Dragon Knight-Commander (A Cullen Rutherford Shapeshifter Romance)

Chapter 15

'If there's a possibility that darkspawn are connected to The Mount then it makes sense to attack there rather than plug a thousand tiny leaks. We need to find out if Eden is also plagued by rifts. We must take Cat there,' said Cullen to Leliana, hands on hips, trying to dominate the room. He looked at Maxwell. 'Inquisitor?'

'We can't afford to lose her, Maxwell,' Leliana said with a lilting cadence in her tone, in what I now recognised as a different language. One that presumably Maxwell and Josephine could also understand. All this time when I'd thought they'd been exceptionally rude, they'd been unaware that I could actually hear them. I didn't know if that was better or worse. 

'I will be by her side, she will never be in any danger,' Cullen said to Leliana.

'What I meant was that we can't afford for her to stay in Eden or go back to Inger Land.'

'It's her life. It's her choice.'

'We must concentrate our efforts here. Samson will march soon. It will take you months to get to  Eden. What if Samson arrives while you're gone?'

'My deputy is a capable man. And if we thought that way, the army would never leave the base.'

'We'll send my agents to The Mount. There are no reports to suggest there is demon activity there. Just that enchanter's word. It was an incredibly bad idea to take her to him.'

Cullen looked at me. 'Apologies. It's rude of us to break into Dalish. Leliana doesn't think we should go to The Mount yet. She's suggested sending some scouts first. That's actually not a bad idea. In fact -' he rubbed his chest, 'That suits me as I will be away overnight on Thursday, not back till late the following day. Cat, you will not be going on any more missions without the army at your back. I expect you to stay here until I return.'

This Cullen was not a good Cullen. This Cullen was full of guilt and had talked my ear off the whole ride back to the camp about how bad he felt and that he would take me to Eden himself if he had to. But he was also restricting my movements, refusing to let me leave Skyhold. Controlling me.

The following day I sent him several messages to meet with me but he ignored them all.

I approached his chambers. His man, Merryboy, was standing guard outside. 'My lady?'

'Can I see the Commander?'

'Sorry, my lady. I'm under orders to let no one in.'

I pierced him with a glare. 'Why?'

'I believe the Commander is working on strategy and would not be disturbed.'

'This is important,' I said.

'I will pass on the message if he comes out but he was very specific and said, even if it was you, he was not to be disturbed.'

'I'm really going to have to insist, Merryboy.'

'I wish I could help, my lady.'

'Cullen? Cullen!' I shouted at the heavy oak door.

Bloody Cullen. I wanted to go back and see the enchanter near Bracken Village again, but all his men were sticking to his orders and wouldn't even let me take Warrior Girl out for a short ride. I thought Cullen said he only became possessive if he "claimed me". I didn't want to wait around for a couple of days doing nothing when there was a chance I could get some more information. There were so many more questions I wanted to ask the enchanter. Specifically, if the scripture said there were three of us, had she said who the third angel-touched was? Or where she was? My life for a cup of a coffee and someone who knew what the capital of France was.