He was young at the time, only twenty-nine years old, and Atarah’s decree was just one more way his family alienated him. He decided they wouldn’t push him out, and that night, he planned her assassination.
He hadn’t planned on framing Caius outright; he only dressed as his brother in the rare event someone saw him but planned it to where the chances of anyone seeing him were almost non-existent.
Adila finding their brother guilty shouldn’t have happened, but when it did, he was giddy; his brother deserved death for what he’d taken from Gedeon. The Umbra throne belonged tohim, not Caius.
But the biggest question, the one he was sure Caius wondered as well, waswhydid she find him guilty? Gedeon had a theory, but he couldn’t prove it. Adila could see the souls of all mystics exceptRoyals. It made him think none of her abilities worked onRoyals.
When one of the staff caught Caius standing over Atarah’s body, covered in blood and holding a dagger, Gedeon didn’t think there would be a trial. He’s a king, after all.
But there was, and by some miracle, their sister found Caius guilty.
Did she instead use the evidence presented when deciding Caius’ fate but didn’t have the heart to damn him to hell? And if her power didn’t work on him,howdid she lock him away? The questions ate at Gedeon, but there was nothing he could do about it.
He shook himself from his spiraling thoughts and stared at Cora’s soul. If only there had been a way to have her without eventually relinquishing his throne. The only way would've been to convince her not to have children, but he couldn't risk it. He'd known once their bond solidified, he would have denied her nothing.
Old storybooks mentioned reincarnation, but no one knew if the tales were true or not. He couldn’t risk it, and so here she rested in a jar, tempting him every day to set her free.
The door to his office opened, and he turned around, shoving Cora’s jar back into the cabinet when a maid entered with her cleaning cart.
She shrieked and placed a hand over her heaving chest. “I apologize for not knocking, Your Grace. I’m used to coming at night when no one is here.”
Anastasia worked nights, and judging by the bags under her eyes, she’d not gone home from her shift yet. “You did not get to my office last night,” he remarked, and she ducked her head, staring at her feet.
“No, Your Grace. My other duties took me longer than expected.”
He approached her and reached his hand out, wrapping it around her neck to yank the meek woman forward. Her eyes widened with fear as he squeezed.
She was a mousy little thing and not someone who would typically catch his eye, but he always loved women who frightened easily.
His warm breath fanned her face when he leaned in and said, “From now on, even if you come to my office in the dead of night, you will knock first, or I will cut off your hand.”
Why did his guards let her in without announcing her first?
A whimper escaped her quivering lips, inciting him to lick his own with a malicious smirk. He pushed her back and stuck his hands in his pockets, watching her with satisfaction as she trembled.
“Y-yes, Your Grace.”
“Go home.” He flicked his wrist in her direction and crossed the room. “Get some sleep and return early for your shift to finish your duties. I will have a staff member call your phone number on file to remind you to return early.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she said and grabbed her cart to hurry from the room.
The fear on her face was delicious, and he considered taking her upstairs. How loud would she scream when cold steel punctured herdelicate skin? How many slices would it take before she passed out from the pain?
He finished locking Cora’s cabinet and cursed himself for allowing the thought of his mate to turn him soft, if only for a few minutes. The urge to release her soul was strong, but the need to keep her close was stronger.
He learned long ago that fear was more potent than love, and so fear is what he bestowed upon those around him.
There was a knock on the office door, and Titus entered, announcing Fiona, anAlchemistfrom the underground market in his employ.
“Bring her in,” he said as he sat behind his desk.
“Has something happened?” he asked when she walked in. Whatever information his spies brought to him was more imperative than ever now that Caius was free to move between realms.
Fiona hesitated. “I’m unsure, Your Grace. You told me to report anything unusual I heard regarding your siblings, and this seemed unusual.”
Gedeon motioned for her to sit.Was Caius in Erdikoa?
“I am not sure if this directly includes your siblings, but one of them must be responsible for it, and I thought you ought to know.” She was a wise woman fueled by moedas, and if she thought it would earn her more, it must be important. “Aurora Raven has been released from Vincula early.”
