“And the Blood Queen allowed your absence?” I asked as the eather calmed, allowing Delano to relax his stance.
“Thanks to you,” she replied with a faint smile. “She was too distracted with what was happening throughout Solis to enforce attendance or dole out punishment for not being there.”
My head cocked. “If she wasn’t too distracted…”
“We would’ve been killed,” Regis stated. “Just as those before us were. And we accepted that.”
I blinked. “Those before you?”
“The other Ascended who refused to take part in the Rites,” Malik answered from where he leaned against the wall, his arms crossed much like his brother’s. “Or the…entertainment.”
Casteel’s sneer was encased in ice. “How admirable.”
“It was not admirable, Your Majesty.” Mira’s fingers tightened around her book. “It simplywas.”
He stared at her, unblinking, while my thoughts raced. Because of Ian, I had to believe that not all Ascended were the same. I’d hoped he was different—and that others were, too. The possibility that my hope wasn’t based on wishes alone left me feeling off-kilter.
Mira cleared her throat. “We heard what you offered in Oak Ambler. That you were…willing to give us an option. Correct? We heard about your demands: to not take part in the Rites and to not feed on mortals unless they’re willing.”
“How did you hear about that?” I asked.
“Me,” Helenea said. “I heard about the offer through the Descenters there.”
I stared at her. “I have so many questions for you. So many.”
She swallowed again.
“Are you still…willing to give us that choice?” Raina asked.
Ihadbeen.
“If you disagreed so resolutely with what was happening,” Delano said, his wintry eyes hard as he surveyed the group, “what did you do to stop them? Other than sit in here and play cards?”
“That’s a good question,” Casteel tacked on.
Malik started to speak, but I held up a hand. “Itisa good question. One I want to hear them answer.”
Mira looked confused as she tilted her head. “How could we do anything? They are far stronger than us. They would’ve snapped our necks before we could raise even a hand against them. Just like those of us who tried to intervene in the past.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” I said as Casteel’s and Delano’s surprise washed over me. The lack of confusion from Emil and Malik was noticeable. “How are they stronger than you? I was under the impression that all Ascended shared the same level of strength.”
Mira appeared even more baffled. “Your…brother? Ian?” she started, and I stiffened. “I apologize, Your Majesty,” she quickly added. “I’m sorry for your loss. Ian was…”
“Magnificent,” the quiet male Ascended murmured, drawing my gaze.
“What is your name again?” I asked. I wanted to know—needed to.
“Heath,” he told me. “Heath Purcell.”
“He spoke with you, right?” Mira pressed. “Ian?”
I dragged my gaze from Heath. “Only briefly, and we were never alone.”
Her face tightened. “I understand.”
“What is it you understand?” My eyes shifted to Malik, my thoughts flashing to the home with no stockpile of blood. Had we been wrong in our assumptions? Hope threatened to swell. “That you appear to already know?”
“I cannot answer for anything regarding Ian.” Malik’s brow furrowed. “I don’t think he entirely…trusted me.”
