Chapter 45
“What a happy reunion,” Queen Ileana announced, her smile tight as she took in the two brothers staring at each other.
I hardly heard her—was barely aware of the Handmaiden drifting in and out from between us like a wraith, coming to stand on the other side of the Queen.
What I was staring at didn’t make sense.
And I wasn’t the only one who appeared frozen in shock as we stared at Prince Malik Da’Neer.
How was he even free? Standing beside the Blood Queen, seemingly healthy and whole?
He looked nothing like the emaciated, frail man we’d seen in the cage below.
His golden bronze skin lacked the haggardness of starvation.
His hair gleamed, and the polished shine of his boots, the cut of his breeches, and the tailored shirt and deep grey vest he wore dripped with wealth and privilege.
It didn’t make sense.
Or it couldn’t, because the only reason he’d be here was unfathomable.
“Gods,” Kieran uttered, lifting a hand and then halting.
“Malik.” Casteel’s voice was hoarse, and the agony slicing through him stole my breath. I reached out, grasping his hand. His gaze swung between his brother and the Blood Queen. His—and all the others’—shock pelted me like icy rain. “No.”
His brother’s head tilted as his gaze flicked to where my hand was wrapped around Casteel’s.
“I see you’ve gotten yourself married, Cas,” he said, and Casteel flinched as the breath he took punched from him.
“Wish I could’ve been there.” Bright, golden eyes met mine, and I felt Kieran shudder from where he stood beside me. “Congratulations.”
“What has she done to you?” Casteel demanded, rattled to his very core.
“Opened my eyes,” Malik replied.
“To what?” Casteel choked.
“To the truth.” His head straightened, and I reached out with my senses, finding a thick wall shielding his emotions. “Just as she will open all your eyes.”
Casteel took a step back, his disbelief as potent as his sorrow.
“This can’t be real.” His head swung toward the Queen.
He started toward her, but I tightened my grip on his hand as several of the knights stepped forward.
They weren’t my concern. It was the Handmaiden, whose gaze sharpened on Casteel.
“What in the fuck have you done to him?”
“ Casteel .” Her voice reached us like a snake in the grass.
His entire body went rigid beside mine, and her red lips curved up as she extended a hand toward him.
I reacted without thought, grabbing her arm. The silk of her sleeve wrinkled under my grip. “You will never lay a finger on him again.”
The Handmaiden stepped forward, but Queen Ileana held up a hand as her dark gaze slid to mine.
“Penellaphe.” Those dark eyes roamed my face, touching briefly on the scars and then continuing on.
And I thought…gods, I thought her features softened and warmed.
“I have no interest in laying a hand on your husband. That would be incredibly disrespectful.”
“As if you care for what is respectful,” I shot back.
Her brows rose, and then she laughed softly. “Ian,” she called, and I saw my brother stiffen from the corner of my eye. “You didn’t tell me that our dear Penellaphe not only found her tongue but also sharpened it.”
Ian said nothing.
Queen Ileana tugged on her arm, but I held on for a moment more. I didn’t know why. Maybe just to prove I could, that my tongue wasn’t the only thing about me that now had sharpened edges. I slowly let go, lifting one finger at a time.
An eyebrow rose as she stared at me. Then she leaned her head in, and the scents of rose and vanilla reached me.
“Poppy,” she said softly, holding my gaze.
As close as she was, I thought her eyes…
weren’t as dark as an Ascended’s normally were.
I could see her pupils. I opened my senses, but I felt nothing from her, which wasn’t a surprise.
“How quickly you’ve turned on me, after all the years I protected you, cared for you, and kept you safe. ”
Her words did nothing to my heart. “You mean after spending years lying to me and keeping me in a cage?”
“You were not caged, child. I am sure your dear Prince can tell you that.”
Casteel’s head whipped in her direction, and his fury blasted my skin. “A room and a life of lies is still a cage,” I bit out, refusing to look away. “And I am not a child, nor is he a Prince.”
Queen Ileana’s brows knitted and then smoothed out as she glanced at Casteel.
Another soft laugh left her as she pulled back.
“Well, that explains so much.” She looked over her shoulder at Malik.
“The younger brother surpasses the eldest.” She turned back to us.
“And the Maiden becomes the Queen.” The corners of her lips lifted again. “Just as I had always hoped for you.”
Warning bells rang, but they’d been ringing since she entered the room with Prince Malik at her side, as if he were her Consort. “Where is the King?” I asked.
“In the capital,” she answered, eyeing Kieran.
She reached to straighten the collar of his tunic but caught my move toward her.
“Territorial, aren’t you? Never would’ve expected that.
I have a question for you, dear. One that may make Ian very uncomfortable.
” Her crown glimmered as she tipped her head back.
“Are you Joined to this wolven? Or is it the pretty blond one? Or one of those oh-so-gorgeous females?”
The fact that she knew of the Joining didn’t escape any of us. “I’m bonded to them,” I answered, waiting for her gaze to settle on me. “To all of them.”
Her eyes widened slightly, and then she clapped her hands together, surprising me. Casteel shot me a quick glance as the Queen looked over her shoulder at Malik. “Look at what you’ve missed out on.”
“I’m looking,” he replied dryly. “And I’m seeing.”
“What in the hell is that supposed to mean?” Casteel snarled, his shock at seeing his brother—at the betrayal— giving way to fury that tasted of blood instead of anger.
“You see, I’ve always seen my dear Penellaphe as the future Queen of Atlantia.
” Queen Ileana turned to Delano, her grin resurfacing as his lip curled in disgust. She raised a hand and snapped her fingers.
I tensed, but it was a small horde of servants who answered her summons, filtering into the room, carrying trays of glasses. “Just married to the wrong brother.”
I choked on my breath as Casteel stared at her. “What?” I couldn’t have heard her right.
“Drinks anyone?” Queen Ileana offered, and none of us accepted, not even Emil or Naill, who both looked as if they could use an entire bottle at the moment. One shoulder lifted in a delicate shrug in response to their refusal.
“What was that supposed to mean?” Casteel pressed.
“I had planned for my Penellaphe to marry Malik,” she answered, and yes, I had heard her correctly the first time.
“It’s true,” Malik confirmed, plucking up a glass of what I sincerely hoped was red wine.
He lifted it toward me. “I was your Ascension.” His lips curved into a smirk.
“Or at least that’s what we could call it.
” He winked and took a drink. “But I suppose it could be considered an Ascension of the…flesh?”
Casteel exploded.
He shot toward his brother, lips peeled back, and fangs bared. He was fast, but Kieran launched himself at Casteel, wrapping both arms around his waist. “That’s what they want,” Kieran said. “Don’t give it to them, brother. Don’t.”
Queen Ileana’s laughter was like tinkling windchimes as she helped herself to a glass.
“Please, do,” she said, and I saw the knights and guards back away from Malik and Casteel.
“I’m curious to know who would win this fight.
My bet is on Casteel. He has always been a fighter.
” She grinned as she lifted one of Vonetta’s braids as she drifted past her.
Vonetta’s lips peeled back in a silent snarl.
“Even when he was on the verge of being broken.”
My head jerked to her. “Shut the fuck up.”
Her laughter died in a hush as she turned to me.
The Handmaiden stepped back while Malik took another drink of his wine, one eyebrow arched.
Ian edged toward me as Tawny paled. Casteel stopped struggling to get at his brother as he and Kieran turned to where I stood, my chest humming with eather and rage, rising and falling rapidly with my breaths.
“I am being kind, Queen Penellaphe, and hospitable. Because I will always have a great fondness for you, no matter where we stand,” she said, her voice cool as she smiled at Naill.
“I’ve invited you to speak with me, so we could hopefully come to an agreement about what the future holds. I assume that’s why you two agreed.”
“It is,” I bit out.
“I’ve even had drinks brought in and offered food to your friends, even though they attempted to trick me into believing that it was you instead of her.
” Queen Ileana gestured at Lyra with her glass, and the wolven snarled at her.
“But do not mistake my fondness for weakness or for permission to speak to me as if I am nothing more than gutter trash. I am the Queen, so show some damn respect.”
I opened my mouth to tell her exactly what I thought of showing her respect, but Casteel spoke. “You are right about why we’re here. We are here to talk about the future. Yours.”
Standing before the dais, she faced us as the Handmaiden shadowed her on one side of the room and Malik from the other. “Then speak.”
Casteel had managed to get his anger under control while I was quickly losing my grip on mine. “We came with—”
“An ultimatum? I know,” she said, and Casteel snapped his mouth shut.
“Release your brother and allow Atlantia to take back the lands east of New Haven? Or you will reveal the truth about the Ascended and Atlantia by using the once-Maiden as proof? Destroy us by collapsing our foundation of lies? Is that correct?”
I stilled.
All of us did.