Chapter 59
Silence reigned between us as we descended from the treetop, like a held breath before the executioner’s blade fell. What a fitting night to hold the trial by light, with the Goddess Moon so bright in the sky.
In an hour, I’d face Zarethiel.
I’d humiliated his house. Shamed my sister and her husband. Commanded the Angel court. Commanded an entire room of Seers and servants the previous day too.
My sins stacked higher than the tallest trees in Sivy.
And I’d face the Goddess’s judgement for it all.
I’d witnessed several trials over the centuries, and each time, the house who had been disrespected always won, with the insulter humbled or burned for their deception or ill intent.
The light never lied—it was Her will, wielding on this earth.
I’d only seen it kill once, and that was because the aggressor refused to yield.
I’d never been sure if it was truly the Goddess delivering divine punishment, or if it was Iaoth and Stadiel’s direct manipulation.
Sylaira paused when we landed in the garden at the base of the tree. I captured her arms and pulled her into me again.
“I’m sorry,” were her first broken words to me.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I told her. I pressed a kiss to the top of her hair, inhaling her ghostflower scent.
She looked up at me, silvery hair spilling over her lithe shoulders. “I do. When you should have been preparing, you were taking care of me instead. I couldn’t stay strong for you for a single day.”
I hooked my finger under her chin and lifted it so she was forced to look deep into my eyes. Into my soul. “You need not worry about me, little fugitive. Everything will work out.”
Even as I spoke the words, they tasted like ash. She still didn’t know the cage we’d both been placed in. And this night, every eye would be trained on me—on us.
We’d be scrutinized. Judged. Measured. Which was why I’d had such a fine dress made for her. She’d never don armor, and this was the best I could give her in a court of nobles who’d love to pick their teeth with her bones.
I wanted nothing more than to lock her in my room during the whole ordeal. But I couldn’t. She was the strike that lit this fire between House R?viel and House Elyriane. She was also the flood that would drown us all.
Her hands flattened over my chest. Nails scraped against the scar over my heart.
DUTY ABOVE ALL
Protecting Sylaira was my Goddess-given task. And I’d do whatever it took to ensure she was safe at the end of this day.
“You say that like you’re not going to lose.” Long lashes brushed against her cheekbones as she challenged me.
I memorized every piece of her. The slope of her ears. The studs pierced into them. The shade of her lips. The curve of her smile.
A soul-deep ache settled in me as I drank her in.
Another gong sounded, and I forced myself to tuck her under my arm and steer her toward the central tree of the palace.
Already, Angels streamed through the halls and up the spiral stairs that led to the highest floor, where the Koron and Korona’s thrones sat, waiting for their subjects to kneel before them.
Sylaira and I passed them all, seeking out the monarchs’ private staircase.
At the base, Stadiel and Iaoth waited.
Cold snapped over me like a shard of winter glass at the sight of Iaoth’s sinister smile.
Dressed in a gown of pure white silk, silver-stained leather strapped strategically around her frame, with a massive diamond diadem seated atop her brow, she looked ready for a battle she would not face.
Stadiel, too, dressed similarly, his ivory armor befitting the Zahal of the army gleaming under the lanterns.
“Vaeron, you’re late, as usual,” Stadiel sneered. “It is rude to keep your rulers waiting.”
I gritted my teeth, hand tightening on Sylaira’s waist. “I’m here aren’t I?”
My sister’s attention fell to the ring on my mate’s hand. One sharp brow rose. “I see. Well, we’ll be taking Sylaira now.”
“What? No,” she protested immediately, backstepping. I edged between her and the Koron, whose magic crackled at his fingertips.
“She’ll be fine with Maelsar,” I said coolly.
“Oh come on, brother, you really didn’t think we’d allow her out of our control?” Iaoth snapped, crossing her arms and popping out a hip. “We have to ensure your compliance since you continue to shirk your duty.”
“I know what is expected of me,” I replied, trying to keep my voice level when my heart thundered against my ribs like it would break free and strangle my sister itself.
“You keep saying that, but I don’t think you do with how you insist on embarrassing yourself at every turn in front of the court,” Stadiel snarled. “Now hand over your mate or I will rip her from your arms.”
A helpless, sick feeling clawed through my stomach. Even if my magic wasn’t down to a whisper thanks to Iaoth’s constant draining of me and how I had intervened on Sylaira’s behalf, I couldn’t Command him.
“Stay strong, Sylaira. This will all be over soon. And then we are leaving.”
Pure, violent terror flooded our bond. “Promise me.”
“I promise.”
Reluctantly, I stepped away from her. Pride bloomed in my chest as my mate rolled her shoulders back and raised her chin. She offered me a subtle nod before pinning the rulers of the Angel Realm with a sharp glare.
When they didn’t move from the doorway, she simply shoved between them and ascended the stairs.
“That’s my girl,” I praised, smothering the smile that wanted to rise.
Sylaira had shown me this storm as I hunted her. So many times after. And now that she was turning it on everyone else who dared cage her, who dared hurt her, my obsession with my mate grew tenfold.
Iaoth scoffed and followed her, grumbling something about Seers becoming too rebellious. Stadiel gestured for me to ascend next. Keeping my senses on high alert, I strode forward, spiraling up, up, up to face my judgment.
Marble echoed with the sound of hundreds of voices as we reached the top landing.
“You will wait here until you are called,” Stadiel ordered, opening the door for his wife and my mate.
I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall like I had no worries about what came next. The moment I was alone, I tilted my face toward the ceiling, daring the Goddess to ignore me through the gilded lies between us.
Please, Radiant Mother, find Zarethiel acted with the truest intent. Please find my effort enough. Please don’t let them take my mate from me after blessing me with a bond so holy. It is in Your reverence I fight.
The gong sounded again, and the throne room hushed.
Stadiel’s voice boomed out over the gathered nobles.
“The time for the trial by light has come. Our Radiant Mother will judge the champions for Houses R?viel and Elyriane over the slight caused by the Issaraeth using his Command power on an entire ballroom, after which he assaulted Herr Elyriane.”
Jeers rang out. I gritted my teeth. All these sycophants wanted was blood.
Let their blindness to the predator curse them into all their next lives.
Once the noise died, Stadiel spoke again. “Welcome our fighters, the Issaraeth and Herr Zarethiel Elyriane.”
At that, I approached the entry. My hand shook as I gripped the ring of the door. Dragging in a breath, I prepared to throw a match I should have easily won. Prepared to look weak in front of all the heads of houses in the Angels Realm. Prepared to accept my punishment for all my sins.
The crowd roared as I emerged. Let them scream. Let them lust for blood. I only searched for her.
My heart ceased beating. Calrien stood behind Sylaira, a blade pressing into her lower back.
Red tinged my vision.
Do not lose control, Vaeron. You will only put her at risk. Do your fucking duty.
I forced myself to look away.
Zarethiel strode out from a group of his adulating followers like he already owned Thalvireth. He wasn’t even dressed in armor for Goddess’s sake.
Mirrors lined the room, primed to reflect every bite of light the bright moon would offer.
“Open the canopy,” Stadiel ordered.
Above, massive slabs of stone groaned back. Angels held up their hands, squinting, as blinding white poured into the space.
Zarethiel stopped just before the thrones and knelt. I did not. Whispers abounded as I leveled a hard look on both monarchs.
Iaoth scowled. A muscle jumped in Stadiel’s jaw.
And finally, I bowed to them.
Not for long.
“The fighters will wield only their primary power and their blades until one falls to his hands and knees and yields before the other,” Stadiel reminded everyone.
Not that the exact rules and prior outcomes hadn’t been the only topic of discussion among the palace since the trial was announced.
“But this time, the loser will be pierced with bronze, and only I will have the key to free them of their magic.”
Fuck.
A collective gasp ripped through the crowd. My nails bit into my palms as I restrained myself from leaping forward and committing regicide right then and there.
They wanted to send me to the front without access to my Goddess-gifted power. With nothing to protect my mate from the Demons and their dark magic.
For both of us to die.
“Let the trial begin.”
Zarethiel and I rose, facing the massive tree the palace encompassed. Children climbed its knotted trunk, trying to glimpse a better view, while their parents sat on risers across from the thrones of their monarchs.
With heavy strides, I centered myself between the groups. I rolled out my neck, letting the cracks ring out. Zarethiel spun to face me, white leaking from his fingers already.
The mirrors reflected directly in my eyes, the Goddess Moon primed and ready to judge us. All was quiet, like the silence before a scream of lightning.
“On my mark,” Stadiel shouted.
I snapped my wrists out, and radiance dripped from my palms and pooled on the floor like molten adjudication.
“Ready.”
Anxiety vibrated our bond. Fear cinched it tight.
“Set.”
I stole a glance at Sylaira, whose icy irises shone with what I’d always craved from her, from everyone—love.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, drinking in her fright one last time. There were so many sins between us. I needed her to fuel me through this fight.
“Mark!”
Zarethiel lashed out with a haloed whip. I dodged easily, swirling the puddle of my own power at my feet. He launched forward, and I threw up a barrier. He bounced off it, barely managing to recover his footing.
The gathered roared their approval.
I kept my hands hanging low at my sides, daring him to attack again. He circled, and I danced with him, the mirrors disorienting my vision. But I had keen senses from decades of hunting, and I didn’t need to see to know where my attacker was.
“End him, Zarethiel!” a Kisst called out.
More cheered for my blood.
I stepped directly in line with a bright reflection. Light seared my eyes, so fierce that it knocked me off guard. By the time I ducked, the blade was already blurring.
I turned at the last moment, the bronze edge of the dagger scraping against the top of my arm.
The sting of pain was nothing compared to what I’d endured at the hands of the former Herr R?viel. But he’d managed to wound me, just below the protective armor covering my chest.
The crowd went wild at the sight of my split-open tunic beneath.
“Too slow. Wonder if you’ll even be able to catch me next time,” I said, tone all velvet and venom.
I feinted right, catching a glimpse of my mate around Zarethiel. Her teeth flashed, bared and defiant. Hands fisted at her sides, and she glanced behind her at Calrien.
Zarethiel fell for my trap, lunging and opening up his side for a powerful kick to the ribs. I could have followed it with an uppercut to his jaw. Knocked him clean on his smug ass. Stabbed his side with a blade.
But I didn’t do any of the myriad of things I could have done.
I pulled back. Let him stumble. Let him catch his breath.
But not without a wicked smile curving my lips, reminding him of who was truly in control of this fight. “Try harder, Zarethiel. If you’re going to fake a win, at least make it believable.”
“You bastard,” he coughed.
Movement in the crowd beside the throne caught my attention.
Maelsar. With his focus trained on Calrien and Sylaira.
Tightness I hadn’t realized I’d been holding in my chest eased.
He’d managed to execute the first part of my contingency plan.
I drew a dagger from a strap on my thigh as Zarethiel picked up the fight again. Successive spears of white flew toward me, and I ducked each one while closing the distance. When I was steps away, the fucker who dared touch my mate threw up a shield of magic.
My blade glanced off it. I stabbed again, hitting just the right angle so the bronze edge of the knife ate into the glow. Like I had popped a bubble, it disappeared.
But Zarethiel was ready. He lunged, another dagger primed to sink into my thigh.
I caught the back of his jerkin, yanking him off course. But he had timed his attack well, and the tip dug in.
With a snarl, I tossed him away.
Nobles cheered and jeered as ruby spilled down my leg and onto the floor.
I banished my magic. No point in battling the thrall of the bronze when the ethereal strands in my well were already threadbare.
Chest heaving, I circled my opponent again. “Can you hurry this up? I have other matters to attend to. Stabbing me isn’t going to finish this.”
Zarethiel’s face was already red from exertion, but the shade deepened with my taunt. Other than my slight injuries, I hadn’t broken a sweat.
“You could just kneel,” he spat.
“The Goddess wouldn’t like that,” I said, voice dripping with disdain. “She’d find a way to judge your actions untrue and unjust. Do you want to risk her wrath? The whole court knowing that you arranged for me to lose on purpose?”
He leaped for me again, swiping endlessly through air as I backtracked. When I realized I was closing in on the thrones, I tried to angle away.
But Zarethiel threw up a wall of luminosity.
I gritted my teeth and called on my power again.
He would not herd me closer to the monarchs. There was no telling what sort of assistance Stadiel had offered him if the fight seemed to ebb in my favor.
With a twist of my hands, I called a hurricane of radiance into the throne room, increasing the mirrors’ endless reflections. Let them all go blind. Let the Goddess see through them all.
A scream sliced through the storm—feminine, familiar, and full of fear. Glass shattered, sharps whipping amid the maelstrom. Thunderous terror tore down my bond.
I twisted, attention falling on my mate.
And then I let my magic go.