Page 22 of Once Written in Gilded Blood

I give Alira more time to herself as I make sure the horses have everything they need for the night before following Tessa and Nikolai outside into the snow.

“What the fuck happened back there?” Tessa snaps, shoving me with a hard push to the shoulder.

I grunt at the force she packed in it and glare at her. “What was I supposed to do, Tess? I chased after her and tried to catch her before she got too far, but I couldn’t see a fucking thing in that snowstorm. Where were you? If you want to play the blame game,” I growl at her, seething from her words but more so from all of it. This day has been an utter nightmare, first with the Gates of Mortem being open, and now this.

Nikolai takes a deep breath and slowly pushes his hair back. “She was dead set on finding out what the wisp was going to show her… She knows we’re keeping a secret. Of course she fucking knows; it’s not hard to tell. And King Achill having extra guards on her all the time doesn’t help.”

There’s a reason I’ve been keeping Nikolai as her guard for as many of the days as I can. He keeps me updated on her thoughts and what she’s suspicious of. The guilt eats away at me, but Alira is no stranger to his ability. If anything, she’s only more careful about her thoughts because of it, so there’s no telling what she’s truly feeling.

“Did you read her tonight?” I ask, glancing back at the cave to make sure she’s still by the fire. Alira hasn’t moved a muscle. She’s still wrapped up in the blanket, sinking into herself with her knees pulled tightly to her chest and staring into the coals.

Nikolai nods. “She followed the wisp because I wouldn’t tell her what we’re hiding… If I gave her a small bit of information, then we wouldn’t be in this situation.” He shakes his head and turns away from me.

“What situation?” I ask, narrowing my gaze at Tessa. I think I already know, but I want to hear her say it.

Her arms are crossed. She doesn’t look proud of what she’s about to admit, but she says it anyway. “Kalel, you know we have to report this to the king.”

My eyes widen. “Tessa. Alira is harmless. She’s just⁠—”

“Harmless?” Her voice cuts through me, biting with venom. “She led the attack on Thornhall, killing innocent villagers, including your mother. Did you forget? Is that harmless?”

Nikolai whirls at the hatred in her tone and looks at me with worry blooming across his face.

A sword might as well have been plunged straight through my heart.

But responding in rage has never aided me in matters of the heart. So I take a deep breath and look Tessa in the eyes.

“You think I can forget such terrible things, Tess?” I whisper.

She was hoping I’d snap at her. The regret in her expression is instant.

“Alira is my wife. She was desperate to find out what the vision was. No crime or foul play has been committed.”

“Except we have no clue what it showed her. She could be in there plotting against us as we speak!” Her eyes burn with fury. Tessa’s rage isn’t misplaced. We’ve never been able to trust the demigods… And we haven’t known Alira long enough for an established trust to build.

Fuck.

I can’t remember the last time I fought with Tessa like this. She’s always on my side, following orders and loyal no matter what because she believes in me.

“I’m sorry, Commander. My hands are tied. If you think I’m going to let her disobey our orders without consequence, then you need to remember which side of the war you’re on. Are you a demon or a demigod sympathizer?” She speaks as if she’s in charge of me, and it makes my blood boil.

“Tessa…he will put her in his dungeon. Please.” I lower to my knees and dip my head.

Nikolai closes the distance between Tessa and himself and sets his hand on her shoulder. “Tess, I’ve been monitoring her closely. Alira has no ill will toward us. We need to believe in each other, or it will only bring our own ruin⁠—”

“Neither of you has family in the kingdom. You may not care what one demigod on the inside of the veil can do, but I do. Her fate will be up to King Achill. He won’t harm her, and I’m sure he will release her once the Alzhorian army has been demolished.”

Fire consumes my lungs as I stand back up and unsheathe my sword, pointing it at her throat. “That could be years.”

She doesn’t even flinch. “It could be fifty years. Good thing you will live a long life since you’re a devourer. And she’s the daughter of Venus; you both will long outlive the rest of us.” Tessa slaps the blade away from her face and stalks past me briskly.

Every muscle in my body is quivering with fury. “Tess, if you do this…”

Nikolai stumbles after her, hand raised. “Tessa, come back!”

She turns swiftly and kicks him square in the chest, sending him flying back into the snow. I kneel beside him to help him back up. We both watch in disbelief as she mounts her horse and rides into the night toward Devicit.

Nikolai coughs as I get him standing once more. He looks at me in defeat. “Kalel…the king will not be kind to Alira. I’ve read his thoughts.” Nik shudders and swallows thickly. “We can’t take her back to the kingdom.”