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dismissed his sudden tension as a reaction to his grief. She would deal with him later. Right
now she wanted proof of the children s destruction so that she could lay her own doubts to
rest.
This was the tricky part, Teeta thought as her quick mind came up with a way to explain the
lack of the children s bodies.
Their bodies are gone, destroyed as the assassins returned for another attack. Their hatred of
the House of Ice runs deep Mother. I barely escaped with my life and the proof that Flame
had perished. They wanted even this small piece of his energies as a trophy and only because
of my body armor was my life spared so that I might return this to you, Mother. Teeta
gestured to the singed whole blasted into her uniform by the deceitful Grilla and silently
thanked the dead woman for her small treacherous deed. It seemed that she was good for
something after all.
Everyone in the room gawked at the burnt hole, almost unnoticeable against the deep black of
Teeta s uniform, but proof of a near fatal blast lay right before their eyes.
Teeta felt her heartrate speed up as her mother eyed her stained and damaged uniform. She
knew that if she had stopped and had her injuries checked and took the time to wash before
this meeting, her plan would have failed. As it was, she let a small sliver of true pain cross
her face before quickly hiding it behind a mask of indifference. She was in great pain from
the blast; she suspected broken ribs, but now used the pain to collaborate her story.
Are you hurt, My Daughter? Tessla was instantly concerned for her heir. If something
should befall Teeta, there was no telling what would happen in the ensuing battle for control
of her dynasty.
I will live, Mother. I wanted to personally deliver this news to you and place Flame s final
tribute to you in your hands.
As much as she would have loved to make it sound like Flame had died cowering like the
lowest of desert worms, that would not be believed after the courage he displayed in dealing
with Catla. While she had the pleasure of seeing her sibling dead in the eyes of their people,
she did not have the satisfaction of seeing his reputation torn and lying in shreds beneath her
feet. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but the taste of ultimate power would wipe out any sour
taste from her mouth. Besides, there could be no blot on the honor of the House of Fire. After
all, she would one day rule this house as well as the House of Ice.
She allowed her steps to falter a little as she walked closer to the great woman seated in front
of her. In true ceremonial form, she dropped to her knees in front of her, dropped her chin to
her chest in a display of proper grief and offered up the lock of hair in both of her opened
palms.
A final tribute to the male of your line who was born a true Keeper, My Mother. She fought
to hold back giggles of delight as her mother slowly grasped the lock of auburn hair and bade
her daughter to rise.
Teeta took the traditional place, at her mother s left, and ignored the looks Alonzid was
giving her. Her sire would be harder to fool, and because he had her mother s ear, she had to
be meticulous in the way that she presented herself. He would be watching her closely,
searching for anything that she knew and did not tell of his precious son.
Tessla had no choice but to accept her daughter s word. With the proof she had been
presented, she had no choice but to make the announcement of her son s death and the
demise of his offspring.
Sharp as ever, Tessla noticed her daughter s reaction to the death of her womb-mate, but kept
any worries she felt to herself. If there were something going on with her daughter, she would
handle it her way and in her own time. As for now, her people needed reassurances that their
position in life would not change, and that a leader for the House of Ice, now under her
jurisdiction, would be named, least all out war develop in a quest for power.
Hear me, My People. Tessla spoke as she stood, releasing her life-mate s hand and the
room calmed once again. Their leader would know what to do.
We have been delivered a punishing blow by the fates, the loss of The Keeper of the Flame
and his children who also possessed his energies. There was sad murmuring and whispers,
but Tessla calmed them by raising her hands in a be still motion.
But the power of our Great House will not be affected by our loss. This is proof that my son
lived, she held up the twisting lock of hair, that my son fought, that my son died in an
attempt to keep his house, the House of Fire, safe and protected. His death will not go in vain
or unpunished. No one challenges the House of Fire and lives!
The people began to nod in agreement with their leader. Flame had proven his bravery and
courage by withstanding what Catla had done to him, his cunning by escaping the assassins
originally, and his loyalty by contacting his sister to get his children and future heirs to safety.
The House of Fire produced an excellent caliber of male and they would seek revenge for the
unnecessary destruction on one of their own!
My daughter, Tessla continued, will now lead the House of Ice and a special taskforce to
find these assassins and eliminate them will be formed by her! They carried their vendetta too
far when they touched a member of my family in their quest to Destroy the House of Ice!
Justice will be ours and death to all who oppose us!
Her words were met with a roaring cheer. The women demanded recompense for the damage
done to their Great House. No one who dared to dishonor the House of Fire and lived! The
Matriarch would ban together to seek out and destroy the parties responsible. No one flaunted
the peace bringing rules of the Matriarch and lived!
In the midst of their cheering, Tessla turned and motioned to her life-mate that it was time to
leave. She had movements to plan and strategies to employ, but first she would see to
Alonzid. All of this talk of the death of his son had to be painful for him and she would try to
alleviate his sadness. Truthfully, although Tessla had cared for her son, she d never really
developed a bond for the strange male her egg had produced. She felt more for his missing
daughter Ember, but understood Alonzid s pain. If her daughter had been senselessly
murdered, she would burn with a need for revenge greater than the desire she felt for it now.
Death to the assassins.
The true assassin strove to control her laughter as she watched her mother exit the room. How
quickly her plan came to fruition. She almost felt pity for those who would oppose her, for
they could easily be marked as a part of the conspiracy to destroy the power of the House of
Ice. Maybe she could do away with the Brotherhood too! They were the ones who had taught
that simpering fool, Flame, to think independently from the rest of the male cattle.
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