Chapter Twenty-Four
CASSIA
I’VE BEEN ALIVE for twenty-seven years, practically nothing in the eyes of a demon, but this month has been the worst of my life. I dread each day, and there are no signs of improvement.
It’s all Rexton’s fault.
Everything is Rexton’s fault.
He’s perfect. Every meeting he leads is succinct and valuable.
In the ones he only sits in on, his input is clever and well-received.
The Wraths are fucking obsessed with him.
He’s polite, seemingly even kind, but he doesn’t let people walk over him.
Not that many try. Rexton is confident, and he has the intelligence to back up his decisions.
Even Jassy grows giddy at the mention of him. She tries to hide it, but she does a poor job of it. I’m worried she’s going to leave me for him. It was so hard to convince her to leave Aziel, and if she leaves me for Rexton, I already know I’ll never win her back.
Rexton doesn’t seem to be letting any of the newfound attention get to his head. I can’t fathom why not. I’ve spent almost all my adult years fighting to earn the respect of the Wraths, and if they suddenly looked at me the way they look at Rexton, I’d be on top of the world.
Rexton doesn’t appreciate it. It only makes me hate him more.
Demons eye me as I saunter into Aziel’s section of the building. I haven’t spoken to my father since he allowed Rexton to force me into submission, and I have no intention of changing that. He betrayed me, and I don’t take that lightly.
Rexton’s office is near Aziel’s, though, leaving me no choice but to venture this way. Was Rexton placed on the side of the building opposite me on purpose? I doubt it was coincidental, but I’m not going to complain. The more space between Rexton and me, the better.
Besides, Mom always says that absence makes the heart grow fonder. It’s another one of her human expressions I’ve never paid much attention to until now.
If I’m to earn Rexton’s trust, maybe even his affection, distance will be necessary. The more, the merrier—at least on my end. It’s hard enough to hide my true feelings for him during our short meetings together. I can’t fathom how I’d manage if we crossed paths outside them, too.
Rexton’s door is cracked open, revealing a sliver of his office. I can’t make out the interior from this angle, nor can I see him. I can sure smell him, though. His power seeps into the hallway, and I even detect hints of his body soap.
I mentally prepare myself, steeling my resolve and reminding myself to play nice, before knocking on the door.
“Come in!”
Does he know it’s me? I assume so, considering I put this meeting on our calendar.
I push open the door. “Good morning, Rexton.”
His office is bland. He hasn’t added a hint of personalization, almost as if he doesn’t intend to be here long. I hope that’s the case. I hope he decides this lifestyle isn’t for him and disappears from Wrath forever.
He helped Gray manage Lust for several years, and I wouldn’t be disappointed if he scurried his way back there. Rexton is attractive. David would welcome him into Lust with open arms. With open legs, too.
Rexton clears his throat. “Morning, Cassia.”
His gaze falls to my hands. I’m holding two steaming mugs, neither of which has been poisoned. It’s a decision I’m not entirely sure I don’t regret.
“I heard you enjoy an afternoon tea,” I say. “I brought you an herbal.”
Rexton looks borderline frightened, his eyes darting rapidly between me and the mugs. I enjoy seeing it, even if it means he still doesn’t trust me. It’s been a month of holding in my emotions and forcing myself to remain polite, and I’ve made little progress.
It’s time to step up my game.
“Thank you,” Rexton finally says.
I take the seat opposite his desk, making myself comfortable.
“It’s a bribe,” I admit.
“A bribe for what?”
“For you not to dismiss my idea out of spite.” I shrug. “You know, because I tried to kill you.”
It’s the most honest I’ve ever been with him. I hate Rexton with every fiber of my being, to the point where I’ve been falling asleep fantasizing about his death, but I have a responsibility to Wrath. My personal feelings come second to the kingdom’s needs.
It’s unfortunate, but it’s the way it must be.
Rexton scrunches his eyebrows, and I slide his tea across his desk. He keeps the wooden surface immaculate, much unlike my messy one. I try to keep my desk clean, but paperwork tends to pile up.
Jassy keeps me organized, though. It’s another reason I can’t afford to lose her.
“I don’t hold grudges,” Rexton finally says. Lie.
“You held one against Mammon.”
“She murdered your brother.”
I cock my head to the side. “Is that why you went after her?”
“Yes.”
“You wasted twenty-something years of your life to avenge another woman’s child?” I hum. “Peculiar.”
That’s a strong reaction for a child unrelated to him. Maybe Rexton and my mother were friendlier than they let on. It would be easy to plant the thought into the minds of the Wraths.
An affair between their queen and her trusty male best friend…
The accusation would humiliate my fathers, but also my mother. Despite my anger, I could never do that to them. Rexton should consider himself lucky that I love my family.
Rexton clears his throat. “Are you suggesting I had an affair with your mother?”
I drop my jaw, faking disgust. “Of course not!” I shake my head. “But you must admit it’s a strong reaction for a child who doesn’t share your blood.”
Rexton’s nostrils flare as he brings the mug I provided to his mouth, the action subtle but damning. He suspects I’m trying to poison him. He still doesn’t trust me, not in the slightest. I don’t entirely blame him.
He takes a long sip of his drink, in no rush to acknowledge my statement.
“Do you have any friends, Cassia?” he eventually asks.
What kind of question is that? Of course I have friends. I’m not some fucking outcast. I rack my brain, searching for a name. No one immediately comes to mind, and I suck my cheeks into my mouth as my anger flares.
I have friends, don’t I?
Do I not have friends?
Jassy is the first person who comes to mind, but she works for me. She’s paid to spend time with me. Do Valeria and David count? They’re my siblings, and I usually hate them, but they know me better than anybody else.
I can’t think of a single other person.
“Exactly,” Rexton says. I hate how he reads into my silence.
“I may not have spent much time with you and your siblings, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t care.
Luca was an innocent child, and Charlie was my best friend.
I’m not ashamed I took action against the woman responsible for inflicting her pain. You’d understand if you had friends.”
I lean back in my chair, unsure how to respond to that. I was only five when Luca died, and I have few memories of him and the years immediately after his death. My parents don’t like to talk about him, Aziel specifically. Everybody struggled with his death, but Aziel took it worse than the others.
He disappears every anniversary of Luca’s death.
“Anyway.” Rexton clears his throat, changing the subject. “What’s this idea you’re convinced I will dismiss?”
I straighten up. “It’s about the military bases you’re proposing.”
It’s been a month of intense meetings, and the generals are finally on board with the budgets and timeline. The idea will be presented to Aziel in two days. I was asked to attend, but not to participate in the presentation.
“What about them?” Rexton asks.
I sip my drink, taking a moment to organize my thoughts. I’ve prepared a thousand different scenarios for this meeting, but now that I’m here, my nerves are getting the better of me. I can’t remember the last time I was this anxious. It’s unusual for me, and I blame Rexton.
I’m watching my kingdom slip further and further from my grasp, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Everybody is on Rexton’s side, and he’s too strong to force into submission.
The stress has begun to affect my work.
“You’re building too far south,” I finally say. “Greed’s army would attack farther north, where the mountain range is thinner and easier to teleport across. That’s where we should build.”
Rexton leans back in his chair. “We’ve been working on this plan for the better part of a month, Cassia.”
I nod. “I’m aware.”
“So why wait to share your hesitation until two days before we present to Aziel?”
The honest answer is because I want Rexton to fail. I believe Aziel will have the same concerns as I, and he’ll urge Rexton to revise the plan. He won’t approve of it as is, and the setback will knock Rexton’s ego down several pegs.
It’s why I initially decided not to say anything. Guilt has been settling heavily in my chest, though. It’s not for Rexton, but for Wrath. I have to put the kingdom’s best interests before my own.
“Because I wanted you to fail,” I admit. “But not at the cost of Wrath’s defenses.”
Rexton raises a brow, but he doesn’t seem overly surprised. I’m hoping my honesty earns me some goodwill. We haven’t had any progress this past month, and I’m willing to show a little honesty and vulnerability if it helps win Rexton over.
I’m not excited, but I’m willing to do it.
“And why have you brought this up privately?” Rexton continues. I’m getting tired of his prodding. “Why not wait until tomorrow’s meeting with the larger group?”
I suck my cheeks into my mouth. “Because it took me years to earn the trust of the generals, and even now, they barely tolerate me. I don’t want them to know I was intentionally keeping my concerns from them. They’ll never trust me again.”
It’s a vulnerable answer, one easy for Rexton to use against me. I’m pretty sure this is exactly what I need to do to earn his trust. He keeps me at arm’s length, and I’m hoping that arm will soften if he believes he has leverage over me.
I grind my teeth before continuing. “Aziel will never pass his title to me without the approval of the generals. They’re integral to Wrath, and we can’t risk them turning away from us.”
Rexton frowns. “I think you’d be surprised by what Aziel would do for you.”
I disagree, but that’s not a discussion I’m open to having right now. It’s not a discussion I’m open to having with anybody. Ever. I choose to bottle up my conflicting, painful emotions regarding my fathers. It’s better that way.
There’s a long moment of silence. Rexton’s waiting for me to acknowledge his comment, but I have no intention of doing so. I gave him an inch, and he’s looking to take a mile. That’s not going to happen.
Eventually, he blows out a breath. “Well, thank you for bringing this to my attention. I’ll take your concerns into consideration.”
That’s it? That’s all he has to say? I ball my hands into fists, fighting the urge to order him to make my recommended changes right this very second. He should be grateful for my advice.
My fingernails dig into my palms, and I relish the pain before relaxing my hands and standing.
“Thanks for your time,” I force out.
Rexton nods, and I storm out of his office before I do something I regret. This was bullshit.