Gilded Serpent Danielle Jensen (i can read with my eyes shut .TXT) 📖

Don’t say her name. Don’t stand there and act like you care. “I ordered him to teach her to defend herself.”

“All he’s doing is drowning her in the mud.”

Concern that Quintus might actually be hurting Teriana flickered through him, but it was overwhelmed by his grief. And his rising anger. “It’s not your concern. I’ll review these and let you know if I have changes.”

“You don’t want to discuss them?”

“I’m occupied.” He picked up a pencil, needing Felix gone. Because he needed to calm down and figure out what path forward wouldn’t rip the Thirty-Seventh apart. “You may attend to other duties.”

Silence. Something that had never been uncomfortable between them before but now felt unbearable.

“No!” Felix slammed his hands down on the table, causing water to splash out of Marcus’s cup. “Not until you talk to me.”

“Watch your tone.” Marcus was on his feet, though he didn’t remember standing. “You are not above punishment.”

And I will punish you for what you’ve done.

“Do it, then.” Felix leaned across the table so that they were nose to nose. “Have me whipped for being the only one with the courage to call you out on your bullshit behavior.”

His temper was an inch from boiling over, because this wouldn’t be a whipping. It would be the gallows. “This is not the moment to test me, Felix.”

“When, then? When?” Felix’s blue eyes searched his. “When the Empire sends a senator over with reinforcements and they learn how you’ve been carrying on with her? The decisions you’ve made because of her? When it’s you being whipped in the mud for breaking legion law? Or worse, if they decide to string you up for treason? Is that when you’ll finally see reason?”

“That’s my—”

“I’m not done!” Felix slammed his hands down on the table again. “It’s over, Marcus. Our freedom to do what we wanted is over. The xenthier path that hunter came through originated within spitting distance of a fortress we conquered. And if there is a way here, there is a way back. It’s only a matter of time until we are once again under the Senate’s thumb and you are no longer the one in control. You cannot give them any reason to believe you’ve been anything less than the perfect loyal dog they trained you to be or they’ll kill you.”

Marcus’s breath was coming in rapid pants, his nails digging into his palms. “I have done everything perfectly! We control Arinoquia, which is exactly what I was told to accomplish. What more do you want from me?”

“End it with Teriana. That’s what I want.”

His hands balled into fists. “I already did.”

“That is such bullshit.” Felix shook his head. “And the worst is that I can’t tell if you’re lying to me or to yourself.”

“It’s. Over.”

“Then prove it.” Felix leveled a finger at him. “Put her in a different tent. Or better yet, send her back to the Quincense, because we don’t need her anymore. The only reason for you to keep her around now is because you can’t stand to let her go!”

His head was throbbing, pulse roaring, and all Marcus could see was red. “You’ve been trying to get rid of her from the moment you set eyes on her. So things can go back to normal. And don’t think I don’t know how far you’re willing to go to achieve it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You want her dead. Admit it.”

Felix stared at him. Then he gestured at the entrance to the tent. “Is that what Quintus is teaching her? To protect herself from me?”

More rain began to fall overhead, pattering loudly against the tent canvas as they stared each other down.

“Thirteen years,” Felix said softly. “Thirteen years, we’ve been best friends. Have stood at each other’s backs against every odd. And despite all that, you don’t know me at all.”

“You’re right. I don’t.” Because if he’d known his friend was capable of betrayal, they wouldn’t have been friends in the first place.

Felix raked a hand over his hair. “I’d slit my own throat before I’d turn a blade on Teriana.”

“Don’t lie to me. I know you hate her.”

“It’s not her I hate,” Felix answered. “It’s how you’ve been acting ever since she joined us. You always put the Thirty-Seventh first, and the men trusted you to keep them safe. But more and more, we’re seeing you make decisions with different priorities in mind, and I’m not the only one who doesn’t like it. I don’t know if she’s a symptom or the disease, but if you don’t refocus on the men and our mandate, you’re going to rip the Thirty-Seventh apart.”

“Don’t put this all on me. You’re the one who caused a bloody brawl, forcing the men to pick sides.”

“That’s not true!” Felix snarled. “The Forty-First were getting in our men’s faces that Titus would already have paths mapped but that you’re too busy pandering to the Arinoquians to even look. I told them to shut their traps. That you knew what you were doing and that things would be back to normal soon enough.”

That word. “Why are you so rutting eager to go back to the way things were?”

Felix’s eyes narrowed, searching his. “Why aren’t you?”

For a thousand reasons. But the burdens of secrets and betrayal meant Felix was the last person he could trust with them.

“Is it because once the paths are mapped, she’ll be through with us?” Felix gave a sharp shake of his head. “Don’t bother answering that. Just know that I know hurting her would hurt you. And that is something I’d never do, even though if you keep down this path, you’ll destroy yourself.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “Since we’ve been children, I’ve protected you, Marcus. Lied and deceived and murdered to keep you alive and to achieve your ends. And for what? What do you give me in return?”

Everything. He gave everything to his legion. To his men.

“Apparently not the one thing that you want.” Marcus leaned