Page 178 of The Crown's Awakening
"Why?"
"He said he came with a message," Colsar replies. "That you were in danger."
I hold his eyes. "He lies so much it would not have mattered what he said."
Something in his expression tightens further. "I did not let him finish."
I pause. "You did not let him say what the danger was?"
"No. I had no interest in hearing it."
I study him. There is too much blood for it to have ended at words. "You fought him."
"Yes."
"Did you kill him?"
"No." A brief pause. "I was told not to."
I adjust Fiorakis in my arms. She lets out a small protest, her mouth searching, frustrated. "What else did he say?"
Colsar is quiet for a moment. "He asked where you were. More than once."
"How did he know I was not here?"
"The scent maskers that we drank," I say before he can answer.
Colsar nods. "He noticed," he says. "That I did not carry your scent."
"That makes sense."
Fiorakis lets out another sound, louder this time, her small body tensing. I shift her and try to guide her but she pulls away, frustrated, and Colsar reaches for her without being asked.
She settles against him at first and then begins fussing again, her head turning, searching.
I exhale quietly. "We need to find a way to give her blood that is not ours. Or she needs to learn to enjoy milk."
Colsar glances down at her, then without hesitation his lip lifts slightly and he bites into his own wrist. The skin breaks easily. Blood wells at once. "I do not mind," he says, and brings his wrist to her mouth.
She latches immediately. The tension leaves her small body and she presses her tiny hands against his skin as though anchoring herself there, completely content.
I watch them. Something about it still feels unreal. "She prefers it," I say quietly.
"Of course she does." There is something almost satisfied in his voice.
Ari stirs faintly beside me as though aware of the shift, but does not wake.
I look back at Colsar. "What else did he say?"
His expression shifts. "He said if he chose to save you again, he might decide not to give you back." He pauses. "He brought up Rathmor law. Said if I died, you would become his. That our children would become his."
I stare at him. “I am fairly certain that is not how it works. I would become Sevrin’s. He is the oldestlegitimateson.” I pause.“Although…Sevrin is still a bastard, even if he has been legitimized.”
Colsar frowns at me.
I wave it off. "Not that it matters."
“Teorin believes it does."
