Page 92 of Revealing Fate

And then he faltered. He knew the word. Saw it blazing in his mind, had it half-formed on his tongue. But he couldn’t say it. He couldn’t fucking say her name. What the hell was wrong with him? Kal’s fingers clenched.

“Felíne,” rasped a voice beside him. Kitty cleared her throat as his friends’ focus shifted to her. “My name is Felíne Lochlan Faelstrom.”

Santhe drew a sharp breath. Adder stared.

“The…Prima of Asteros.”

Adder’s mouth dropped open. Kal would have found it funny if his gut weren’t twisted in knots. The beast of his second form gnashed its teeth.

Santhe’s stunned silence shattered. She shot to her feet. “Are you out of your godsdamned mind? The fucking Prima, Kalevar?”

“Mind your tone, Santhe,” he warned.

She barked a laugh. “You’re daft! Have you forgotten what’s at stake? Or who? You said we could trust her!”

Kal’s voice was granite. “We can.”

“She’s the Prima! The Prima! Her blood murdered your parents! Destroyed your family. Her fucking father has been ra⁠—”

“That’s enough!” Kal was on his feet, though he couldn’t remember standing. Red crept in at the edges of his vision like crimson ink spilled into clear water. Santhe regarded him with stark disbelief. Kal took a forced breath. Retracted his claws. When he spoke again, his voice was even. “I know precisely what is at stake, Santhe. And who. Kitty is not her parents. She will not be held responsible for their crimes.”

“Kitty?” Santhe hissed. She took in his rigid posture, heard the hammering of his heart, and caught the rapid rise and fall of his chest. Realization twisted her features in disgust. “You’re a damned fool.”

Kal growled.

“Easy, mate.” Adder no longer lounged. His torso angled forward, legs tense beneath him. He looked ready to leap between Kal and…who? Santhe? Kal’s self-awareness returned in a rush, blowing over him like a winter wind, clearing his mind. Was he really primed to attack? He instantly dropped his aggressive stance. He swallowed. Fucking divine. Kal found Adder’s eyes and recoiled at what he saw there.

Sympathy.

“I think Adder and I would like a private conversation,” Santhe said.

Kitty stood.

Kal reached for her. “No, you don’t have to⁠—”

She placed a hand on his forearm. “I do. It’s alright,” she assured. “Speak with your friends. I’ll go check on Sig.”

Kitty left, the front door clicking shut behind her, and Santhe faced him once more. “What are you thinking, Kal? The Prima? Gods, if I had known…No wonder Asteros is in upheaval! Do you have any idea what kind of danger this poses to Cinah? Are you trying to get him killed?”

Exhaustion settled over Kal like an impossible weight, smothering his anger like damp wool over an unruly flame. His shoulders sagged. “You know I’m not. How can you even ask me that?”

“Then what? Hunters tracked her to Cindamar! Where do you suppose they’ll look next? This could start a war!”

“War has been long on the horizon, Santhe.”

She stared at him, incredulous. “Kal, we aren’t ready for a war! The whole point of us joining this rebellion, of allying with the Cozened, was to oppose Asteros on our terms. To strike them when we were prepared. Gods, Kal, we’ve been working so hard. Risking so much. You gave years of your life to this. Cinah has given everything. Sett died.”

The mention of Santhe’s older brother was like a lance between Kal’s ribs. He’d been younger than Kal is now, so eager to fight, so hungry for change. He hadn’t even lived long enough to witness the scope of the resistance that existed in Meress, to learn they had allies. Sett had died stealing from militia stores in Asteros. Murdered for petty theft. Dead because of a miscalculation.

Santhe’s eyes burned. “Have we not given enough?”

When Kal didn’t answer, she looked at Adder.

His friend remained silent.

Santhe shifted tactics. “How could you keep this a secret? The moment you realized who that woman was, you should have⁠—”

“Should have what?” Kal asked sharply. “Given her over to the Conclave to be used as bait for the crown? Let them fight over who gets to tear off a piece of her?” Santhe stiffened. “Do you know how many people in Meress have been hurt by Domitan and his witch queen?” Kal leaned forward, eyes flashing. “All of them. That’s why they’re here. Kitty wouldn’t last long enough to be used as a bargaining tool. As soon as they realized who she was, they wouldn’t be able to resist ripping her apart just to spill Faelstrom blood.”