Onyx Cage: Volume I: A Lochlann Feuds Companion Novel (The Lochlann Feuds Book 5) by Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison

Author:Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison [Mahle, Robin D. & Madison, Elle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-09-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 37

Of course, I didn’t get my wish since Princess Pain-in-the-arse followed me out of the damned tent.

“You have got to be kidding me,” she said in a tone she probably thought was quiet. “I told you last night, you do not get to treat me like your puppet and you sure as stars don’t get to tell me who I can marry.”

Ah. So she remained utterly ignorant of what a blood debt entailed, despite the seven to ten times it had been explained to her.

“Actually, Lemmikki, I do,” I said without turning to face her, lest I strangle her here in this very camp where I had made a vow of peace. “And rest assured that when my clan’s safety hangs in the balance, I will.”

Of course, she still followed, shuffling behind me on rapid footsteps with her much shorter stride.

“You know that my family will come for me. Why trade the threat of war for the guarantee of one? We could have worked out a treaty.” She sounded more desperate than I had heard her, more sincere than her usual flippancy allowed.

Korhonan hadn’t had that effect on her, so it had to be her cousin. With a sigh, I thought of Taras at the mercy of our enemies, and it made me pause long enough to break things down for her.

“There was no time, and once again, you fail to see the bigger picture.” I still didn’t turn to face her, but she was closer now, the sound of her footsteps only a single pace behind mine. “There would have been war either way. Just the idea that Lochlann is allied with Elk would have been enough for most of the other clans to cave, then the upstanding Iiro would be sitting on the Obsidian Throne. And my father would never let that stand.”

“Your father or you?” she pressed. “Is this all about power?”

I took another breath, this time in an effort to calm myself.

Was she serious right now? Iiro took her to a Summit and Theodore all but tricked her into marrying him, and I was the one who cared about power? Even after I brought her here, risking my father doing storms-knew-what in my absence, in an effort to give her back?

Finally, I spun to face her. “Is that what you believe?”

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, uncertainty warring on her delicate features. Well, I sure as hell wasn’t going to waste my time trying to explain something to her that she would neither understand nor believe.

I shook my head, feeling more tired than I had a moment ago. “Think what you will, Lemmikki, but I don’t trust Iiro farther than you could throw him, and I won’t risk my clan on his dubious word.”

“What about my word?” she countered.

I raised my eyebrows, wondering what she would offer.

“What if I agreed to wait to marry Theo until we could speak to my father? No one wants another war, least of all, Lochlann.” She chewed

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