93. Bastian
Bastian
I found her sitting with my dead self’s head in her lap. Her cheeks were soaked, but she had her bow drawn, an arrow trained on me. “Bastian.” She sagged.
“Not the best day to turn on me, love.” I flashed a smile as she lowered her bow. “But if I’m going to die at anyone’s hands, I’d pick yours. Though, for the record, I’d prefer your thighs.”
She made a sound that wasn’t quite a laugh or a sob as I stroked her hair and helped her up. “You may have mentioned that before.” Her gaze lingered on the body. “It doesn’t feel right to leave him.”
“Look away.” I hefted a marble bust from its plinth.
“What are you—?”
I smashed my other self’s head in. “No one can know. This will stop them recognising me.” I stood, shielding her from the sight.
“I’ll have to make sure I get hold of the body during the clean-up, though.
Here…” I pulled the moth-hilted dagger from his hip and pressed it into her hand.
“Had a feeling you might need your weapons. The Wicked Lady doesn’t hide away, even during an attempted coup. ”
She strapped the dagger in place. “It’s just Katherine.” She nodded, a crease between her eyebrows. “The Wicked Lady. The ember. It’s all me. It always was. Only… before I couldn’t bring all those parts together. I think now, I’m nearly there.”
My chest filled. Stars above. She really was a goddess, standing before me in blood and gold, ready to march into a fight without saying she wasn’t brave, only desperate. Without needing to wear a mask or a false name in order to break someone else’s rules.
I lifted her chin and kissed her. I wanted to make it long—I wanted to kiss her to within an inch of her life. But time wasn’t on our side.
She blinked up at me. “What was that for?”
“To show you.”
“Show me what?”
“How much I’m constantly awed by you.”
She looked away, but I caught her smile first. “Flatterer. We still need to get to the king, though.” She pulled a wad of fabric from her cleavage. “Look. It isn’t Sura. These all have that mixed thread. One being different, I could understand.”
I blinked at the collection of bloodied insignias. “But all of them? It would be a mighty coincidence.”
“Exactly.” She gave me a beseeching look.
“You’re right. I don’t think Sura is behind this. Could be Lucius or someone trying to assassinate him.”
“If he caught you unawares, he could use it as a chance to kill you and blame Hydra Ascendant.”
I retrieved my Shadowblade, smiling at her concern for me. “Well, thanks to you, I’m not unawares. He was last seen heading to the throne room. Come on.”
She frowned at her hands, clenching and unclenching them as the purple stains faded. Tension thrummed through her shoulders as her gaze flicked to the bodies. No shadows or purple haze hid them anymore.
I held her shoulders. “This is what your power is for—for you to use. Not to be denied. Not to keep you isolated, but for you to exert your will upon the world at last.” I squeezed until she looked me in the eye. “You are the one in control.”
She lifted her chin, back straight, jaw set, something regal in her determination. “I am.”