Cassia blinks at her, and it strikes me that Thyra openly used my name, something only my siblings are allowed to do. And only in private.
Thyra seems to realize her mistake, softly muttering, “Damn.”
My sister takes glances from Thyra to me and back again before arching her eyebrows and uttering an equally soft, “Hmm.”
She turns and gestures to the room before I can say anything. “I don’t know how long this area will remain safe, so weshould start while we can. Brother, I’m assuming you’ll stand guard?”
I’ve already assessed potential threats, conscious of Thyra’s perceptive gaze passing around the room as Cassia leads us toward the side containing multiple large, square tumbling mats.
On the other side of the room are two cordoned-off areas, one of which is occupied by sword-fighters.
Weapons of all kinds line the opposite wall, while the wall on the right contains targets. Another cordoned-off area forms a lane running perpendicular to the sword fighters, where a fae is practicing knife throwing.
The sword-fighters and the knife thrower lower their heads and briefly kneel.
They’re all Constellation guards under Mother’s control. Not a good sign. Not that I expected to see my soldiers here. They train on the field. Controlled environments like this won’t help them in a battle. Of course, the same could apply to Thyra, but she needs to start somewhere.
When we reach the side of the tumbling mat, Thyra catches my eye before her focus glides pointedly back to the door.
Rohan appears, blocking the doorway before he steps to the side and takes up position against the wall. He’s wearing dark, leather armor in the same deep-brown color as his hair, but he isn’t carrying a visible weapon.
He and I stand at the same height and build, and, not for the first time, I curse fate that I didn’t see Galla’s betrayal of Cassia in time.
Rohan should have stood at my left hand. For that matter, Victor should have stood on my right. Two formidable warriors I lost because of the schemes of others.
Still, Rohan’s presence doesn’t surprise me, and I’mreturning my attention to Thyra when, a moment later, seven of Mother’s lords file into the room, including her golden-haired favorite, Quintus.
Well, fuck.
Thyra hasn’t missed them, but Cassia’s back was turned, and now she glances over her shoulder.
The instantly hard glint in her eyes vanishes when her focus lands on Rohan. It’s painful to see how quickly my sister’s expression wipes clean.
Across the way, Rohan’s expression is also completely blank.
“What do you want to do, brother?” Cassia asks. “Should we abandon the room? Go to my quarters instead? It will be cramped but safe from unwanted observers.”
I haven’t yet released Thyra from the ruby circlet, and I’m glad for that now. Mother doesn’t know the extent of Thyra’s combat skills, and Thyra can’t appear to have any weakness.
I should have anticipated this scenario.
The challenge now will be leaving without any bloodshed.
Reaching back for my axe while keeping the men in my sights, I say, “That depends on?—”
“Me,” Thyra says.
She steps into my line of sight so I can see both her and the lords and gives me a smile. Not the smile that slays my heart. This one would shatter ice.
Planting her hands on her hips, she calls, “Hello, boys, have you come to play?”
She crooks her finger at Quintus. “Come on, then, pretty fae. Let’s see if you love the taste of an iron axe cutting across your face.”
Quintus glowers, his high cheekbones appearing sharper as his cheeks flush, but none of them makes a move, not even him.
I relax a little now that Thyra has made it clear they’ll faceme if they want a fight, and not her. She can keep her abilities a mystery this way.
Thyra’s eyebrows arch as she seems prepared to dismiss them. “Well then, why don’t you all leave with your limbs attached?”
