“You overstep. You do not and shall noteverrule, daughter.” The king dismissed the princess, his gaze cold.
Malissa blanched, stepping back and nearly into Blake’s side.People whispered that she might not be truly his child. They said the king was infertile and was covering it up with his refusal to remarry after the queen died, despite the need for a male yang heir.
“At best,” the king went on, his tone turning smug as he looked at Blake with clear favor, “you’ll marry someone strong enough to take the throne. Then you might stand beside him. Or behind him, like a proper yin. Like your late mother did.”
Blake. Malissa. Were they to be engaged? My fingers drifted toward the ribbons at my belt—the ones he’d returned to me. The Ambush Master’s face gave nothing away. Malissa tilted her chin and leaned slightly into him. No ring on her finger. But she looked like she wanted one.
Then Ire spoke from across the dais, his tone scathing. “This Azure would be able to influence all the Tyger Warriors. A yin, a peasant, a foreigner, and a woman? Not only does her presence bring dishonor to all of the Tyger Warriors, but her so-called Bond with the tygress is a threat to our security. Who knows if the Bond is even a true one?”
He stepped forward, closer to his king than anyone had dared, executing that same bow I’d seen Jace do earlier.
“Your Majesty, the solution is simple. We have proven the tygress queen can Bond. Kill the Azure yin and allow Flame to re-Bond with a Silver yang, as is appropriate.”
A sinking dread pulled at me. Could this get any worse?
The king gave him a nod. “Nephew, your views have been noted.”
Nephew.And things just got worse.
I wanted to roll my eyes at myself as I made the connection. Lord Ire Frostbane of Clan Frostbane, one of the eight most elite and powerful families that were the Octagon.
Ire was not only related to the king; he was the heir. For now.
The king’s expression didn’t change. “Executing the Azure may be an option.”
It was an effort not to move.
Blake stepped forward, apparently not needing to bow. “My lord, the Bonding today has made history. As the Ambush Master, I would like to observe this Bond and this Azure, before we destroy both.”
I took in a breath, waiting for the king’s verdict.
They will not harm you.Flame’s mental voice rang with determination.How dare they evenspeakof it. I am their queen.Weare their queen.
Everyone stilled as a sound came from outside: a powerful growl low and deep, a rumble that slithered beneath the stones of the throne room like distant thunder. It was joined by another tyger’s voice, then another, and another.
The hairs rose on my arms as the sound spread, swelling as one tyger after another added their voices. Growls turned into deep-chested roars filled with fury, and the very walls of the palace seemed to tremble.
Ire’s gaze darted to the great doors as if expecting them to burst open. People grew pale. Then the roars stopped. No one spoke for a long moment. The Tyger Warriors had pained expressions. Malissa staggered. Blake’s expression was concentrated, as if he were listening to something.
At the dais, the king stilled. His fingers curled against the armrests of his gleaming throne. His jaw tightened, his gaze sharp, calculating. “What does this mean?”
Jace held his fingertips to his forehead. “I can feel that my tyger Xane is upset.”
“Venom feels furious,” Malissa said.
“The reigning tygress queen speaks mind-to-mind to every tyger in her ambush,” Blake said. He seemed to be the only one not in pain or hurting from his connection to his tyger. “Flame is enraged at the thought of harm coming to Rubi Morningtail, herchosen rider. She will not allow her to come to harm. She will not re-Bond. Without Rubi, our tygress queen would not Mate at all.”
An outcry broke out. The king’s face drained of color. The assembled nobles murmured in a tremulous tide of disbelief and indignation.
Are you all right, Flame?I asked in my mind.
They cannot imagine the vengeance I shall wreak if they were to touch you. How dare they question me and my choice.Her mental voice vibrated with fury.
I’m okay. They will not harm me.Though I didn’t feel as confident as I sounded—and I could tell Flame sensed it.
Ire spoke up. “We only have his word for this. Indeed, the current Ambush Master has allowed the tygers too much freedom in their training, and as a result, their natural selection process has been tainted.”
“Are you questioning my honor, Lord Frostbane?” Blake stepped toward Ire, his voice carrying a chilling edge. “I would be pleased to show you exactly how lax my training has been.” He radiated the lethal power of the Zenith metal mage he was.
