Page 31 of Season Warriors & Wolves

“Because I can also offer you something.”

After laughing cruelly, her mouth pulled to a snarl. “Your head is in Nubil’s clouds, little queen of nothing.”

“I’d say my feet, not my head.” I stood and walked around the room, observing…again, nothing. “Have you heard of Zephyr, the Guardian of Lightning, Nubil’s second in command?”

“I’ve heard of many dead gods.”

“How about one that is alive?”

She narrowed her eyes on me but said nothing.

“Has father told you the true reason why he bred children of the Skygard blood? Why he made sure to erase any trace of it afterward? Surely not, right? Why would he want you to know that I am able to control Aurora, that I am not only chosen by gods to control Aurora, but also one of their kind.”

“What?”

“Zephyr was my…well, something of mine. I am of his blood.”

Her expression was bordering on ridiculous. “Impossible.”

“Quite the contrary. I presume he has also lied about why he wants to unblessed metal too.”

“Where are you trying to go with this?”

“I am stating your options, Skadi. When me and my husband open war on my father, what side will you be on? Mine. Or dead.”

“There will be no war. Your father will make sure of that.”

“There will always be war where me, him, and greed spin on the same wheel. How can he take this realm when I’ve got my hands in it? When my husband can turn his life dark before he could breathe out the cold air he lives on? Silas’s promises are false, as he is. A false god who needs a godly armour to control the sceptre that only I, blood of Zephyr and born a Skygard, can. Think,” I said, tapping a finger on her temple. “Why he had me, why he made sure to kill anyone who was of my blood, why he needs everything in order to create an anima accissor armour.”

“You’re saying Silas cannot control the sceptre.”

“I’m saying, no one can control the sceptre, not just him—no one who is not me, my brother and sister. Therefore, why he sired the three of us. Father will fail. Like all those before him did, including Tenebrose, who I am sure you know has tried to raise the guardian before as well.”

“And why do you need me to believe all this?”

“Because you were Queen of the Islines. You were the queen of what my father fears most.”

Her pupils moved fast. “Silas fears nothing.”

I snorted. “He made me heir because of your sister. Because of you. Because of every heir of Krigborn blood—everyone who can claim his throne. Everyone has a fear beyond what one calls a fear. Father’s fear is that—the claim on his throne. Isjordians are loyal to my father because he is a Krigborn and that alone. They do not care for him, nor do they respect him beyond that. They fear him, but they fear spiders and woodlice just as much. He knows what hides in the Islines, the power of the Isea people. Raw power. He wants to use you as he uses me, to control his peoples’ loyalty and the Islines when time comes. Your people call my father and every king before him a false king, what makes you think they will not do the same? He needs you more than you think.”

She shook her head. “He gave me back power. The strength that my own people took.”

“To break you. Not to harden you. And he has broken you. I’ve seen it.”

Her eyes lowered and she took a moment and a few loud inhales before rolling her green gaze to me. “There is nothing I or you can do. Leave before Demir returns, for the sake of the man you are giving up your fight to protect.”

“I never gave up my fight. Otherwise, I would not be here.” I bent down to her till we were face to face. “Me and you will fall into an agreement.”

“Leave,” she growled. “You say another word, and this will end up in your father’s ears.”

My mouth curved to a smirk. “If you tell him a single word of what I told you, he will end you. You know too much, and he trusts you too little—presuming he trusts you to begin with. Which I highly doubt.”

Her eyes widened in realisation and her mouth gaped, opening and closing struggling to find words.

“That’s right,” I said, crouching down before her and tapping my finger on top of my head. Her body recoiled a little despite the poison in her system. “I killed him, you know. You owe me a little bit for that. His head cracked open like a watermelon. Just…less juicy? The man did not have much to work with. His brains barely fed a crow or two.”

Noise from behind the doors dragged my attention and I put a finger to my lips.