Nothing but silence ensued as everyone began shifting uncomfortably in their seats.
“Casteel,” I said. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you have to understand—”
“As I said,” he interrupted. “I understand perfectly.”
“Whatdo you understand?” I demanded, my patience wearing thin as unease and anxiety bloomed. “And how about you actually turn around and look at me when you explain it?”
“Iunderstand,” he stated. With a charge of eather, the bloodstone dagger vanished in a ripple of shadowy essence streaked with crimson.
“Gods,” muttered Vonetta.
“I understand,” he repeated, rising to face me, “that you do not believe I’m capable of doing what is needed, no matter what that might be—no matter how hard or difficult it could be.”
My confusion continued to rise as I looked at him. “I’m really not following.”
“Let me ask you something, Poppy.” Casteel walked onto the step. “If you felt like you couldn’t control your power, if you felt yourself becoming unstable, would you come to me?”
“I think this meeting should be adjourned,” I thought I heard Kieran suggest, but my heart was pounding too loud to be sure as I stared at Casteel.
He came down the last step. “Would you trust that I could keep you level? That I would be able to stop you from losing control?”
My chest stuttered. “Yes,” I whispered.
Casteel inhaled sharply. “That’s a lie, Poppy.”
“No, it’s not—”
“If it was true, youneverwould’ve,”he cut in, slicing his hand through the air, “asked Kieran to be the one to put you in the ground.”
CHAPTER 53
POPPY
Horror exploded in my chest as I stared up at him, frozen to where I stood.
Casteel held my gaze, the lines and angles of his face impossibly harsh as things…everything started to click together.
His doubt when I’d said I knew I could come to him.
His comments about me trusting him.
How Kieran and he interacted—or didn’t. The distance between them. The tension.
Oh, gods.
He’d learned what I’d made Kieran promise.
“Everyone needs to leave.” Chair legs screeched over the stone as Kieran stood. “Everyone out. Now.”
I didn’t know if everyone listened or how fast they left. It was only when Kieran appeared behind Casteel that I found my ability to speak.
“How…how did you find out about that?”
“It was when you were under Kolis’s influence,” Kieran answered. “In a moment when you had control, you summoned me.”
“Oh, my gods.” I stepped back, wiping my damp palms down the sides of my tunic.
Casteel remained silent, his lips pressed together.
