The Blood Crown (The Blood Folk #2)

7. Chapter 7

Chapter 7

N ight stretched across the forest in front of Ven. Silence blanketing the pines along with the fresh dusting of glittering snow. Karro sat next to him, arms draped over his knees where he leaned back against a thick trunk of a tree.

How many times had they done this in their lives? Sat exactly like this, up late into the night keeping watch.

It reminded him of the young male he’d once been—desperate to gain acceptance from his mother’s people—to prove the blood of his father did not define him. Once he’d met Karro, only a few years older than himself, he knew that this was the only place he wanted to be, and that he would do anything to earn the trust and respect of his mother's people.

His adolescent years had been a challenge, mostly because all males of that age were assholes, some just outgrew it a little faster than others. But the Ledge, and later the battlefield, had earned him a place amongst them, and Karro had been by his side through it all.

Karro slid a knife out from the bandolier across his chest, his gaze dropping as he efficiently began cleaning his nails. They sat in silence for minutes or hours before he finally let out a restless breath that misted the air in front of them. “Have you told her yet?”

Karro's eyes never left the sharp edge of the blade as he let the question hang in the chilled air.

Ven loosed a sigh. “Seth told you.”

Karro dropped the knife, head snapping up as he looked at Ven.

Ven silently cursed himself, dropping his head back against the rough bark to avoid the inevitable interrogation.

“I meant have you told her how you feel?” Karro swiveled on him, eyes narrowing. “What did you mean?”

Ven dug the toe of his boot into the dirt, silent as he lifted his eyes to his brother.

“Fucking Fate,” Karro uttered, deftly slipping the knife back into the sheath at his chest. “All the more reason to say something!”

Ven shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “She just came back from that place. From him —whoever the fuck he was. I’m not going to force that on her—not when she’s still grieving what she left behind.”

Karro shook his head in frustration, muttering under his breath.

This is why he’d told Seth. Seth didn’t meddle. Seth knew when to go ahead and shut the fuck up.

“I will tell her when we’ve safely made it back . When she isn’t forced to be with me every second of every day.”

Karro was quiet for a moment, his lips pulled into a thin line as he leaned forward, studying him in a way that made Ven want to start a brawl. When he finally spoke, it was with forced calm, his face only inches away from Ven’s. “Do you know how lucky you are, you bastard? And you’re such a fucking idiot that you can’t even see it.”

Anger flared in his chest, his breath turning ragged at the accusation in Karro’s tone. As if this were an easy decision. As if it didn’t threaten to tear his beating heart out of his chest with every passing moment that he kept it from her.

Ven leaned forward, refusing to give any ground, nose to nose with his brother. Karro may have been physically larger than himself, but they’d fought enough over their lifetimes that they both knew they were evenly matched.

Karro pushed a finger into his chest, and Ven was tempted to break it. “Do you know what I would give to find that?” Desperation threaded Karro’s words. His voice nearly breaking for a moment as he met Ven’s gaze. “Someone to fight for? Someone to come back to?”

“Please—you’re the last person who can lecture me—”

Karro “You think I don’t want someone to claim as my own? Something even close to what Nira and Embra have?” He stabbed a finger into the night air. “What you might have with her if you weren’t such a fucking coward?”

Confusion replaced the anger roiling in his chest as Karro’s words struck deep.

Karro never lacked for company, so he’d never thought much past it. But now—he wondered how he possibly could have missed it. And he felt like a piece of shit for not knowing his brother better than that.

The females. The fleeting trysts. Maybe they hadn’t been Karro’s choice, he just hadn’t found his match.

“She cares for you, and you care for her,” Karro murmured. “Why is it so hard for you to admit that?”

If only it were as simple as Karro made it out to be.

“Because we both know the fate I am doomed to face,” Ven uttered.

Karro’s voice was laced with frustration. “You know nothing of what Fate has in store for you.” He looked toward the camp, toward where Aurelia slept. “Don’t be a fucking fool.”

Unfolding his legs, Karro stood up without another word and stalked off through the woods, his harsh words ringing through the night air, mixing with the flurries of snow.