Page 77 of Blood Ties

Edith hadn’t sent me to rescue Stellan or replace her on a throne. She’d left information and trusted me to decide. Both vampires had tried to narrow that choice in different ways.

I knew attacking the gate would achieve nothing. I still wanted to break it open and put the sword through him.

“Does Stellan know?”

“He knows Adrian was responsible. He doesn’t know how. The order stopped me telling him too.”

Stellan had been right about Adrian causing Edith’s death. It didn’t repair what he’d done to me.

“I’ll tell him,” I said. “He needs to know exactly what Adrian did and that the guard entrance can open. I’m not withholding danger because I’m angry with him.”

Lenora gave a small nod. “Good. Stellan’s first plan doesn’t make Adrian safe, and Adrian’s crimes don’t make Stellan’s betrayal harmless. Keep those truths separate. Both men will benefit if you let one cancel the other.”

“I’m capable of being furious with more than one vampire at a time.”

“You’ll need that skill here.”

Her attention moved to the corridor behind her, and urgency returned to her face.

Lenora shifted closer to the opening. “The Crown is awake upstairs. Adrian has been feeding it his blood since the gate expelled us. He can’t enter the lower court, but he’s looking for another route.”

“Is that why you came to this gate?”

“This is a guard entrance. My seal can open a speaking gap because I served Stellan before Edith bound me to Adrian. It won’t admit my body while the Claiming protects you.” Lenora pushed the silver raven deeper into the narrow space. “Take it. The court will recognise that I surrendered my authority to the heir. Adrian won’t be able to use my office against you.”

“Once you have it, press the raven against the silver line outside the royal suite,” she added. “That will place the guard rooms under your protection. Adrian won’t be able to turn their weapons or doors against you while you remain inside that line.”

The badge was attached to a short black chain. Lenora worked it through the gap one link at a time while I set the sword against the wall. I kept my other hand away from the gate. The court had warned me often enough about giving blood to old metal.

“What happens to you when he realises it’s gone? Tell me plainly.”

“He’ll know I broke his order, and he’ll hurt me for it. Keeping the seal gives him more power than punishing me will. I came anyway.”

Lenora held my gaze, and I reached for the silver raven.

A man’s hand closed around her wrist.

Lenora jerked against the gate. The badge struck the metal and the white gap widened enough for me to see Adrian standing behind her.

His dark suit was torn at one shoulder where Harrowmere had thrown him out. Red light moved under the skin of his hand and wrapped around Lenora’s arm.

“Captain,” he said. “Step away from the gate.”

Her body locked. The chain went taut between us, leaving the silver raven caught halfway through the opening.

I grabbed it. “Let her go, you fucking bastard.”

Adrian looked past Lenora and met my eyes through the gap. “Stellan’s influence has already damaged your judgement. Give me the seal and come to the Crown. I’ll release Lenora from every order attached to it.”

“You poisoned my grandmother.”

His expression didn’t change. “Edith chose a painful death when she refused the succession. You don’t have to repeat her mistake.”

Lenora fought hard enough to make her armour shake. “Bryony, let go of the seal.”

I tightened my grip. If Adrian wanted it, handing it back was a terrible idea.

Lenora’s eyes fixed on mine. “He needs my blood and the seal together. Let it go and get behind the royal ward.”