Chapter 45 #2
I stood there, bearing witness to Iaoth’s desperate attempts at seduction. It was all she’d ever known how to do to garner his attention. She’d never had the chance to experience anything else.
Stadiel’s nostrils flared as her hand dipped lower, out of sight to me. “If he’ll accept such an arrangement. There’s no telling what he wants now. Especially since you Commanded then struck him, Vaeron.”
“Let’s fetch him and ask,” Iaoth suggested, her tone breathy and distressed.
Stadiel whistled, and the door swung open.
“Yes, Your Grace?” a royal sentinel asked.
“Bring Herr Elyriane.”
“Right away, sir.”
The male disappeared, leaving the three of us facing off and with tension thick enough to slice with a sword.
Still I did not move. Did not surrender my position in the middle of the space. The monarchs, however, settled themselves in all their finery on their luxurious furnishings. I’d seen them situate themselves like this before, when they needed to flex their rule to any who dared challenge them.
Sylaira’s presence pressed against the barricade I’d erected before entering. Yet I kept her out. She didn’t need to hear this. I wanted to be the one to tell her what happened myself. I took comfort in the fact she was thinking about me at all.
It hadn’t always been that way.
Would it be any different after?
It wasn’t long before Zarethiel appeared. I didn’t deign to look at him as he approached and knelt at my sister’s feet. “Your Radiance. How may I be of service?”
“Rise,” Stadiel instructed, and his noble did, but not without shooting me a sneer. “Your daughter was promised to the Issaraeth, which by the Goddess’s divine law, can no longer continue. With their vows mere weeks away, we understand this puts all of us in an awkward position.”
Silence lingered as the ruler of all the Angels regarded my almost father-by-law. He made no move to speak.
Smart.
Forcing Stadiel to say what he meant would put him in an advantageous position.
“We are wondering what might save your pride,” Iaoth eventually added. “As one of our most valuable allies here at court, we of course want to ensure you are happy with whatever happens next. Might I suggest a new marriage alliance? Our children to yours?”
Herr Elyriane shook his head. “Oh no, I want far more than that.” He faced me, trying to stare me down like he wasn’t a head shorter than I was.
I offered him my calmest, most predatory grin. After all, I was the Issaraeth. He would do well to remember that before he spoke his desires.
Ruby mottled his aged cheeks. “I want him gone. Away from court. Let him bleed out on the front lines. His magic is far more useful there anyway,” Zarethiel snapped, dabbing at the dried blood beneath his nose for dramatic fucking effect.
I’d said the same myself for years, but hearing the suggestion from the male who dared touch my mate made thunderclouds cover my eyes. My fingers flexed behind my lower back, the only movement I dared allow.
“Furthermore, I want him to face a trial by light for daring to strike me.”
Iaoth sucked in a sharp breath. Stadiel’s expression remained impassive, save for the furious flick of his focus to me.
I nearly laughed at the absurdity of the suggestion. There was no one in his house who could possibly match my power in such a fight. Even if we were evenly matched, the Goddess was the true decider of the winner, shining her favor on whomever’s actions were true.
And protecting Sylaira far outweighed any slight on House Elyriane.
“Who will be your champion?” I asked, not a waver in my voice.
“Me,” he snarled.
Understanding exploded behind my sternum.
He didn’t want me punished. He wanted me to be an example.
I gritted my teeth, holding back a string of unholy curses in his direction.
Zarethiel knew that Iaoth and Stadiel would force me to throw the match, thereby declaring him the winner and him in the right of our house conflict.
Fucker.
I was trapped in a situation that would make me appear weak, especially losing to an Angel triple my age and far past his prime. And right now, I couldn’t afford to be anything other than the Issaraeth to those who would seek to exploit my newfound mating bond.
“Name your time and place.”
“Vaeron,” Iaoth hissed.
I ignored her, keeping my focus trained on Zarethiel.
“On the day your vows were supposed to occur, in the throne room. Where your humiliation of my house began.”
Stadiel rose, forcing us both to look at him.
“I will make the arrangements. We will also see Herr R?viel sent to the front, where he can face the Goddess’s divine judgement for his insult to your house.”
Zarethiel swept into another deep bow. “You honor me, Your Grace. Goddess save you.”
With a wave of his hand, Stadiel dismissed him. Once the door closed again, he stomped into my space. “I should not have to tell you how this trial is going to go.”
“I understand what is required of me,” I said through a tight jaw.
“Good.” He shoulder checked me as he spun to face his wife. “Should you fail, Sylaira will be forfeit. You can fuck her once more after it’s over to settle your bond and then ride off to the front. After that, she will be under my care and mine alone.”
A sick, twisted feeling punched me in the gut. Inside, I was reeling. Unmoored. The beast in my chest thrashed, begging me to leap forward and bash Stadiel’s head in with one of his many precious artifacts.
Over my dead fucking body will he ever have power over Sylaira.
It took every ounce of my self-restraint to remain rooted in place. The tension in my muscles nearly made them tremble.
“House Elyriane will have their spectacle. But there is still the matter of the Seer,” he said next like my fucking mate was a pawn for him to place on the board however he pleased.
Iaoth flicked her hair over her shoulder, shooting me with an arrow-like glare. “We can’t have her running again if you both go off to the front.”
My mind tripped over the word—both. Sylaira would go with me…so long as I forfeit the trial.
“I’ll be sending round the clock attendants with you. That way, when she Sees, we’ll have an immediate report. And she will See, Vaeron.”
Caged like the weapon Iaoth and Stadiel wanted her to be. Caged like I had been for longer than I cared to admit to myself.
My sister raked her teeth over her bottom lip, stare stabbing into me like a thousand Demon daggers. “There will be other terms too.”
Iaoth listed them all off, each one making me sicker than the last. Daily reports. Constant surveillance. By the time she finished, she’d stripped away every shield I could have possibly built—and ones I hadn’t realized they’d foresee.
I was helpless, bound to my sister and her husband’s will. Bound by my duty to serve.
At least Sylaira and I would be together. That was the only victory I was going to gain.
Until I had more leverage. Maelsar and I hadn’t had nearly enough time to gather any before this moment. Nothing to expend. And if I promised them anything, I doubted they’d believe me anyway.
“Understood.” The word emerged weak from my throat.
“Now go. I cannot stand the sight of you any longer,” the Koron snarled, pinching the bridge of his nose.
I didn’t waste any time spinning on my heel and leaving the prison of the royal feather.
Didn’t stop moving until I entered the servants' passages with one goal in mind.
The chain linking my fate to Sylaira’s yanked me forward, anxiety twisting it into knots. I had to find her, and fast, to ensure she was safe from the real monsters living in Thalvireth Palace.