He was enraged when I returned, carrying the limp body of his estranged daughter in my arms. Enraged and then overcome with something mirroring gratitude.
Together, we decided it best for him to keep his distance. And we prayed none of them would recognize her as theone responsible for Dolan’s demise. Another thing I had not considered carefully enough in all of this.
Arina is wound tight, ready to pounce at the hint of a threat. I don’t pray, but I say a silent prayer now that she will not provoke them further.
“Youwillwelcome her.” The Commander’s voice echoes against the obsidian that makes up the throne room.
I think the old man has made his point, until a voice calls out from the crowd, “Why should we?”
The girl doesn’t so much as flinch at the question. She just stands there, eyes trained on her father, as if the rest of us don’t exist.
“Because if you don’t, you’ll answer to me,” I say, my tone bored and even. It’s best none of them know how much she means to me.
I don’t care who said it. They all know not to get on my bad side. If Konnor doesn’t scare them, I definitely do.
“She’s not one of us. We each chose to come here on our own. We sought you out. She’s been forced here against her will with no knowledge of our ways. We cannot trust her,” one of the higher-ranking officers complains.
“I heard she cut Dolan down off that wall!” another calls. So much for that plan.
“This was not meant to be a trial nor a hearing. Your opinions are not welcome. Besides, she’s gifted with rare skills which we have a pressing need for,” Konnor explains again. “You will be gracious.”
A murmur of agreement passes over the crowd, and I think they’re mollified.
Until Shreya, Dolan’s lover, steps out of the crowd and begins to circle Arina like a predator. Her gray-blue eyes study the healer, scheming.
Silence, aside from Shreya’s soft, deliberate footsteps, fills the air. Arina stares past the woman, her eyes fixated to some spot on the dais.
“You say it’s not a trial, but maybe it should be.” She flicks her attention to Konnor, her white hair swaying with the movement.
“Mind yourself. Your leader has given an order,” I growl.
“You hold no station here, spy,” she spits, and my hand twitches with the desire to silence her. She knows just where to twist to get under my skin. With Konnor playing the part of leader, we agreed my role in this would be kept quiet.
Only a select few know who I am, and we will keep it that way until I take back my throne.
Still, when they call me a traitor or spy because I am the only one who can move in and out of the Smog with ease, it stings. I want to scream in her face who I am and force her to bow to me, but I take a breath instead.
“Enough!” Konnor bellows. “I will not hesitate to assign you to digging duty, Shreya. Or maybe you’d like to go with the next troop to Ophis Isle?”
The threat of hard labor or days of endless marching is enough to quiet her. She and the handful of Rhiza she calls friends stalk out of the room to slither into their holes.
“That goes for any who are less than welcoming to our newest member.” Konnor waves his hand, dismissing the room.
Arina attempts to move in Konnor’s direction, but I wrap my hand around her upper arm and pull back gently.
“Not tonight,” I say quietly in her ear, and she glares up at me but allows me to guide her through the crowd.
When we reach her quarters, she turns to look at me.
“You call me little snake,” she whispers, and the words are laced with accusation.
I open the door for her with a flourishing bow. Gods, she isn’t going to make this easy.
Something flashes in her eyes, like maybe she recognizes she’s being seen for who she really is. “Besides, I thought it was obvious. You belong here amongst the rebels and serpents, do you not?”
“No,” is all she says before slamming her door in my face.
The cold metal of the dagger tucked in the back of my leathers weighs heavy against my skin.
