His expression softens, and when he speaks, his voice carries an intimacy that makes my heart clench. "You told me you were afraid, not of failing or dying, but of succeeding. Of taking a life and losing something of yourself in the process." He leans closer. "And afterward, when you returned with blood still under your fingernails, I held you while you cried, and you made me swear never to tell another soul that the perfect assassin had a conscience."
Tears sting my eyes as memories flood back—the weight of his arms around me, the security I felt in his embrace, the understanding that had passed between us without words.
"How?" I whisper, reaching out hesitantly to touch his face. "How is this possible?"
He allows the touch, his skin warm beneath my trembling fingers. Yet his gaze doesn't soften. Words flow from his mouth in almost a monotone. "When Malakai's shadows tore me apart, my consciousness didn't die with my body. It was flung outward, searching for an anchor. And there was Cade, watching from the forest's edge."
"Watching?" I pull back.
"He was following Malakai," he explains, rising to pace the small room. "When my consciousness merged with Cade's, I gained access to all his memories, his mission, his purpose. He tracked the Shadow Lord's movements for weeks, documenting his activities, his weaknesses." A harsh laugh escapes him. "Cade was never loyal to Malakai; he was placed in the Shadow Court as a spy long before you arrived."
"But why?" I press. "What interest would Cade have in Malakai?"
He turns, something assessing entering his expression. He hesitates like he doesn't want to say, but he finally speaks. "He knew about the prophecy."
My blood runs cold. "What prophecy?"
If Asher detects my lie, he doesn't show it.
"'When shadow and light join in blood, the ancient divide shall heal,'" he recites, watching my reaction carefully. "'Two courts become one throne, when enemies become lovers, when hatred turns to something deeper.'"
The words from the ancient text I discovered in the library echo in my ears. "How do you know about that?"
"Cade was assigned to monitor Malakai long before you came to the Court," he explains. "The Shadow Council has known about the prophecy for centuries, the possibility that a child born of shadow and light would unite the realms under a single rule."
He moves closer again, something dark flashing in his eyes. "He was watching Malakai, waiting to see if he might fulfill the prophecy by bringing a Light Court Omega into his bed." His lip curls in disgust. "It's really quite disgusting, you know. The way they manipulate events, nudge circumstances to fulfill their ancient prediction."
"They?" I echo. "Who exactly?"
"Both courts," he says bitterly. "Light and Shadow, enemies on the surface but collaborating beneath to ensure the prophecy comes true. Your father, the Council, all of them playing their parts." His voice hardens. "Even your mating to Malakai isn't accidental. They planned it for years."
Bile rises in my throat. "What are you saying?"
"Your father didn't cause the incident with Cassian, but when it happened, he saw his chance. He knew Malakai watched you during negotiations. Instead of trying to negotiate a different payment, he pushed for you specifically, knowing what it would lead to." His laugh is bitter, hollow. "Your father counted on Malakai demanding you as a payment for the blood debt. It was all staged, Sera. Your father orchestrated the entire situation to place you in Malakai's bed, to fulfill the prophecy."
I shake my head in disbelief. "No. My father wants me to kill Malakai, not bear his child."
"Does he?" He raises an eyebrow in challenge. "Or did he send you here knowing the fated mate bond would prevent you from killing Malakai without dying yourself? Knowing you'll eventually succumb to the bond's influence? Knowing an Alpha and Omega with a fated bond would eventually mate?"
Doubt crawls through me like poison. I think of my father's careful instructions, how he never mentioned the fated bond would make killing Malakai impossible. How he seemed unsurprised when I told him.
"I don't believe you," I say, but my voice lacks conviction.
"You don't want to believe me," he corrects. "But deep down, you know there's truth in what I am saying."
I stand, needing to move, to think. The dizziness has subsided enough that I can walk, though my legs still feel unsteady.
Feet appear in front of me. When I look up, Cade is there, and all I see is Asher in his gaze.
"I'm sorry, Sera," he says, his expression flickering between pain and rage, as if two different people are fighting for control of one body. "I want to save you, but seeing you with him...Cade's memories, his hatred—it's poisoning everything I feel for you."
I reach out to touch him, but he pulls away. The warmth I glimpsed vanishes, replaced by something cold and hard. "I saw you," he says flatly. "In the corridor with him."
Understanding crashes over me like a wave. The corridor. Malakai pressing me against the wall. My body responding to my Alpha's touch.
"Asher, I can explain," I begin. "The fated bond—it creates feelings that aren't…"
"Aren't what?" he cuts me off, anger flaring. "Aren't real? Aren't yours? Don't insult me with excuses, Sera. I was there. I saw the way you melted for him, the way you moaned his name. The way your Omega begged for hisAlpha."
