My mind couldn’t fathom the meaning behind his words. He’d never said anything about wishing to be king. He’d rarely said a word against my father.
No one fails me twice.
Those had been Father’s words to Asher. Yet, we all thought Renwell had failed when he hadn’t been able to save Mother. But he hadn’t truly failed. He’d been acting on Father’s orders all along.
“Youdidsee me that night, didn’t you?” Aiden’s rough voice made me turn. But he wasn’t looking at me. He was staring at Renwell, contempt written into his sweaty, soot-streaked face. “When Brielle died.”
“I did,” Renwell said. “And I see you found the present I left for you in Asher’s vault.”
Aiden clenched his bloody fist, his father’s gold ring flashing in the candlelight. “You wanted to see if I’d pick it up.”
“I guessed who you were after the glimpse I caught of you fleeing Brielle and when I captured you in the Den. That brand from the mine covered by a falcon tattoo was too coincidental. I found your father’s ring when I was emptying Asher’s vault ahead of your little heist—a way to further prove my theory. Then, of course, I saw you with my sister, and that confirmed it.”
His words hit me like a hailstorm. “Youknew?” I choked out. “Youknewhe killed my mother. That he’d been a prisoner. That he might be the true heir.And you put me in a cell with him?”
I could feel Aiden’s stare burning into my cheek, but I stayed focused on Renwell. On his calm, steady gaze.
“Yes,” he said simply.
“You lied to me,” I said hoarsely. “All this time. You were using me.”
“I kept secrets. And I used them to unlock certain doors when necessary.”
I barked out a bitter laugh. “Like Asher’s vault? Is that why you let my heist happen? So you could steal a bit for yourself?”
Renwell smirked. “Oh, I all but emptied his vault, leaving just enough for you.”
That was why Father had been so angry, why he’d killed Asher and threatened me.
Because of Renwell.
“That gold was quite useful paying for the additional Wolves I needed,” Renwell continued. “The ones that should be attacking the Den right about now.”
Aiden stiffened. “We already slaughtered the Wolves you hid in your caves.”
Renwell chuckled softly. “Fool. Those were just my way of making you work harder to get here. And to make you think you’d won the night.” He sheathed his glittering shadow of a sword. He nodded to his Wolves. “Take her. Kill the other.”
My heart cried out, and I looked wildly at Aiden. His eyes darted from Renwell to me, his sword raised, as he made a quick decision.
He lunged for me, wrapping his arm around me and pinning my arms to my body. His sword grazed my neck. “Not another step,” he hissed at the advancing Wolves.
Something flickered over Renwell’s face that I’d never seen before—fear. I felt the same flicker in my chest as the cold steel licked my skin.
“Halt!” Renwell shouted. The Wolves stilled as one.
Aiden slowly dragged me toward the old door I’d seen hanging open when I burst into Father’s room.
“Don’t go with him, Kiera,” Renwell said, his cold voice filtering through my fear. “Don’t make the same mistake yourmother did.” I flinched. “Use your mother’s knife. Kill him. He’s wounded. Do it.Do it!”
I shuddered. The knife was trapped next to Aiden’s leg. I could jab my elbow into his wounded side and thrust the blade into his thigh, like he did to that Wolf when we escaped the Den.
Then I could bury it in his heart like he did to Mother.
So much death. And I still hadn’t protected my brother and sister.
“Everett, Delysia,” I whispered brokenly.
“You can’t save them now,” Aiden breathed in my ear. “He’ll use them against you. Make you his puppet.”
