“I can tell you why,” Kyriel said. “She bled on him.”
Rage-barbed eather unfurled within me as I shot out of the throne, making it to the edge of the dais before I hit what felt like a wall, the impact jarring me to my bones.
Aydun smirked. “Come now, Casteel. Have you forgotten what happened the last time you charged me?”
“I haven’t forgotten shit,” I snarled. “But you have.”
“Me?” He scoffed with a lopsided smile. “What could I have possibly forgotten?”
Lips twisting up at the corner, I summoned the essence. Gathering my strength, I felt the dark, cold, and endless energy rise. Every muscle screamed in protest as I held his gaze, but slowly, like swimming through tar, I lifted my arm.
Kyriel’s eyes narrowed, and the smirk disappeared from Aydun’s face.
Mine grew as I tapped a finger against the air and pushed with my will.
Silver light tinged in shadowy crimson rippled through the space before me, lighting up cords of eather that stretched from him to me. They appeared like strings of power, and I snipped them, snuffing out the eather holding me in place.
Aydun’s eyes widened a fraction.
“You forgot I’m not the same as I was the last time you used that on me,” I said, and then pushed with my will.
Aydun flew backward, hitting a pillar in the alcove. The crack of the impact sent several ravens into the air.
Unfortunately, he caught himself before falling flat on his face. “Motherfucker,” he muttered, his head snapping up as he dusted off his chest. “That was unnecessary.”
“And incrediblyreckless,” Kyriel spat. “Something you seem to excel at.”
I prowled the edge of the dais.
Aydun shoved the hair back from his face. “And don’t forget that it was also rude,Casteel.”
Twisting his neck, Kyriel leveled his shoulders and inhaled. “Her blood was on him because he was helping her. Did that ever cross your mind?”
Not at first. It had once I’d had a few hours—or days—to consider it.
“You should feel bad if it didn’t,” Aydun suggested.
I didn’t feel remotely bad. “Why are you two here?” I asked again.
“Maybe I just wanted to say hello,” Aydun said.
“Don’t play with me.”
“If I were playing with you, you would be in a far better mood.” He winked. “Promise.”
A noise as dark as the Abyss escaped through my clenched teeth as I turned to the other Fate. “Why areyouhere?”
“Does it matter?”
I inhaled and tasted smoke. “I will not ask a third time.”
“That was the fourth time, but who’s counting?” Kyriel pointed out. “I’m here because this one”—he gestured at Aydun—“is here.”
Wisps of Primal mist seeped from me as I turned my attention to Aydun.
He held my glare, several tense moments of silence coursing between us as the ink on his face pulsed and churned along his temples. “For fuck’s sake,” he bit out. “You’re even more arrogant than you were before—something that none of us thought was possible.”
“I live to surprise you.” I returned to the throne and sat. “Now, leave.”
