, could not be undone except by death. “But what about Adara and Mavlyn? They’re my friends. I can’t abandon them.”
“Adara will have to rely on her own house for help,” Uncle Oren said, his tone knife-sharp. “She’s in Lady Axlya’s care already, so I don’t know why you’re so concerned for her welfare, anyway. As for Mavlyn, I’ll have her shipped back to Lady Mossi to be dealt with. I see no reason to keep her here.”
Leap winced. He doubted Lady Mossi would welcome Mavlyn with open arms considering she was Adara’s ally, while Mossi would be backing Slaugh’s claim for the throne. As for Adara being in Lady Axlya’s ‘care’, Leap knew exactly how it felt to be trapped in the arms of a royal house’s bosom. If she was safe there, Quye wouldn’t be urging Mavlyn and Leap to break her out right now.
However, Leap knew this was the most generous offer he could hope from his uncle. Following in his parents’ footsteps and joining the Lightning Riders had been Leap’s fondest wish at one point. He glanced over his shoulder to where Gale was standing guard at the door. The rider’s gaze was inscrutable, and if he cared at all about the outcome of Leap’s decision, he wasn't about to show it.
“I’ll have to think on it,” Leap said. “It’s a big decision to make.” He wouldn’t just be turning his back on his friends if he did this. He’d also be indirectly swearing fealty to Ryker, who would one day take the house throne. And Leap wasn’t sure he’d be able to bear that.
Ryker’s lip curled into a sneer, but for once his cousin kept his thoughts to himself. “I see.” Uncle Oren said, sounding disappointed. “I had hoped you would agree before I left, but perhaps the time away from me will allow you to think more clearly and make the right decision.”
“Time away?” Leap frowned. “Where are you going?”
“I’m leaving for a summit tomorrow, where I shall seek restitution from Slaugh for Tempest’s murder,” Uncle Oren said. “Ryker will be in charge until I return.”
“Wonderful,” Leap said sarcastically. “I guess I’ll be locked up in my rooms until then?”
“Actually, I’m going to give you free run of the palace,” Uncle Oren said. Leap’s mouth fell open, and Oren smiled at his nephew’s slack-jawed expression, mistaking it for gratitude. “You’ll be allowed access to the library and the grounds, and to eat meals in the main hall with everyone else, just as you did before you left us.”
“And what about these?” Leap lifted one of his manacled wrists.
“They’ll come off as soon as you make the blood vow,” Uncle Oren said smoothly. He rose from his chair, his half-finished cup of tea abandoned. “I need to prepare for my departure, but feel free to stay here and finish your tea, boys. Maybe you can even have a civil conversation and pretend you like each other.”
He left the withdrawing room, shutting the door behind him with a snap. Leap expected Ryker to lay into him, but his cousin rose stiffly from his chair and stalked out through the opposite door, leaving him alone.
Leap blinked in confusion, then shrugged and sprawled out on one of the couches, taking the platter of sandwiches with him. “Tea?” he offered to Gale, who was still standing by the door.
The lightning rider rolled his eyes.
