Page 304 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

“You said did.” My voice dropped. “You think you were wrong?”

“I’m starting to wonder if it wasn’t the other way around. Something doesn’t line up.”

No shit. “Like why the fuck he didn’t come for you himself?”

She pushed her mug forward, then pulled it back, indecisive. “I’ve been glamoured against Lonan for at least three lifetimes. Valora has wards too.”

I was already shaking my head. “He tipped me off. He saw something.”

“He might’ve seen the report come in about the weapons,” she offered.

A valid point. “Still doesn’t answer the question. Why send others? Why not come himself? How long before he sics his dogs on you?”

Her eyes widened a split second before the front door was kicked open.

We both turned.

Two Renown stood silhouetted in the doorway.

Freya

The room erupted in a torrent of shadow.

Chairs screeched, the music cut out, and screams tangled with shouted orders—but it was the now-familiar hand in mine that had me moving before thought could catch up to instinct. Bodies slammed into mine as we ran. I couldn’t see—couldn’t hear anything over the rush of blood and chaos—but I kept my footing, kept moving, tethered to Cyrus as he dragged me toward the exit.

Then, suddenly—air. Cool, humid air.

We burst out into the dusk, lungs filling as the bar doors thudded shut behind us. Blinking against the light, I lunged forward, wrapped my arms around his waist—and jumped.

When our boots hit the dirt, we both jolted apart, eyes wide, hands flying over each other, checking for wounds.

Only once we were sure neither of us had been hit did we release our grips and turn, scanning the street. Then, finally, we breathed.

“You were saying?” I muttered.

His gaze flicked toward Luminark Manor behind me, and the scowl returned in full force.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“We need answers, and we need them now. I’ve already torn through everything in Reyna’s library.”

“I’ve told you—I’ve memorized the history we have. You exposing yourself to my mother was not on my agenda. Unless you’re ready to declare your intent to duel in front of the council, this is a shit idea.”

“Do you have an alternative?” I snapped. “Who else would have a comprehensive archive on Bellpost?”

He cast another uneasy glance toward the manor. “Reyna’s collection is more thorough than ours. If anything survived, it’ll be east of the river.”

“I’ve already read everything in it,” I said, shaking my head. “She mandated history lessons when I first arrived. I covered every known text on the shadow hierarchies. None of them had answers.”

“She let you into the restricted section?” he scoffed.

I scowled. “There is no restricted section. This isn’t a fucking academy. She doesn’t keep the ‘real’ books behind a velvet rope.”

“Reyna Gwyne absolutely has a restricted section,” he said, the smugness in his voice enough to make me want to knock the smirk off his face.

“Where?” I demanded. “I scoured that place.”

“In the Middle. Where else?”