“That’snotwhat I meant, Cassia.” Aziel shifts, like he’s thinking about moving closer, before deciding against it and remaining at my desk. “I just…” He pauses, groans, then continues. “You’re competing with David, but you have to understand how wildly different the responsibilities are between leading Lust and leading Wrath.”
Mom continues brushing my hair, working carefully through the mats. She’s gentle, and despite the thousands of negative emotions coursing through me, I find myself relaxing into her hands.
“I understand the responsibility of leading Wrath,” I argue. “And I’m not sure what more I can do to prove that.”
Aziel frowns, his lips tugging down at the corners and his eyebrows pulling together. “You’ve more than proven your dedication, Cassia, but there’s no shame in needing more time to prepare. I didn’t take over until I was almost two hundred, and you haven’t even reached your thirtieth year. You should enjoy your youth. Take this time to explore yourself, to find passions and hobbies that don’t revolve around leading Wrath.”
I have passions and hobbies. I may not be able to think of any examples, but I have them. I know I do.
Aziel drags his fingers through his hair. “I fully intend to give you Wrath, Cassia, and I shouldn’t have suggested otherwise. I know how hard you’ve worked for it, and you’ll be an excellent leader when the time comes. I was angry, and I spoke out of turn. I’m sorry.”
I slide my foot along my sheets, considering his words. “I didn’t murder Mammon,” I say. “Everybody thinks I’m a failure.”
“Not at all.” Aziel steps forward, finally closing the distance between us. I avoid looking him in the eye as he drops to his knees beside my bed, bringing us to the same height. “They’reimpressed you were brave enough to sneak inside Greed and try. If anything, they’re upset withmefor forcing you to leave.”
I snort. “Liar.”
I’m not a fool. I failed, and the Wraths will hold that against me. They’re forever going to think of me as a little girl who had to be rescued from Greed by her fathers.
Aziel takes my hands, his movements slow and cautious. He’s nervous I’ll lash out, which isn’t out of the realm of possibility. He’s always extra sensitive to my emotions when I’m close to Mom. He’s afraid I’ll accidentally hurt her, which I loathe.
I stare at his fingers, refusing to let myself cry as he folds his hands around mine. I haven’t held his hands since childhood, and it’s oddly comforting.
He gives my fingers a tight squeeze. “You’re being too hard on yourself. There’s a balance to things. Mammon will pay.”
Mom snags a knot, and I wince before pulling my hands back to myself. Aziel releases me, but I can tell he isn’t happy about it. I don’t care. He isn’t happy about anything I do, so what’s one more thing on the list?
“You’re coming to work tomorrow,” Aziel finally says. “I expect you there bright and early.”
I press my lips together, then give a jerky nod. It’s a bald-faced lie. I have no intention of leaving my bed, but I’m willing to say whatever it takes to get Aziel off my back. I’ll agree to anything if it means being left alone.
Aziel cocks a brow. “If you don’t come, I’ll be left with no choice but to bring work to you. We’ll hold meetings inside your bedroom, where everybody can see just how low their Crown Princess has fallen.”
I clamp my jaw shut. “You wouldn’t.”
“Don’t test me, Cassia.” Aziel rises, then gestures for Mom to join him.
She brushes out the last of my knots. Aziel and I glare daggers at one another. Would he truly do that to me? Are there no limits to the amount of humiliation he’s willing to force me to endure? Apparently not.
“There we go,” Mom says, working the brush from my scalp to the ends of my hair. It glides smoothly, but I’m sure it looks like a greasy mess. “I’d recommend giving it a good wash before work.”
I grunt, refusing to respond.
Chapter Fifteen
CASSIA
I CLASP MY hands behind my back, desperately trying to hide my shaking from watchful eyes. It’s a dead giveaway to my weakness, my fear.
The tile flooring clicks beneath my heels, and my long, black dress swishes around my ankles as I force myself to walk down the main corridor of the building. This was once a bank, but Aziel converted it into our government building shortly after I was born.
The security inside is severe, but I’m not forced to follow the standard procedures. People know who I am, and I hold my chin high as I breeze past the main security guards.
My heart pounds, and I let out a small sigh of relief when the guards step aside, letting me through without issue. I was afraid they’d stop me. Word of my mission—and subsequent failure—has undoubtedly spread, and I wouldn’t put it past security to humiliate me by forcing me to join the line of employees waiting to be scanned in.
Maybe Aziel ordered them to let me through as usual. He doesn’t usually involve himself in my workplace affairs, though. He’s against giving me advantages, and I’m pretty sure he went out of his way to inform everybody that I wasnotunder his protection when I first began working here.
It’s the only way to explain the hazing I was forced to endure.
