Chapter 31
31
EVANGELINE
T he next morning, after I sent ten unanswered texts to Blake about where he’d been all day yesterday and last night, I spent the morning with my sister, chugged down two cups of Bex’s perfectly brewed coffee, then marched my over caffeinated self to Riordan’s study.
Admitting guilt was like ripping off a dirty bandaid.
Painful, but necessary.
My heart pounded as I approached his door, shaking off the chill from uncovering dark truths and Eldric’s disturbing message. But Riordan had to be warned and I half-hoped he sliced the arrogant prick in half with his fire magic.
As long as I got to watch.
Riordan sat with his head cradled in his hands, leaning over his desk, the morning light casting shadows that made his expression even colder.
Made the haze of misty power hanging around him more menacing.
"Riordan," I started, fighting to sound calm. "We need to talk about Malachi."
He waved a dismissive hand, not bothering to look up, his hair draped around his face as he rubbed his temple. "Not now, Silver. I have far bigger problems than whatever you’re here about. As for Blake, he’s been busy with kingdom business, which is why he hasn’t been warming your bed."
Seriously? What an asshole.
“I’m not here about Blake.” I snapped, my blood already boiling, even though I’d been here for under a minute.
"This is important.” I dropped my voice and scanned the walls, wondering if Malachi could be listening, even now. “How secure is this office?”
“Secure enough.” At my pointed glare Riordan rolled his eyes and the next moment, the walls crawled with red-tinged shadows, clogging the study with so much power I felt sick. “There. Speak.”
I narrowed my eyes at the top of his head.
“Malachi’s been lying. He’s an Ancient, Riordan. As old as Tyrell. He’s plotting a coup and my guess is, he’ll try something the night of the ball."
Riordan glanced up, “is that all?" he scoffed. “Of course, he’s planning something. He can get in fucking line. And everyone knows Malachi’s older, but an Ancient?” He raked his eyes over me, no hint of blue, as if the darkness had swallowed him whole. “Your imagination has gotten the better of you."
Is that all? Was he serious?
“You don’t understand—he’s dangerous, Riordan. He wants revenge and he’s been biding his time, destroying us from the inside, exactly as you predicted. But we can stop him, if we start now ."
God, why wouldn’t he even listen to me?
“The only one destroying us from the inside is you.” His piercing gaze stole my breath and that was before he dropped the keys to the safe between us with a metallic clink as final as a guillotine falling. “What were you doing in here the other day, Silver?” He crooned. “Snooping? I smelled you the second I returned from that bullshit diversion you created—a fire in the kitchens—that Draven , of all people, helped the cook extinguish.”
Malachi’s knowing little smirk when I’d handed him the book.
That faint whiff of smoke on his clothing.
“I…”
I…what? What the fuck was I supposed to say to defend myself when I’d been so thoroughly outplayed? Like Malachi said, all Riordan would have to do was look inside my head, and he’d know everything.
“Look in my memories.” I challenged, bracing my hands on the desk, leaning closer. “See the truth for yourself. Everything is up here; all you have to do is look.”
“You’re assuming I care about your pathetic agenda.” Riordan hissed. “I don’t know what you were after, but stealing the dagger won’t help you, Silver. Even if you have it reforged, that blade will do you no good.”
I faltered at that, trying to wrap my head around the sudden shift in subject.
“Why would I want the dagger?”
“What else would you possibly want? You asked to see it the other day, you were having those nightmares, remember? Or can’t you even recall your own lies?” He pushed out of his chair, stalking closer, an unstoppable force of nature, until I was backing away, herded by his big, muscular body until I hit the closed door, my hand fumbling for the knob.
The room reverberated with rageful power, my ears hollowing out, but it was his soulless stare that sent my breath guttering out of my lungs.
And what was I supposed to tell him? I stole a little red book for Malachi, filled with secrets, but don’t worry, because it was nothing? Somehow, I doubted Riordan would buy that excuse .
“You’ve been manipulating me, Silver. So cleverly I didn’t even realize, although I wonder…was that little incident with your father really all it seemed?” Riordan was only inches away when he tapped his index finger to his chin
Everything inside me froze. Tyrell.
That was Tyrell’s nervous tick—a small, annoying habit that had made my skin crawl. And here was Riordan, doing the exact same thing.
Riordan laughed. “Not even bothering to deny the truth, are you? God, that attack looked so real, and I fell for your little setup. Were they here to retrieve the dagger…or simply instructing you to steal it?” He shook his head. “I am seriously an idiot, thinking I was the one playing you . What a fool you must have thought me, begging for one more night .”
No , I wanted to scream, you are no fool. And I would give you all the nights I had left, if you gave me the fucking chance.
My mind raced, putting pieces together I’d been avoiding. Riordan had inherited Tyrell’s power, yes. But power like that didn’t come without a cost. Tyrell’s dark magic had corrupted him, warping his mind and soul over the centuries.
And now that same magic was inside Riordan, slowly turning him into something… evil?
"Riordan," I said, trying to keep the fear from my voice, "you’re… changing. This power you’ve taken on—the magic is twisting you. You’re becoming more like Tyrell every day.”
“How fucking dare you compare me to him?” His low voice was laced with a malevolent edge I’d never heard before. “I am nothing like Tyrell.”
He slammed his fist into the door beside my head, shattering wood as I flinched away from the explosion of splinters and blood. His unhinged violence, surging to the surface.
“You are, though,” I insisted, heart pounding as I wondered if I might have a death wish. “The way you’re acting… you’re starting to feel like him. And if you can’t see the change, that’s even worse.”
Riordan’s huge hand wrapped around my face and I closed my eyes. I couldn’t look into his eyes, brimming with hatred and some degree of madness. “Enough. You’re letting your imagination run wild, and I don’t have time for a lying, traitor who stabbed me in the back the first chance she got.”
The accusation stretched between us, raw and aching…and true.
He sucked in a quick breath. “I promised you and your sister sanctuary. That promise still stands. But I don’t trust you, Silver, and I won’t listen to someone who steals from me…or who sells me out to my enemies.”
“Rohr, think about what you’re saying. I’m not the one undermining you, I’m not the one plotting. Malachi’s pulling the strings, and if we don’t stop him, he’ll destroy us.”
“Please.” He shoved away. “Forget your obsession with Malachi. You think I’d let that bastard outmaneuver me? I am the Nocturne King . I inherited this power.” The red veined shadows crept closer. “I have no equal.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but the cold fury in his gaze stopped me. There was no reasoning with him, not like this. Whatever darkness crept over him had already burrowed deep, and there was nothing I could do to break through the walls he’d put up.
“Malachi will make a play for the throne at your coronation.” I warned him softly. “There is still time to stop him. If he wins, Riordan, everything you’ve dreamed of building will be lost. ”
"Get out," he ordered, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "You’ve wasted enough of my time."
I felt a sting of betrayal, but more than that, fear. The male standing before me wasn’t the same Riordan of a month ago. This dark power was sinking sharpened claws deeper into his mind with every passing day.
And until Blake returned, I was the only one standing between him and Malachi.
“Riordan, please listen to me. Let me explain…”
“Get out, Silver, or I’ll have you thrown out.” So quiet. So threatening, so unlike Riordan, even at his coldest.
No, that threat was all Tyrell and even as I watched, the dark haze around him bloomed with crimson, until he was backed by a pair of looming, bloody wings.
Without another word, I left, his gaze burning into my back as I closed the door behind me, the sound echoing down the empty corridor.