Chapter 77 #2
Vincent slammed his book closed. “What? Why am I the bad guy when I am the only one thinking rationally? This isn’t some random person Samkiel decided he enjoyed for the time being.
She’s a fucking Queen of Yejedin. We know Kaden is a general now, your father’s, from what the giant said, and that he’s strong enough to make something like her.
So no, I don’t care about stupid dinner parties, and you all shouldn’t either.
” Vincent got to his feet, glaring at Samkiel.
“You know, I bet she even has her powers. I used to respect you. But now she has you wrapped around her fucking finger like a whipped dog, doing whatever she wishes, using our resources to chase after her, and for what? Pussy? Your father would be ashamed.”
Lightning split the air, the flash of light so bright it was blinding. When I could see again, Samkiel had Vincent pinned. The table beneath him cracked in half. Lightning sizzled at the edges of the room, Samkiel’s face mere inches from Vincent’s.
“The next words from your mouth need to be an apology,” Samkiel growled, menace dripping from each word.
Vincent didn’t back down, holding Samkiel’s gaze defiantly.
“Or what? Listen, I get it. It was fun when we were all younger, but we aren’t anymore.
She’s Kaden’s blood, no matter what you feel or how often you fuck her.
Do you think pretty words will stop her the next time she gets volatile?
She’s a ticking time bomb. I’m just the only one not blind to it.
You’re our king, our protector, and you’re going to get us all killed.
What happened on Rashearim is going to happen again, and all because of her . ”
Samkiel’s fist connecting with Vincent’s face sent shockwaves through the room. Chairs toppled as Logan, and I jumped to our feet.
Samkiel released Vincent, realizing what he’d done. Logan was already at his side, pushing him back by his shoulder. I remembered the quick-tempered young king we all grew up with. His eyes burned silver as he shrugged Logan’s hand off and focused on Vincent as if he faced an enemy.
Vincent struggled to his feet, none of us moving to help him. Books and papers skittered to the floor.
“See what I mean?” he spat, wiping his hand across his split cheek. “You’re all idiots.”
He adjusted his council garbs and glared at Samkiel a moment longer. Then, without saying another word, he stormed off, yanking the doors almost off their hinges.
Samkiel wiped his hands over his face before lifting one and correcting the room. Neverra, Xavier, and Cameron picked up the scattered books and papers as Logan thumped Samkiel on the chest and said something too low for me to hear. Samkiel took a deep breath, and they walked to the balcony.
I glanced toward the others. “I’ll talk to Vincent.”
Not waiting for them to respond, I rushed out of the room, jogging to catch up to Vincent.
“Vincent.”
“You know she tried to kill you, and you’re just as bad as them. I heard about the beach, Immy!”
“She was hurting. It’s different.”
“Oh, bullshit! You think she is the only person who has ever lost anyone? Cry me a fucking river,” he spat. “People hurt all the time. They don’t kill.”
“Hey, where is this coming from?” I sprinted to him.
“Talk to me like we used to. We’re family.
” I grabbed his arm, spinning him toward me.
The cut on the left side of his jaw was already healing, but a bruise formed nonetheless.
I reached up to touch it, but he shoved my hand aside, repudiating my touch, and unleashed.
“Don’t lecture me about family! What family?
He has been gone for a thousand years. You, Xavier, and Cameron left, too.
You three stayed here. How often did you visit, Imogen, huh?
While Logan, Neverra, and I stayed on Onuna.
Neverra never came to see you, either. Logan was the only one who even tried, and those were few and far between.
Admit it. We haven’t been a family for a very long time. ”
His words cut me deep, my own emotions heightened by the pain he was feeling. I felt it in the words he spoke, but there was something else as well—fear.
“We lost a lot, Vincent. You can’t fault how we chose to deal with the aftermath. And we’re trying now.”
“It’s too late, Immy.” He ran his hands across his head, disturbing the bun atop it. “It’s too late.”
“What’s wrong with you? I feel fear. What are you afraid of?”
He avoided my eyes, and I felt him try to shut down his emotions so I couldn’t read them. “We should be looking for a way to stop Kaden without worrying about anything else.”
“We are.”
“We’re not.” Vincent tipped his head back, taking a deep breath.
“This is more than just Kaden, isn’t it? More than Dianna?”
His head whipped toward me. “What? No.”
He was a terrible liar, especially to me. “Tell me what’s really wrong.”
Vincent’s smile was small and forced. His hand cupped the back of my head as he leaned forward, placing a kiss atop my head.
“Have fun at the dinner,” he whispered into my hair, and then he was gone, his boots echoing down the hall.