Cassian’s back suddenly became stiff. His sharp gaze flitted over, meeting hers. “What of him?”
Ruelle gave a long blink, as if Cassian’s tone momentarily offended her.
“What is she referring to?” Iliana looked between them.
Ruelle shifted her attention onto Iliana. “Finnian, the High God of Witchcraft and Sorcery.”
Iliana fell quiet.
Cassian internally cringed. He always found her silences to be unsettling.
“A god and a mage in one. Divine powerandmagic,” Acacius said with a disturbing fascination dripping from his tone. “What a frightening combination.”
Cassian set his jaw. His hand moved up to rub his chin.
“We must take precautions. The mages and deities have been at odds since the beginning.” Azara leaned back in her throne and sighed. “What other pertinent information do we have about this sorcerer?”
“He practices a disturbing ritual that revives the dead.Necromancy.” Ruelle shook her head, pursing her lips to express distaste. She twisted to Cassian, pulling everyone’s focus onto him. “Lord Cassian, it shocked me to learn that you have not yet punished him. As they areyoursouls he is stealing.”
He glared at her with a searing heat crawling up his neck.
“It defiles the cycle of Balance, of Life and Death, Brother,” Iliana’s soft-spoken voice grew tense. “I cannot have more souls leaving my Land than the souls you have entering yours. It will cause overpopulation.”
“I am aware.” Cassian kept his tone smooth, composed, clenching his fists in his lap beneath the table. “I assure you it is under control.”
“It is crucial that we put an end to this before the other mages learn of it,” Azara said.
“Youmustput a stop to this sorcerer.” Iliana sat up, bringing her elbows onto the table. Her chiffon sleeves caught in the breeze, ruffling like waves of glittering cornflower.“Tell me you will take care of this.”
Cassian could feel Ruelle’s cunning stare on his cheek. It nipped at his patience, each tiny cut feeling like a sharp scalpel slicing his skin. His animosity towards her lingered in the back of his throat.
He shifted on his throne and passed Iliana a look of assurance. “Sister, do not fret. Consider the issue taken care of.”
Iliana studied his face, her brow furrowing.
There was a twinge of discomfort in Cassian’s chest as he locked eyes with her. They’d walked as High Deities for over five thousand years together. Cassian knew Iliana the same as he knew the terrain of his own Land. Every tendril of grass, every root burrowed down in its soil. Just as she knew him. He could feel her concern as she studied him, but he was relieved when she chose not to probe further.
“Very well,” she conceded and rose from the table. “Meeting adjourned.”
Azara’s shape fragmented into countless fiery embers, crackling and popping as they floated in the air.
Iliana bowed her head in parting before exiting through the ivy-curtained doorway.
Without uttering a sound, Cassian stayed firmly seated on his throne, his head swiveling to regard Ruelle with disdain.
In his periphery, he could see Acacius making no effort to move as he warily darted his gaze back and forth between Cassian and Ruelle. A hint of displeasure appeared on his face as his lips turned downward in a subtle frown.
Rising from his reclined position, he held his focus on Cassian. “Brother, perhaps it is time you return to your Land.”
“Lord Acacius.” Ruelle directed a smile at him. Though Cassian could spot the tension pinched at the corners of her mouth.
Acacius’s expression softened at the sound of her acknowledgement. “Yes?”
“Leave us for a moment. We have matters to discuss privately.”
Acacius carefully analyzed her. With a look of aversion, his brow knitted, displaying his disagreement with her request.
She held his eyes, unrelenting.
