Wings of Blood

by Miranda Martin

  I was ready and willing to deal with all of that.

  But...

  It was so damn frustrating not being in the thick of things, where I could gauge the overall mood, see problems with my own eyes. There were some tasks that just couldn’t be done from behind a desk.

  Things that I didn’t trust Blaise to do, not well.

  His heart was in the right place, and nobody could argue that he was organized, that he dotted his i’s and crossed his t’s. But when you were dealing with people, being competent on paper wasn’t enough. You needed to have a certain level of people skills, for lack of a better phrase.

  Blaise was many things, but likable just wasn’t one of them.

  He could be grating on the nerves even when he wasn’t trying to be. On top of that, as if the physical distance wasn’t enough, I could feel how the flock Chieftains and many of my contacts in general had started treating me differently since I became Sven’s Consort. I could hear it in the careful tones over the phone. Heck, I could see it in emails that read like they’d been gone over with a fine toothed comb even when the subject was as basic as an update on the flock population for our records.

  The ring of the telephone interrupted my negative train of thought.

  I accepted the incoming call, trying to curb my grumpiness. It was Ruth. “Hi, Ruth,” I greeted, trying not to let my mood seep into my tone.

  “Hello, Adara,” she said. Her voice grew quieter. “Just calling to give you an update on those rumblings against the Crown.”

  Geo and a couple of others from her flock had been involved in the assassination attempt on Sven that had resulted in my death. My subsequent public reemergence after my spectacular demise was the reason why I wasn’t visiting flocks anymore. Ruth’s Chieftain wasn’t my biggest fan.

  There were multiple flocks like this one, where I got most of my information from people who knew the goings on but weren’t necessarily in charge. Another reason why this job required a certain amount of finesse.

  I hadn’t given Blaise any of my contacts, though I had passed information on to him that had made him question my source more than once. But giving my list over would be an almost surefire way kill news sources I had spent years cultivating.

  “Great,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “What do you have?”

  She told me. “Geo and the original conspirators are dead.”

  I understood the need for such severe measures in this case. If Sven was harsh about this first attempt, it would make others think more than twice before they tried anything. In the end, their deaths were likely to save more lives.

  I knew all of that. But it still left a pit in my stomach when I thought about those lives wasted when we’d already endured so much loss.

  “The sympathizers are lying low, but I did hear some… not so flattering things about the King.” She hesitated.

  “You can tell me,” I said, trying to hold back my exasperation at the care she’d never shown before when relaying information. “I’m still the same person and I still need to do my job.”

  Ruth sighed. “I know that. I just also know that I wouldn’t be thrilled hearing this kind of talk about my Joel,” she explained.

  Then she let me have it.

  Most of it wasn’t something I hadn’t heard before. How Sven wasn’t any better than Emberich, judging by how he’d killed his would-be murderers. Never mind the fact that he’d left sympathizers alone, deliberately avoiding the kind of wholesale scorched earth policy Emberich had liked to employ. And, of course, there were also those who held the opposite opinion, that Sven hadn’t been harsh enough, that he should have taken care of all of them. That he was weak to not kill more of his subjects.

  And more of the same, often conflicting opinions.

  Sometimes you couldn’t win for losing.

  I was glad that anti-Sven sentiment was apparently lower than it had initially been when he first took the throne. Baby steps. I’d take progress.

  Ruth hesitated again.

  “What else, Ruth?” I prodded. “I can take it.”

  She sighed. “Just don’t let this get under your skin,” she warned.

  “Nothing does anymore,” I assured her.

  Maybe that wasn’t entirely true. But it was the image of me I wanted to project. Any sign of weakness was one people would just continue to poke and prod at. The added barrier of having to hear things secondhand did have the perk of taking the sting out of a lot of the comments, at least.

  “There are also rumors… that the only reason the King made you his Consort was because he wanted sole access to your blood. That he wanted his children to have the Original Bloodline coursing through their veins as well. That he saw an opportunity to increase his power while simultaneously robbing his enemies of it and… he took it.”

  Oh.

  This wasn’t something I’d heard before. I felt the sting of the words sink in.

  It wasn’t true. Sven didn’t know of my genetic history in the beginning. But he knew before I became his Consort...

  No.

  No, I wasn’t going down this path. I knew Sven. Knew him better than any of these rumor mills did.

  “I see,” I said after a pause that was just a touch too long. “Thank you for letting me know. It’s always good to hear what’s floating out there.”

  Ruth sighed. “Sometimes people… don’t want to see others doing well,” she said gently. “Reflects more on them than you.”

  I didn’t want to dwell on this, so I quickly changed the subject and moved on to other things.

  Being the subject of so much gossip would take time to absorb.

  Not that I hadn’t expected it. Being with Sven was enough. So was being the only known living descendant of the Original Bloodline. Both together? There were bound to be ridiculous stories floating around. I’d have to make a concerted effort to develop an even thicker skin.

  I finished that call somehow feeling even more out of sorts than before. Not what I usually expected after speaking with Ruth. It was disconcerting that even Ruth, someone I’d known for most of my life, now saw me as somewhat of an extension of the Crown.

  Not that that view was entirely false. I did have an emotional connection to the King now, after all. Maybe it was asking too much to be seen as a completely separate entity.

  I was contemplating that depressing thought when I got another message, this one marked URGENT.

  I frowned as I saw it was from Aaden, the Chieftain of my flock. The one I grew up in, anyway.

  I opened it and felt my stomach drop as I skimmed the message. Chieftain Aaden was never one to mince words, and today was no exception.

  Adara,

  A small group just returned to the flock with two people seriously injured.

  They reported they were attacked by Eli’s flock when out in neutral territory, completely unprovoked.

  How shall we proceed?

  -Aaden

  This was exactly why I’d been worried about Blaise’s “announcement-only” approach regarding some of the changes we were implementing. The people in Eli’s flock were used to being high up in the pecking order and receiving preferential treatment in exchange for their unwavering support for Emberich. Aaden hadn’t given much detail on the matter, but I was guessing something about the new way of things wasn’t sitting well with them. Since my flock had tended to bear much of the burden of allowing Eli’s flock that special treatment, I was guessing this had something to do with that.

  No matter what the real reason was, I knew one thing for sure—Blaise was not qualified to handle something like this. Not by himself.

  I stared at the email.

  I needed to go myself for this.

  That wasn’t just the emotional part of me speaking. Yes, I wanted to protect my flock even if many had turned their backs on me when I’d taken this position as Liaison. It didn’t matter. I still cared about them.

  I could even understand their trepidation. I had original
ly been working for Emberich. Technically. I had tried my best to find ways to help the flocks, including my own.

  Even from a practical standpoint, we needed to deal with this situation well. If we bungled this, it might send the wrong message to anyone else who thought they could simply pick fights with other flocks if they weren’t happy with how things were going.

  Moreover, we needed to try not to alienate either of the flocks involved in the process.

  I didn’t know if that was possible, but it was definitely what we needed to aim for.

  Blaise just wasn’t experienced enough, didn’t have quite the right temperament, to pull something like that off. I didn’t even know if I could, honestly.

  I needed to speak with Sven.

  I got up and left the office. Amna and Reelin glanced at each other, surprised at the change in routine even as they settled into step just behind me. I didn’t fill them in as I headed over to the small audience chamber, where I knew Sven would be at this time of day.

  Igna frowned when he saw me coming, glancing up at the guards behind me. Apparently, they weren’t able to answer the question on his face, but he opened the door for me anyway while his partner Grant watched with a neutral expression.

  “Thanks, Igna,” I called out as I swept into the room.

  He murmured a greeting.

  When I stepped inside, it was to see that Sven was actually sitting alone for once. Probably why Igna had so easily opened the door for me. That, and the determined expression on my face.

  Sven looked up with a smile when he saw it was me, but it faded as he took in my tense expression. He stood, coming around the desk as Igna closed the door, giving us some privacy as my guards and Sven’s took up position in the hall.

  “What is it, Adara?” he asked, reaching out to take my arms. “What’s wrong?”

  I took a deep breath. “I need to leave the palace. The capital.”

  His expression grew wary. “Why?” he asked. “You know it’s not safe for you to—”

  “There was an altercation between a few people in my flock and Eli’s flock,” I interrupted. “Blaise can’t handle something like this. He isn’t ready.”

  Sven pressed his lips together in a tight line as he let go of me. “He can handle it,” he said. “Just tell him what to do.”

  I shook my head.

  “You know these things don’t work that way,” I admonished, not giving ground. “It isn’t a paint by numbers kind of deal. Blaise isn’t the man for something like this. You know he isn’t suited to it and I’m not willing to let him bungle it.”

  I took a step closer, laying my hand on his tense forearm. “And I can’t be trapped in the capital forever,” I added softly. “I can’t live like a prisoner forever. Not even for my own safety.”

  Even as I said it, I knew it was true. I was start feeling resentful, and it would poison us.

  Sven let out a frustrated breath, wrapping an arm around my waist. “That’s a low blow,” he muttered, but his face didn’t look quite so obstinate anymore.

  “It’s true,” I said. He grunted. “How would you feel if the shoe was on the other foot?” I asked in a softer tone.

  He searched my face, lines of worry and stress deepening as he considered me.

  “You know I’m right,” I murmured, cupping the side of his face.

  He sighed, his shoulders dropping. “You have to do exactly what Igna recommends,” he warned. “No complaints, just compliance.”

  I felt my heart fill with emotion, because I knew exactly how much it cost him to give in. How much he wanted to keep me cocooned and safe.

  How much my death had hurt him.

  I knew exactly how often he woke in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, reached for me, reassuring himself that I was still there.

  “Agreed,” I said, sinking in against his body. “No complaints.”

  His arms wrapped tightly around me. “You have to come back safe,” he added, resting his head against the top of mine. “Non-negotiable.”

  “I will,” I promised, hugging him back just as tight. “I will.”

  And I would. No matter what.

  Chapter Three

  I didn’t waste time getting ready. If Eli was willing to test the waters with something like this, I didn’t want to wait around to see what else he might try.

  Sven watched me pack, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, a grim look on his face.

  “I’ll be safe,” I reassured him again as I finished throwing in the few things I would need for an overnight trip. I’d shove it into one of the carriers we used to travel with things in our phoenix forms. I used to have a bag ready to go, but that was before my life had changed so drastically. “Igna is sending guards with me, I’ll be staying with my own flock, and I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  Sven shook his head, straightening from his lean against the wall. “I’m coming with you.”

  I shook my head, walking over to him and sliding my arms around his waist.

  “You know you can’t,” I said reasonably. “The Phoenix King can’t simply abandon the capital and rush out to take care of every small issue. It’ll spread you too thin, especially when you still have to consolidate your power base. Someone could take advantage of your absence to try something, or something bigger could come up while you’re gone.”

  He shook his head, sliding his arms around my waist. “My people can hold down the fort for a day,” he argued. “If we were that weak, we wouldn’t still be here.”

  “You’re right,” I agreed, because he was. He and his people had managed to make their hold on the throne a lot less shaky in a very short amount of time. “Still doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. And you have that meeting today with the contingent of Chieftains that want to work with you in a more meaningful way. You need the support they could provide. You need more real allies, not just people waiting to see which way the cards will fall.”

  “Then I’ll postpone it,” he retorted, but I could see he knew I was being reasonable.

  “We can’t be glued at the hip twenty-four seven,” I murmured, settling my face against his chest. I knew he’d already agreed.

  He sighed, tightening his hold. “I really hate this,” he muttered.

  “I know.”

  I stayed in his embrace for a few minutes longer. Then I had to leave. This wasn’t something that could wait.

  Sven went out with me to the courtyard, his hand warm in mine. We used the flat expanse as a landing and taking off point because it could accommodate a fair number of us in our much larger phoenix forms. When we got out there, I was expecting the guards Igna had decided upon to escort me.

  I just wasn’t expecting fifteen of them.

  I stopped short just to stare for a moment at the small army he’d assembled. “Uh… isn’t fifteen a little excessive?” I said in a low voice, turning to Igna.

  He raised a brow at me.

  “I do not think you should leave at all,” he replied calmly. “So no. I do not believe fifteen to be excessive.”

  I looked over at Sven.

  “This was the deal,” he said with equanimity, his eyes approving of the number.

  True. I had agreed not to argue with Igna’s security detail. I sighed. Gone were the days of me grabbing my bag and heading out on long flights alone.

  Looking back at the amassed group, I could see Blaise waiting to leave over at one side, looking none too happy. He had not been excited to hear that I’d be going with him on this particular trip.

  Good thing I didn’t really care about his feelings on the matter.

  “All right,” I agreed, turning to give Sven another tight hug and quick kiss. That was about as much of a public display as I was willing to make. I couldn’t help being the target of so much gossip, but I didn’t want to give them more to gossip about than I had to. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Be safe,” he murmured, letting me step back.

  I nodded, walking over to an
empty spot and stripping to add my clothes to my carrier.

  “I could have handled this on my own,” Blaise muttered next to me. “Now we will have a full procession to your flock.”

  I shrugged. I agreed with him. “Just think about how safe you’ll be,” I suggested.

  His face twisted and he opened his mouth to say something else that would no doubt be obnoxious, but I changed before he could, pushing him back.

  Rude, but I needed my little victories.

  Nodding at the others arranged around me, I waited for the lead guard to head out. In this case, it turned out to be Reelin, the strip of yellow plumage wrapping around his otherwise mostly orange midsection giving him away. I was glad Amna and he were coming. At least I knew them better.

  We all followed his lead up into the air, his powerful wings propelling him off the ground with ease. I looked down and waved goodbye to Sven with a tilt of my wings and then straightened my flight.

  The guards immediately encircled me, their sharp eyes watching the skies and ground around us as Blaise was pushed next to me. It made sense. Much easier to keep two people safe if we were together. That didn’t mean I was thrilled to have Blaise’s company the whole way there.

  At least he couldn’t speak in this form.

  Small favors.

  The flight to my flock was a long one, taking about four hours without any stops. It was why we had to stay the night. We needed a rest before we left to come back. The long flight also meant I didn’t have anything left to do but think.

  Nerves were a familiar friend every time I thought about my flock. Despite the fact that I visited rarely, they were still my flock, even though my grandparents were gone, had been gone for many years now. My parents were dead and gone even before they were, so my early memories of them were vague at best.

  Being alone as a teenager was no picnic. I’d been placed with Jamine and River after my grandmother passed, which was a year and a day after my grandfather. It had been a devastating blow to be left without family, though at least my grandparents were together again.

  She’d never been the same after he passed. They’d fallen in love young, spent decades together. In my grief, I’d contemplated putting her ashes out in the sun in the hopes she’d come back.