Storm (The Storm Chronicles Book 6) by Skye Knizley Page B

arrested when you were fourteen, Raven was learning the Totentanz. When you were attending hockey games in Boston, Raven was learning to fight!”
    Sable felt her anger boiling. “I was trained as well, Dominique. I learned the Totentanz, learned to fight, better than her.”
    Dominique shook her head. “You egotistical brat! You really have no idea, do you?”
    “I know Raven has what should be rightfully mine!” Sable screamed.
    She reached for Dominique’s throat and was stopped by a sword pointed at her heart. She stopped and glared at the newcomer, a vampire she didn’t know. He was short, perhaps a little over five feet tall, and dressed in black leather that could only be described as androgynous, from his tight leather pants to the blouse that resembled that of a Victorian doll. His face was heavily altered with cosmetics, but his soulpatch beard belied his gender.
    “You must be Branwen,” he said.
    “I must be, I am the only one unfortunate enough to have my sister’s face,” Sable snapped.
    She wanted to reach out and snap his neck, but the sword gave her pause. Rarely had she seen anyone move so fast.
    “I am your brother, Thaddeus Michael Arthfael Tempeste Von Strohm. Most everyone calls me Thad,” he said.
    “Great. Pleased to meet you, can you put the sword down, now?” Sable asked.
    Thad shook his head. “Not yet. You see, you were about to attack the head of the household and Mother’s partner. That is a no-no, and you wouldn’t dare try such a thing had you been through the training your sister has.”
    Sable clenched her fist and weighed her chances of drawing her revolver before he pierced her heart with the blade. The odds were not in her favor. “Fine. Swell, I’m not as good as my sister, happy?”
    Thad frowned and lowered the blade. “No one has said that, Branwen. To the contrary, you are both unique and special women. What Dominique is trying to convey is that your hatred and jealousy of your sister is misplaced.”
    Like hell.
    Sable opened her mouth to respond, but was interrupted by Dominique.
    “Thaddeus speaks the truth, Branwen. Ravenel was not separated from you by her choice, nor was she somehow treated better than you. She was given her father’s name and made Fürstin for one simple reason. To protect you.”
    Sable blinked and felt her anger melt away. “What do you mean?”
    Thad sheathed his sword and looked unhappy. “Raven was the bait while you grew up anonymous. She drew the ire of Strohm and his followers while you were blessed with a relatively normal life as Du Guerre’s ward. At least until Mason showed up on your doorstep.”
    Sable felt like the rug was being pulled out from under her. Du Guerre had always led her to believe that she was the one protecting Ravenel. She shook her head and glared at Dominique.
    “I don’t believe you. If she was the bait, how did she survive?”
    “If you were the bait, how did you?” Thaddeus shot back.
    “Enough!”
    Valentina stood on the stairs above dressed in a flowing gown of red leather and black lace, Her hair trailed down her back in an obsidian curtain and a rapier was sheathed at her neat waist. Sable tried to meet her gaze and found she couldn’t. Valentina was vibrating with fury. Sable watched as Valentina swept down the stairs and moved between Dominique and Thad. Valentina’s eyes flared blue and she glared at them.
    “Dominique, Thaddeus, it is not your place to discuss this with Branwen,” she said.
    Thad bowed. “Apologies, Mother.”
    Dominique did not follow suit. “Branwen needs to know the truth, my wife. Until she understands, she is a danger to herself and the house.”
    Valentina arched an eyebrow. “You speak out of turn, my familiar.”
    Dominique lowered her eyes. “That may be so, mi’lady, but I am not in error.”
    Valentina turned to Sable. “This is neither the time nor place to discuss this, Branwen. But they speak truly. The intention was to protect you, the rest can be