Marina broke her gaze away from Acacius’s, returning her attention onto Naia.
Marina gave her a grateful nod. “Thank you for trusting in me, Sister.”
“Of course.” Naia straightened, smiling down at her. “Besides, you are a terrible liar. That and you are usually straightforward with your ploys, not caring who stands in your way. I imagine if your motives were aligned with Soren’s, you would’ve made yourself clear on the matter long ago.”
A light chuckle came from Acacius.
Marina did not look his way, remembering the time he stated the same thing about her inability to lie—moments before they entered his hot spring for the first time.
Ronin turned to Theon, scratching at the top of his head. “I gotta say, dude, of all the shit that I conjured up in my head for your dramatic backstory, you coming from a league of assassins wasn’t even on the list. Now we’re dealing with illusions and monsters and Chaos and everything else under the fucking sun. I’m going on sabbatical after this.”
Avi chuckled, patting him on the back. “Good thing you're immortal now. Don’t have to worry about the stress turning you gray.”
Theon crossed his arms, his eyes somewhere far away. “Why would Soren do this, though? What’s in it for him? If he wanted Ash dead, he would’ve made a play for him already.”
“Do you think the Morte Guild wants him?” Avi asked.
Theon shook his head. “We have rules. Do the job we are hired for and don’t ask questions. If he was hired to assassinate Ash, the kid would’ve been dead by now.”
Naia winced at that, plopping down in a chair in the corner of the room. “That doesn't help my anxiety, Theon.”
Marina caved and glanced over at Acacius, disturbed by his alien silence.
His legs were lounged out in a V-shape, with one of his knees resting against hers. She wasn’t sure when he’d done it, but it provided her with a familiar sense of safety, any sensation for her to cling to in her moment of crumbling.
He seemed unbothered by the briars still maiming his wrists and shin, almost as if he were enjoying the drama unfolding before him.
However, the sharp precision in his gaze persisted, carefully observing each person, every motion in the room. He was on high alert, his gaze flitting back to Marina every few seconds. Itwas something he’d been doing since they were caught by the Blood Heretics.
It was odd, feelingprotectedby another. Not that she needed it, but it was nice to have a moment to lower her guard and collect herself.
Naia huffed out a stressed breath and whirled her attention onto Acacius. “You and I must go to the Council and explain the situation.”
Acacius’s gold eyes flashed to her, and he stared at her for a beat, considering it. “We need proof. They don’t work with words alone.”
“Soren is framingyouin this.” Naia pointed at him. “When word spreads to the deities that your Daemon are infesting our city, others will take it as permission to join in. Soren wants you to take the fall for the carnage he is birthing.”
Another furious pang struck through Marina. She pushed her tongue against the backs of her teeth.
Acacius shrugged his shoulders. “Obviously. But you can’t prove any of this to the Council. As of yet, nothing has happened to your child or your city.”
Naia rubbed her knuckles in thought. “Won’t Iliana believe it if it comes from you?”
Acacius hesitated, running his tongue over his bottom lip.
After everything he’d done to assist Ruelle against Cassian, Marina assumed that his credibility was extremely low with his siblings at the moment. Because not once since they began ravaging each other’s lives had she heard him mention their names or anything of the Council.
“Please?” Naia clasped her hands together, pleading.
Marina was confident of his reply. While she knew his true feelings about Naia and Ash, she was also learning that underneath his deranged persona, he was incredibly soft-hearted. So much so, that she questioned if he would’ve ever really had it in him to kill Ash.
After a long wave of silence, Acacius sighed in defeat, rolling his head back with a groan. “Fine.”
Marina smiled a little to herself.
“But”—he looked at Naia, his voice hardening, leaving no room for quarrel—“Iwill talk.Youwill sit there and keep your mouth shut.”
“Careful, Chaos,” Ronin warned.
