Page 66 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

With a sigh, Kingsley looked up at Ally. His expression was far from hopeful. “Quite the mess, Alvara. I can’t see the way out either.”

Ally’s eyes weren’t glazed with the other—but they weren’t entirely present, either. She was looking through Kingsley, scouring his impressions, thoughts, emotional residue. I hadn’t realized seers were that common—I just knew Ally was the best. And now, watching her read Kingsley, it was clear how vivid her visions really were.

Kingsley’s gift was more like static on a broken signal—snippets of imagery, sudden flares of emotion: fear, fury, retribution. It reminded me of the weeks we’d just endured. Sharp, disjointed. Survive now, make sense of it later.

For a moment, Kingsley studied her face with a look that reminded me—uncannily—of Ansel.

The permanent scowl. The jaw carved from stone. The eyes tight with concern, even when the rest of the world mistook him for unfeeling.

A pang caught me off guard.

I missed the grumpy bastard.

Kingsley’s gaze shifted to me. His scowl deepened when he caught the smirk on my face, and I laughed.

“Something funny, Mr. Porter?”

“You remind me of someone.”

“Someone?” he echoed, arching a brow.

I shot Ally a look, and she mirrored my amusement. “You ever met Ansel Callahan?”

His eyes narrowed, then relaxed, the right corner of his mouth tugging upward. He glanced at Alvara, grin spreading, then chuckled.

“I like him,” Kingsley declared, turning to Rosaleigh. “Babe, did you hear that? The great King Calloway says I’m like Grayshell’s Old General.”

They all laughed—the kind that says there’s an inside joke I’ll never be in on. Being the rookie in a circle of ancients was getting old fast.

“The General and I go way back, kid.” Kingsley lifted his brows. “Insufferable old ass, but one hell of a fighter. Better man to have at your back.”

“He’s pulled through for us this year,” I offered.

“And he’ll keep doing it as long as there’s air in his lungs. How’s he healing?”

“Almost back to himself when we left. Would’ve been one-hundred percent if we could’ve made it home.”

“I didn’t think about him healing on earth time.”

“Marcus took him to Westerlund to see if the magic there could help.”

Kingsley nodded. “It should. But nothing restores us quite like the home realm.”

“How’s Lana holding up?” Rosaleigh asked softly. Her voice cracked, just a bit.

“She’s alright,” Ally said gently. “She hasn’t left his side. But Freya’s ascension brought them hope.”

“Good,” Rosaleigh breathed, her shoulders loosening. “They’ve been through so much, those two.”

Her eyes shimmered, and I sent a private thought to Ally.

What am I missing?

Old history, she sent. I’ll fill you in later.

Kingsley cleared his throat, snapping us back.

“Alright. Enough gossip.” He leaned back, an ankle over a knee. I mirrored him, arm slipping around Ally’s shoulders as she leaned into me.