Page 178 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

As head of the coven, it was my responsibility to know everything that moved under my roof. A failure of one of my souls was mine to answer for. And as Calypso’s second, I couldn’t afford to have rogue agents starting wars on my watch.

We’d be lucky to avoid one now.

Shoving Nix between the shoulder blades, I stalked after him into the manor.

“You have one goddamned job, Nix—protect this family. You jeopardized everything tonight.”

“Maybe if you bothered to communicate with your leaders, we’d feel represented⁠—”

“It’s not your job to feel represented. Fuck your feelings. It’s your job to follow orders and defend this family. To defend the balance. That means keeping peace between our side of the river and theirs—not starting an inter-hierarchy incident.”

“Didn’t take long for the Queen’s favorite to run home with his tail between his legs.”

“Oh, I’m sorry—did your plan involve you swooping in to save the day after you cracked like a fucking egg?”

“I’m just saying, you must be awfully bitter you let your prize get away.”

“My prize?” I scoffed. “If Lonan requires payment for tonight, I’ll gladly offer your head in her stead.”

“What’s he even want with that bitch? She’s underpowered, undertrained, and undersized.”

“She still managed to escape. And not before rearranging your face,” I muttered as our boots crunched over broken glass. Paladins rushed to reset the manor around us. We needed a mender. We needed a miracle.

“Fuck off.”

“Guys,” Cali cut in sharply. “You sound like petulant toddlers. Bite your tongues before the Queen hears you bickering.”

“It’s bad enough Nix revealed there’s infighting to the Wraith,” Jo said, unusually irritated.

“They’re right,” I growled. “We don’t need the rest of the hierarchy knowing this coven’s a goddamn disaster.” I leveled a glare at Nix. “Can you bandage your pride together for an hour, cousin?”

“It’s not my pride I’m concerned with.”

“Right. Must be exhausting watching me clean up your messes all the time. Shouldn’t be hard to earn respect with all that natural talent, right?”

“Careful, Cyrus,” he warned, turning on me instead of making himself useful.

I met his eye and flashed my most winning smile. “Or what?”

“Boys,” Cali hissed, trying—and failing—to wedge herself between us.

“Let’s not forget who earned their Wings and who didn’t,” Nix said. “I’d hate for Reagan to bury her second golden boy.”

Rage pulsed behind my ribs.

Charles. The Obsidian Crown. My obsession with history. My brother’s death, thrown at my feet like a weapon.

“I was just thinking the same fucking thing,” I said quietly. “Only difference is—I have the brass to back my claim. Do you?”

“Cyrus,” Calypso snapped, shoving a hand against my chest. I stepped back, placating her, but my smile stayed locked on Nix. I tracked the clench and release of his fists, watching his face wrinkle into a snarl as his breathing picked up.

“You testing me, cousin?”

I dropped the smile. Adrenaline hissed through my bloodstream. There were actual problems to solve, and yet here I was, welcoming a fight.

I was sick of Nix’s mouth. Sick of his whining. Sick of his lust for a birthright he didn’t have the balls to claim.

“If you ever find your spine,” I said, voice low, “name the time and place.”