The weight of suspicion clung in the air, weighing our shoulders and coating our sighs.
Calyx whistled in surprise. “That complicates matters.”
“Yes.” I clenched my jaw. “This was planned long before we ever set foot on Sanctua Sirena.”
A sour stillness settled in the room.
As soon as those first arrows had fallen at the Lost Daughter’s wedding, it had become obvious we’d been set up. This revelation was only another confirmation the danger was greater than we had imagined.
My fist clenched as I fought to unleash the next words.
“Every single Brother and Sister who accompanied us on that day is now a suspect.” The words tasted bitter.
What was the Blood Brotherhood without loyalty?
“Come on, now, Ryker,” Calyx said, sounding more serious. “We had our best warriors on that ship. They’ve bled for our Clan too many times to even be suspected for treason.”
“They have, but Ryker’s right.” Soryn’s words cut through the palaver smoke. “The blade didn’t cross Marea Luminara by itself. Someone brought it there to kill.”
“To kill the Protectorate leader, no less,” Elysia said.
“And place the blame on us,” I said.
“Or you,” Soryn said.
“Or me.” I rolled my shoulders back. “The Northern Clans are eager to get rid of me.”
To get their greedy, salt-flecked and blood-soaked hands on the magic in my crater.
Zandyr began pacing in that slow, threatening way of his. “Could they have conspired with one of your warriors?”
“My warriors would give their life for Solkar’s Reach,” I said without hesitation.
“Would they do the same for you?”
The question landed like a knife thrown straight at my chest.
Mere days ago, I would have said yes. But my leather armor was still covered in ash and blood from the battle in the passage, and Nadya and Geryll had to be nursed back to health back at home.
A fresh wave of rage coursed through me. My power hissed through my veins, demanding vengeance.
“Maybe one or more of them weren’t as happy with your change of allegiance to the Blood Brotherhood as they let on,” Zandyr went on.
The idea, as wretched as it was, had tormented me as I’d raced to Calyx’s home.
Insurgence didn’t have to be loud to prove effective.
Between making sure my city ran as smoothly as ever, the skirmishes with the Serpents and the inevitable war looming over us, fending off the Northern Clans’ demands, and Allie storming into my life, my attention had been stretched thin.
Could I have missed a rebellion brewing in the depths of my own Clan?
What had Beren said?
The problem started when that Huntress of yours arrived.
Lies, meant to weaken minds. His words had done nothing to change my resolve, but they could have swayed others.
The Northern Clans hungered to harness more of my land’s powers. They couldn’t physically encroach on my territory, but dishonesty had a way of traveling and sprouting everywhere.
