“No,” I said in a whisper. “What do you know about him?”
Atlas looked back at Cedar and Vesper, who were watching us with narrowed eyes and matching cross-armed stances.
“I knew of him in another life, and he was never this strong. Not enough to get rank in the council. Whatever he’s done, I would guarantee it’s the same thing your brother’s doing.”
My mind swirled with possibilities.
“It would make sense since he tied himself to Adrian,” I murmured. “Though he acts more like a lapdog than a council overseer.”
“Be wary of him,” she advised. “I’ll try to see if I can get eyes on him. In the meantime, I’ll let you?—”
“Can we get on with it?” Cedar asked with a sinister smirk.
Atlas let out a growl and turned, leaving the room and shutting the door behind her.
Well, looks like those two aren’t on the best of terms.
I let out a sigh, both relieved and stressed to be stuck in a room alone with them.
“Look, Cedar, I get that you’re mad, but this is bigger than us?—”
“Shut up,Brat.”
Anger, desire, and shock burst to life in my veins as Cedar commanded my attention not just with her voice, but with the magic that burst out around us.
“Cedar—”
“This is my favor, Vesper,” she hissed at the hunter. “You weren’t the only one she abandoned.”
Her words were like a thorn digging into my heart, but I took them in stride.
“Say it,” I growled and puffed up my chest. I couldn’t deny how hot her anger made me. I had been fantasizing about this day since the moment we’d been separated.
“Why are you doing this? Marrying him? Leaving us in the middle of the night?AbandoningVesper and forcing her to live out her punishment without so much as a second thought?”
Guilt shot through me so potently it turned into a knot in my throat, making me go from hot and horny to ashamed far too quickly.
“I’m doing what I need to do. Have you even considered that?”
With each passing moment, she took another step forward, stalking me like she was a big bad wolf and I was small, quivering prey. I couldn’t help the steps I took back, but I was cornered when my back hit the wall.
“I’ve been filled in,” she spat. “You’re being naïve if you thinkthiswill fulfill the prophecy.”
I stood firm as she came to stand in front of me.
“I made a calculated choice. I am positive it will fulfill the prophecy requirements,” I said, my voice wavering. The way she spoke had such sureness, I was scared that I truly made the wrong decision for a moment.
My life, and theirs, hinged on this. If I made one wrong move, I would doom all three of us.
“Do you feel him right now? The blood bond?” she asked, her hand moving to rest on my chest.
The contact burned. My breath hitched.
“Yes.” It seemed to stir whenever he was mentioned. There was a bit of confusion and annoyance, which meant he could likely feel what I was going through.
Cedar let out a long breath, her eyes trailing down my body. I became acutely aware of every single curve shown through my tight dress.
I dressed to show the crowd I was in charge, but her undressing me with her eyes made it obvious who was truly in charge here.
