Chapter 28
By the time we stopped for the evening, the rumors of what had happened in Vyss spread like wildfire through the ranks. Only a handful had been on night patrol to witness the mob—and even that had only been from a distance. Those who had seen it up close had remained tight-lipped.
Save for one of the royal sentinels Thalessa had brought with her to our aid.
Who currently sat in what was now a prison tent, tied to a chair.
I let the monster that had always lived inside me off its chain. My nails bit into my palm as I landed another fist in his face. His head snapped back, and when he came up, he spit a tooth onto the ground beside him.
“If you had just stayed quiet,” I crooned, circling him, “I wouldn’t have to kill you.”
“They needed to know what you did,” he replied, his one good eye tracking my movements. “You weren’t supposed to take out those bronze threads.”
I halted mid-stride and whirled. Fucking Calrien had been running his mouth too, it seemed. He’d witnessed them being sewn in; he must have thought I’d secretly taken them out.
My fingers flew to my tunic, working over the buttons. But when I was seconds away from shoving it over my shoulders and correcting him, I paused.
Because if everyone feared me more, thinking that I could now slaughter with my Command…
No one would dare cross me. It could work in my favor.
So instead, I rolled up my sleeves and continued my circle. “And what exactly is it that I did?”
He swallowed, straining against the ropes binding him. But there was no one around to save him. I’d sent them all away, needing to slake my rage on something—someone. And he’d been an easy target once Thalessa had admitted he was talking about me on our ride.
This was the first death sentence I’d delivered to a subordinate.
No one else had broken the rules enough to warrant more than a flogging—though this was a stretch by any means.
Calrien and whomever remained loyal to him would take note of where my line remained once they saw the mess I’d make of this male.
“The few who fled down the main thoroughfare and caught us before we got to you said that you didn’t even have to speak to use your power. That you were able to kill them just by thinking.”
Accurate, but also not. Because it wasn’t my Goddess-gifted power that I had wielded.
I still hadn’t told Sylaira. Or Maelsar. I was still coming to terms with it myself.
The marks on my arm stung, a painful reminder of this new truth.
I lunged, slamming my fist into his gut. He wheezed as all the air fled his lungs. Was the force I used on him excessive? Yes. But I couldn’t hurt my sister—yet. Or Althirion. Or Nymirae.
The keepers had already whispered to their Korona, and I knew the moment I stepped beyond this canvas cocoon, she’d be ready to lash me with her words.
Those same red threads danced in my vision as I hit him again, and again, and again. It was so, so tempting to fall into its thrall. To welcome it into my veins like it was my divine white power.
His face was unrecognizable when I wrenched myself away, chest heaving. His head hung limp and lolling, like he no longer possessed the strength or will to hold it aloft.
I swiped sweat from my brow and took in ruby slicking his skin. A wet, pained noise escaped him as I nudged his foot.
“Do you wish you’d kept your mouth shut now?” I taunted, drawing my favorite dagger. The indigo gem set into the hilt glinted in the lantern light. Because despite what this idiot thought, I couldn’t access my incandescent magic to illuminate the space.
“Never…” he wheezed. “Monster.”
Fury snapped through me, and I lunged, plunging the blade into the side of his neck. He choked, gurgled, and then fell still. I yanked the dagger free and cleaned the blade on his tunic.
The stormy beat of my heart slowed. The thrum of this dark power in my veins ebbed. Breath dragged deep into my lungs.
Because I’d reclaimed a semblance of control. My kill was purposeful, not driven by chaos and desperation. It had been my hand and not the dark entity that had lurked inside me, waiting for the prime moment to bite.
With a sigh, I fixed my hair and tugged up the hood of my cloak. I wasn’t ready for everyone to study how the color had darkened. But there was no more prolonging the inevitable confrontation that awaited me.
I slapped back the flaps as I emerged from the tent, straightening to my full height. As suspected, the errand birds waited there.
Althirion’s lips twisted into a smug grin. “Ah, Issaraeth.”
I held up a hand to silence him, and he flinched back. A predatory smile rose at the fear flashing in his eyes.
Good.
Nymirae scooted away as I approached her counterpart. “Don’t tell me,” I purred, halting inches from him, my frame towering over his, “the Korona has a new message for me?”
He gulped. “Yes. She wants us to confirm that you removed the bronze threads.”
“Does she now?” I cocked my head, attention flicking between the two of them. “Which one of you is going to rip off my shirt and do it?”
“We were hoping that you’d comply,” Nymirae said, her voice weak, “as part of your duty to the crown.”
“What do your orders dictate that you do if I refuse?” I asked, lifting a judgemental brow. Even together, they were no match for my physical prowess. And they didn’t have a single guard flanking them.
Honestly, out of anyone left in this group, Calrien’s crew would be the only one still on their side. I’d ensured that with the countless hours I’d spent making the rest of the battalion loyal to me.
As if I’d thought him into existence, the fucker emerged from the shadows.
“I have Iaoth’s permission to intervene,” he answered for them.
“A bit informal to refer to my sister that way, don’t you think?” I taunted, a vicious smile curving the corners of my mouth. “Perhaps it was merely a slip of tongue. I know where yours has been after all.”
Calrien’s nostrils flared. The two keepers exchanged a confused glance. They’d never cradled enough power to play the game that Calrien and I did. And they never would.
It was a heady, intoxicating thing, wielding words as weapons. Pushing these three to see exactly where their allegiance would break.
Despite what the Koron and Korona would have people believe, everyone only looked out for themselves in the end.
There was no collective good. Not when faced with two monarchs so depraved, they’d rather sacrifice an entire realm than let themselves suffer.
Or admit that their war was unwinnable. That they were merely guessing at our Goddess’s wishes.
The Demons had killed my mother and so many others long before the first true battle stained Keleti. I’d harbored my hatred for them for so long. Had been swept up in the propaganda Stadiel had woven after his ascension. Contributed to the indoctrination of many.
Fallen for it myself.
But my eyes were clear now.
“Remove your shirt, Vaeron,” Calrien gritted out.
I tsked, keeping my gaze locked on his while I patted Althirion’s shoulder and then shoved him aside. “Where are your manners?”
“I don’t reserve them for the likes of you,” Calrien spat.
I stepped closer, leaning in so only he could hear my next words. “What is Stadiel promising you?”
Calrien’s face went ashen. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t lie to me. I was your commander for long enough to know your tells.”
“Even if he did…” Each word bit out of him, and I savored the abhorrence rolling off of him. “Why would I tell you?”
“Fair point.” I stepped back, letting the three face off against me. Only the former member of my hunting group seemed like he was willing to leap forward and attempt to grab me. “I’ll be going now. And if I catch any of you following me…well, you won’t like the consequences.”
I spun on my heel before anyone could reply. My long strides ate up the distance along the invisible chain linking me to Sylaira.
“Wait!” Nymirae called out, desperation threaded in her tone.
I didn’t slow.
She sprinted ahead of me, then turned, breathless. “Please, Issaraeth. I left the others behind.”
I didn’t even acknowledge her as I brushed by.
“If we don’t confirm, my mate will die.” Her voice broke on the last word.
Goddess damn Iaoth.
With a growl catching in my throat, I faced her, finding tears falling down her cheeks. “Explain.”
She swallowed, wiping her face. “The Korona screams at her, all hours of the day and night. My mate is begging me to escape the ranks while she flees Sivy. She can’t take it anymore and wants to run away from all of this.
And your sister found out about our plan, so now my mate is locked away.
Althirion doesn’t care what happens. In fact, I think he’d like it better if he were the sole point of contact. ”
My nostrils flared as I exhaled a long breath. Everything I did, I did for Sylaira. I understood exactly the fear that shone in this female’s eyes. Why she raced after me. And my gut didn’t sing of suspicion. To my surprise, I found myself believing her.
So I unbuttoned my tunic again, just low enough to flash the threads of bronze in the pale moonlight.
“Thank you,” she whispered, bowing her head.
“Convey what you wish to the Korona. But I have no idea how all of the citizens of Vyss died. She can believe me or not, I don’t care.”
And with that, I left her standing in the middle of an alley and wound my way back to my little fugitive.
A fire crackled in front of her, and she stared into it, lost in her own head. How badly I wanted to venture down our bond and dance among her thoughts. How badly I wanted all these walls between us to crumble.
For all our secrets to be out in the open. To feel unburdened. To feel united.
Sylaira picked her head up at my approach. Her ice-blue eyes roamed my face like it was the first time she’d ever seen me. I let her examine me beneath an expanse of stars, the night so clear without a forest obscuring it from view.