Chapter 14 BRINGER OF RUIN, GIVER OF WRATH, THE PRIMAL GOD OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION #2
“And you’re just as obnoxiously arrogant as ever,” he replied, once more glancing to my left and then right.
“I’m told consistency is key.” I smirked as his nostrils flared. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.”
A muscle flexed on the left side of his jaw. “You came alone?”
I didn’t respond.
The hand dangling off his knee fisted, then relaxed. “I doubt you’re here to make sure I eat.”
“I don’t give a shit if you eat or not.”
“Then why are you here?” he asked. “To get your pound of flesh? Exact your revenge on the one who tipped you into bloodlust?”
“You think that left enough of an impression on me that I would waste a single second of my time plotting revenge?” I laughed, and Callum’s gaze darted to the torches framing the door as the flames shrank and sputtered. “On you?”
His pale gaze returned to mine. “You can claim that it didn’t—”
“And you can claim that I, too, wear a mask,” I cut him off.
If he was surprised that I’d overheard his conversation with Millicent, he didn’t show it.
“You would be correct. I’m wearing a mask right now.
One of civility. And in case you haven’t noticed…
” I let my arms rest between the bars. “It is cracking. So, I would suggest that we make this one-on-one short and sweet.”
His chin jutted in that painfully familiar stubborn way. “Or?”
I let some of the essence swirling in me hit the air. The flames roared from the torches, casting his cell in bright, orange light. “Or you won’t be alive for him to return for you.”
Callum’s gaze shot between the torches and me, brows drawing tight. “Have you forgotten that threats of death are just that? Threats.”
I huffed out a low laugh as the flames settled to a slow roll. “We’ll see about that.” My head cocked. “Tell me, Callum, while you were running through the kingdom like a frightened babe, were you aware of what was happening here?”
His answer was silence.
“Do you know what he did? Do you know what I did to him?” I questioned. “I made him bleed.”
“Lies,” he said with a short laugh.
My lip curved up. “I heard I did more than that. Heard I put him in stasis.”
He sneered. “As if you could do such a thing.”
“Oh, I did.” I paused. “Do you know what he did to her?”
There was a flicker of something in his stare, perhaps unease.
“Your sister,” I bit out, the words tasting like ash.
That got a response from him. The chain dragged along the stone as he leaned forward. “Where is she?”
It was my turn to be silent.
His chest rose with a deep but short breath. “I figured she’d be with you.”
I gave him nothing.
“For some reason, she…loves you,” he spat. “Then again, I’ve never known her to make the wisest choices.”
“Like accepting Kolis’s advances?”
“You mean welcoming his love and devotion?” he challenged.
Acid pooled in my mouth. “Is that what you think he offered her?”
“I know that is what he offered.”
I eyed him. He didn’t just speak those words.
He swore them without hesitation and with reverence.
There was a good chance he believed them, which was all the more disturbing because, with what little I knew of Sotoria and Kolis, I couldn’t comprehend how he could believe what Kolis had felt—had done—was remotely acceptable.
But that was neither here nor there.
“You know Kolis better than anyone,” I stated.
Something akin to pride sparked in the fuck’s stare.
“So, even if you were busy getting your ass kicked by Millicent,” I continued, and the pride in his stare quickly vanished, “I’m sure you were aware of his whereabouts.”
He was back to playing the quiet game.
“I know you were trying to get to Pensdurth,” I said, remembering what Kieran had said. “Do you know that Pensdurth is no more?”
His fingers curled inward again.
“I know you were told.”
“What I was told is irrelevant,” he said through gritted teeth. “And I know what I felt. A Primal fell.”
“A Primal did, including your precious Kolis.”
He chuckled coldly as he looked away. “You’re more delusional than I realized.”
“And you’re more of an imbecile than I realized, so I guess we’re even.”
His glare returned to me.
I winked. “I suspect you know exactly where Kolis would go next.”
He raised his brows at me.
“And you may not have been willing to tell the others this,” I continued, “but you should be more forthcoming with me.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because they wouldn’t and couldn’t kill you,” I stated. “But I can.”
He sighed. “Once again, we’re back to your paltry threats. They’re giving me secondhand embarrassment.”
I smiled at him.
Then I summoned the essence.
Shadows thickened and swelled around me, slipping over the bars. And then I was inside the cell.
Callum jerked back, slamming against the wall.
I could’ve just left it at that. The ability to shadowstep alone would’ve sufficed, but I wanted him to understand exactly who was giving him secondhand embarrassment.
I willed the essence forward. My flesh thinned until silver bone gleamed.
The weight of the crown settled on my head as the skin between my shoulder blades tensed.
I felt the slow, steady drag along both sides of my spine as those deep muscles contracted.
The thin slits of skin tingled as they opened, much like an eyelid, allowing the wings to slip free and unfurl.
“What the—?” Callum pressed against the wall, eyes going wide as he drew his legs up.
My smile remained as I stepped forward, lifting the wings until the shadow of them fell across his face. “What were you saying about secondhand embarrassment?”
His stark gaze traveled to the silver feathers, his mouth opening wordlessly.
“I don’t recall,” I added. “But I can tell you that the way you’re looking at me now is giving me that same feeling.”
Callum’s head snapped back, and then he clamored to his feet, rattling the chains. “What the fuck are you?”
I took another step toward him. “Something that can make Kolis do more than just bleed. Something that can kill you.”
His throat bobbed.
“So, again, I suggest you be more forthcoming with me,” I advised, tone almost gentle as the flames flickered. “Where can I find Kolis?”
He stared, going still.
My head cocked. The temperature in the cell dropped, extinguishing the fire and plunging the space into a deep gloom that the outside torches barely penetrated.
“Fuck,” he spat.
I snapped forward, wrapping my hand around the shit’s throat. He grabbed at me, his fingers slipping off the bone as I lifted him off the floor. “Callum?” I leaned in until my mouth was inches from his ear. “Where is Kolis?”
He snarled, spitting out a curse.
A smoky, shadowy laugh parted my lips as crimson-streaked mist seeped from the fingers around his throat.
Callum’s back bowed, his body going rigid as the mist began to burn his skin.
“Where?” I repeated, inhaling the scent of charred flesh. “Where is Kolis?”
“I will never…betray him.” His body trembled as he strained away from the pain. “So, you…may as well kill me,” he gasped.
“Don’t tempt me with a good time,” I told him, pulling my head back so I could look him in the face. “Because you have no idea how badly I want to.”
His lips peeled back as his jaw clenched.
“And my self-restraint?” I drew my lower lip between my teeth as I felt the skin beneath my fingers sink in, whatever was under them turning mushy. I watched the pain ripple across his features. “It’s nearly nonexistent these days.”
“Then do it,” Callum rasped. “Kill me.”
My chin lowered as my lip slipped free and pulled back, baring my fangs to him. The growl that rolled from my chest was deep and rumbling, the sound not even remotely mortal. Eather burned my veins as my grip tightened, sealing off his airway.
I could kill him.
Easily.
And without remorse.
I was sure the fucker was guilty of countless crimes, the most heinous of them being what he allowed to be done to his sister.
His sister.
The image of her flashed in my mind: hair the color of red wine, face fiercely beautiful.
It was so vivid, so real, that it was a punch to the chest. I tried to reason with myself that she wasn’t really his sister.
That even if her soul had once shared blood with the one before me, it didn’t mean there was any true relation between them.
That there was a bond like the one I shared with Malik, or the one she shared with Ian.
Ian.
The smile on my lips faded as I saw him next. Saw his life being stolen from her. Heard her cries of sorrow and rage.
My heart stuttered. Stomach lurched.
I dropped him.
I couldn’t do it.
I couldn’t do that to her.
As fucked as it was, they were blood, and I couldn’t make that call for her. It wasn’t my place.
Stepping back went against every urge and need within me, but I did it. My chest heaved with the effort to do so as I stared at Callum. He lay sprawled on the floor, moaning, his legs and arms tangled with the chains he’d smiled at when they had been around me.
I shadowstepped back to Wayfair before I did something I would regret. And I would regret it. Not ending his life, but stealing that life from her, whether it was a life she wanted to share or not.
The Great Hall was empty as I prowled the length of the main floor, willing the essence and the effects to retreat. It wouldn’t stay that way for long. Kieran would be here soon enough, clucking around me like a mother hen. Had I eaten? Slept? Breathed fresh fucking air?
Jumping onto the dais, I sat on the throne and focused on keeping myself there. I slowly placed my hands on the arms, feeling the bones beneath my palms as I closed my eyes. I needed calm.
Then I felt it.
A shiver of awareness.
A presence had arrived.
“Bringer of Ruin,” an infuriating voice boomed.
And there went that calm.
“Giver of Wrath,” the annoyingly familiar voice thundered.
Bringer of Ruin.
Giver of Wrath.
Huh. I kind of liked the sound of that as I curled my fingers around a slender bone. I opened my eyes.