Vatore paused, jaw clenching. Biancis were untouchable, but if Cielo was taken to the Black Desert, the child wouldn't survive it. "Leave me for a moment," He said to the room, and even though they were his family, they quietly obeyed.
"Mother?" Alessio right away turned to Nadia when they were in the hallway.
Silvan was still stunned, not exactly sure if he had said something he shouldn't have.
"Your father is sending a message to the bandits," Nadia explained gently, "They will only reply to him, because he's the only one who can give them what they want."
Alessio fell silent at that, feeling helpless. Things could go terribly wrong in a matter of moments. The bandits were sure to demand a steep price, but if his father scorned them and Cielo was harmed, the entire country, as well as the Biancis, would turn against him. It was rapidly becoming a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea.
