Page 266 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

“Explain,” Marcus ordered, voice all big-brother authority.

Ally ignored the untouched wine in front of her, stood, and leaned across the table to swipe Alec’s whiskey instead. She knocked it back in one gulp before slumping into the chair with a long-suffering sigh.

To my surprise, she actually explained.

Everything.

Well—almost everything. She kept the truth of her origin-life’s connection to Adrastos close, but laid out the rest: the threads, the odds, the spiraling futures. And one by one, everyone at the table fell silent, staring at their glasses with glum faces.

Alec blew out the breath we’d all been holding. “Jesus, guys,” he muttered, leaning forward until we were braced elbow to elbow around Marcus’ table. “You’ve just been carrying that on your own this whole time?”

“We doled out roles accordingly,” she reassured.

“I’m not talking weight distribution. I’m talking emotional bandwidth, for fuck’s sake.”

“The sake belongs to the fuck,” Ally mumbled.

“What?” Lana asked sharply. I saw so much of Freya in her now, it was surreal I’d never noticed the resemblance before.

“Nothing,” Ally whispered—but her glossy eyes found Alec’s across the table. He offered a crooked, agonized smile in return. “I didn’t mean it as a snub,” she said, voice thin. “It’s just…a lot. And Fae and Alec are happy.” She didn’t explain why, and no one pressed her. “Aren just found Magnolia. Freya has a chance with her shadow Prince. And I just…” Her voice cracked. A lone tear rolled down her cheek.

I had to fight the instinct to reach out and brush it away.

“Vulnerability’s a bitch,” Alec muttered, his voice gentler now.

“It is,” Ally agreed, her chin trembling as more tears spilled. “But I just wanted everyone to be happy. Just for a moment. Before it all comes crashing down. Is that so wrong?” Her shoulders shook as the sobs overtook her. “I just…I love you all so much.” She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, even as Fae sniffled and mirrored the motion.

“I would do anything for you,” she whispered. “I hope you know that.”

“Ally, sweetie,” Fae sobbed. “We love you too, you know? You’ve shown us every day since you woke up, baby.”

Ally nodded, voice hoarse. “I just want you safe and happy.”

“I know, honey. But…this is war.”

“No one expects you to save everyone,” Ansel said quietly, shaking his head. “That you do…” his words trailed off, and The Old General tipped his head back and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Well, it hurts like a mother,” Alec added dryly, and the weak laugh Ally gave sounded like a release.

“Did we fail you, Alvara?” Ansel asked. “It was never supposed to be you, facing the world alone in the end.”

“You know we have your back too, right?” Alec said, more serious now.

“I know.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. She took a shuddering breath, blew it out, and clasped her hands tightly on the table. “But I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t do everything I could to protect you.”

“Well, that’s bullshit,” Lana snapped, glaring. “We deserve a chance to save ourselves, don’t you think?”

“Seriously,” Alec added. “It’s been a while since I went out in a ball of fire. Feels overdue.”

“Stop it!” Ally laughed—wet and shaky—but still launched her spoon at him. “That’s not funny.”

“I’m still traumatized,” Ansel grumbled, flicking a glare at his brother.

“So,” Marcus said, steering them back, “you said in the best threads, Aren’s always with the Heiress?”

Ally nodded. I passed her a tissue and winced when she blew her nose like a foghorn.

“Magnolia,” she confirmed once she resurfaced with a watery laugh.