Chapter II. A Thousand Tons of Truth #3
“‘She be mine.’
“‘The fuck does that even mean? She’s nobody’s but her own.’
“‘As I told thee when ye held our sweet Patience in thine arms: There be no greater gift than love of family, Gabriel. And Dior Lachance be mine. My true family. Thought lost these long and frozen years. Last remnant of my mortal mother’s line.’
“He glanced to the portrait above the crackling hearth.
“‘My dear Mothermaid.’
“I frowned, trying to wrangle his meaning.
“‘Your brother.’ Face drawn with horror, Baptiste looked up at the infant in that Maid’s arms. ‘God Almighty … he was your brother.’
“‘Half. My mortal father’s peerage not so great as his. Nor my mortal prospects. No son of God, poor Fabién. No Redeemer made flesh, no mighty leader of men. Yet my great and noble brother died in agony. Broken on the wheel I forged him. And Fabién endures still.’
“Voss smiled at the painting, no light left in his eyes.
“‘Who be mightier now? ’
“Silence hung in the room so thick, I could hear the heartbeats of the thralls outside. My belly was a churning puddle of ice and wine and bile, my eyes meeting Lachie’s, Aaron’s, all of us bewildered.
Every one of us was gripped with the brutality and enormity of this.
A tale a thousand years in the making, and us, caught in the storm of it.
But in that ringing quiet, Charlotte spoke the most important question of all.
“‘How can we believe you?’
“Voss turned, drowning my cousin in his gaze. Charlotte met that black stare, and though she trembled, clutching the wheel about her throat, her faith held true.
“‘How can we believe a single word from your godless mouth?’
“‘Each of thee could I have slain, were it my wish. Three nights hence, my legion endless marches for Augustin, with or without thee. No prevarication hath I made as to my ambition. All shall kneel. What reason hath I to lie, Charlotte de León? ’
“‘Because you want something from us.’
“Fabién tilted his head.
“‘Thy numbers added to mine own would be welcome, I confess. The walls of Augustin be strong. And old. But preventing world’s end be a goal I would imagine all in this room hath stake in, Lionne Cendrée. Thee and thy fresh-plucked beau more than most.’
“Charlotte blinked. ‘What—’
“‘Faint the spark. The merest promise of a life, but aready thy bloodscent bears trace of brightest joy to come.’ Voss glanced to Lachlan. ‘My compliments, archer. Thy first trip to the range, and thine arrow struck true.’
“Charlotte was pale, one hand drifting to her belly. ‘No.’
“Lachlan touched her leg, whispering. ‘Charli…’
“‘No, I…’
“My jaw clenched tight. My fists tighter. Every word Voss had spoken might well be deceit. This bastard had slain my bride. Murdered my baby. But beyond suspicion, beyond hatred, beyond the thought of that little girl upstairs waiting for me to sing her to sleep, one thought pierced all others. I could see it in Aaron’s eyes, hung now in the chill between us. Whispered among those crackling flames.
“What if he spoke truth?
“Voss had no way of knowing my suspicions about the Faithless before today—I’d have felt him rummaging through those thoughts.
But these pieces fit too neat. The prophecy we’d found in Dún Maergenn was no key to ending daysdeath, I knew that already.
And though Dior was no dolt, she was surrounded with liars.
My sister. Phoebe. God knows what poison Maryn had been spilling into her ears.
“I cursed myself a fool again for leaving her. For not believing in her. Staring down at the silver on my skin, yet unlit, even in the presence of evil as complete as Voss.
“I’d failed her.
“I’d left her.
“I’d promised never to do that.
“‘We need to speak on all this,’ I declared. ‘Alone.’
“‘Take the day. The morrow, also. No harm shall befall thee here. Three nights hence, we depart for Augustin. Should ye choose not to march ’neath my banner, thee and thy army may flee back to León. Should I prevent the Faithless and their catspaws from ending this world at Maidsfeast, our next meeting shall be not so cordial. Yet on craven’s wings though it be, I shall harry not thy flight.
’ Voss turned to me, smiling. ‘But afore thy counsel begins in earnest … thou hast made vow to a sweet young lady of our acquaintance, aye? ’
“I bristled, jaw clenched tight. Voss only smiled wider.
“‘Best not disappoint another.’
“I took a long gulp of wine, rising to my feet and looking to my friends.
“‘I’ll return swift. Hold fast ’til I get back.’
“‘Walk safe in the light, brother,’ Lachlan warned.
“‘You too. And … congratulations, Lachie. I’m happy for you. Both of you.’
“Charlotte met my gaze, hand yet to her belly. I gave Baptiste a wink, shot a warning glance to Aaron, who nodded understanding. Though I’d not even sensed him moving, the Forever King stood now at the door, and the door itself was opened wide.
That young thrall lass in Voss livery waited outside, head bowed as Voss spoke.
“‘Antoinette shall spirit thee to our princess’s arms.’
“I saw fangs glinting at the edge of his smile.
“‘Give her a kiss from Papa Fabién.’
“God, it took all I had in me not to lunge for him then. I could see the slice through his frockcoat where I’d almost split his heart, my handprint on his throat.
I’d come far closer to ending him than he’d have liked to admit, and I fancied I saw fear behind that smile.
But turning, Fabién drifted down the corridor, smooth as ice, leaving me in shadow.
“Vampires lingered in that gloom, watching with red-rimmed eyes. Faint thunder echoed overhead, the flagstones beneath me trembling. But with a murmur for me to follow, the thrall began climbing a broad stair to the levels above.
“And sighing, I went to kiss my daughter goodnight.”