Lion El'Jonson's blood froze. After a nanosecond's hesitation, his mind reacted, and his fingers clamped around Loyalty at his waist like lightning. The feel of the hilt offered him a fleeting illusion of reassurance.
But the blade had barely cleared its sheath by an inch when he felt something cold and hard against his neck.
Lion El'Jonson froze. He had not even noticed when Bona had closed in beside him, yet that plain silver sword was already pressed against his carotid artery.
"Calm down."
Bona spoke calmly.
"Before you act, at least think it through."
Under Lion El'Jonson's furious, restrained gaze, Bona extended two fingers and pushed the legendary Loyalty back into its sheath.
His gaze swept over all the Primarchs and Imperial military commanders present, as calmly as though he were examining a pile of inconsequential objects.
"I don't believe this is an ordinary award ceremony."
"Rewards can be given at any time. What matters most now is completing humanity's unification. Everyone knows that."
"At a time like this, this gathering is highly suspicious."
"Still more ordinary than some stranger with no known origins!" Russ sneered, baring his distinctive fangs without any attempt to hide his hostility.
"I could smell that sickening Warp stench on you from half a galaxy away."
"Why should I trust you?"
Bona did not answer. He merely watched him in silence.
That gaze sent a chill through the Wolf King of the snowfields, who had ranged across the galaxy. It held neither anger nor madness, but an emptiness born of reason taken to its absolute extreme-the gaze of someone who would plunge a blade into his own heart without hesitation to achieve an optimal outcome.
Russ even felt that, if Bona wished it, his life could end here in the very next instant.
Bona