“Brother.” Azariah’s tone was pleasant as he took in the guards surrounding him. “Overkill, don’t you think? Should I be flattered or concerned?”
With a gesture, Whichello dismissed the guards, keeping only Marcus in the room. The enforcer positioned himself near the door, blocking the exit without making it obvious. Azariah noticed, because the demon noticed everything, but didn’t comment.
“Sit.” Whichello gestured to the chair across from his desk, not bothering with pleasantries his brother would see through anyway.
Azariah took his time settling into the seat, arranging his jacket with movements that suggested he had all the time in the world. “I assume this is about your missing prisoner.” His voice held that particular tone that made Whichello’s teeth grind together. “Unfortunate business, losing track of someone you’d personally sentenced to death.”
If Azariah only knew how close Whichello was to killing him for interrupting his time with Isaac. His mate. The word still echoed strangely in Whichello’s mind, though he’d suspected it for some time. But nothing had prepared him for the actual sensations, that exact moment their pulses had fallen into perfect rhythm, the strange heat that had fused something essential between them. It was a moment even ancient beings held sacred, and his fucking brother had cut it short.
“You seem well informed.” Whichello remained standing, looming over Azariah. “Care to explain how you acquired that information so quickly?”
“I make it my business to know what happens in this castle.” Azariah crossed one leg over the other, the picture of relaxed confidence. “Surely you don’t resent me staying informed about matters that affect our household.”
The casual use ofourgrated against Whichello’s already frayed patience. This castle washis, earned through centuries of violence and political maneuvering. Azariah was a guest, family ties being the only thing that kept him breathing.
“Informed enough to know that someone let him out?” Whichello asked.
“A troubling thought.” Azariah’s expression remained unchanged, that pleasant mask never slipping. “You must have many enemies who’d enjoy causing you this particular headache.”
“I do.” Whichello let the silence stretch, watching for any tell that would give away his brother’s involvement. “But most of them don’t live under my roof with intimate knowledge of my security measures.”
Something flickered in Azariah’s eyes, there and gone too quickly to identify.
“Where were you tonight?” Whichello asked, moving away from the window to lean against his desk. The position put him closer to Azariah, close enough to strike if needed.
“In my quarters, reading.” Azariah swiped his hand down his pantleg like he was removing lint. “Alone, unfortunately, so no witnesses to verify my whereabouts. But then, I don’t recall being accused of anything that would require an alibi.”
“I’m not accusing you of anything.” Whichello casually shrugged. “I’m simply asking where you were.”
“And I’m simply telling you.” Azariah finally glanced up, meeting Whichello’s gaze with eyes that held centuries of secrets. “Though I’m curious why you’re asking me specifically. There has to be other suspects more obvious than your own brother.”
Azariah had saidbrotherwith syrupy sweetness, as if reminding Whichello of their familial ties would soften him. It didn’t. Not in their family, where alliances shifted like sand and trust was a weakness to be exploited.
“That’s what I’m trying to determine.” Whichello shifted his weight. “You’ve been circling Isaac since he arrived. Making observations. Asking questions. Warning me about political ramifications.”
“Just brotherly concern.” Azariah’s smile widened slightly, the expression still not reaching his eyes. “You’ve been acting uncharacteristically protective over a simple acquisition. I thought perhaps you’d appreciate some perspective.”
The wordacquisitionlanded differently now that Whichello had claimed Isaac. His hands tightened against the desk edge, wood creaking under the pressure as the temperature in the room dropped ten degrees. Ice crept up the walls, spreading across stone in delicate fractals, like broken glass reflecting torchlight.
“Careful.” Whichello’s voice carried the weight of centuries, low and brimming with barely contained violence. “You’re treading on ground that has buried better demons than you.”
“Am I?” Azariah seemed unbothered by the frost forming on his jacket. “Or am I simply pointing out the obvious? You’ve painted a target on that little shifter’s back, and Dimitri’s escape is just the opening move.”
“Then you admit you know something about it.”
“You’re paranoid, brother.” Azariah’s smile turned sharp, genuine amusement finally breaking through the pleasant facade. “Not every crisis that occurs in your castle is a conspiracy against you.”
“No, but the ones involving missing prisoners usually are.” Whichello gave his brother a look that would make most demons tremble. Azariah didn’t flinch, still smiling that small, knowing smile.
“Dimitri had allies, demons who felt his punishment was excessive for what they viewed as a minor transgression. With him free and you distracted by your shifter, well…” He spread his hands in a gesture that suggested infinite possibilities. “The castle feels poised for change.”
Whichello invaded his brother’s space, ice spreading faster now, coating every surface within reach. “If you had any part in this, if you helped free Dimitri or encouraged his allies to move against me, brother or not, I will end you.”
“Such hostility.” Azariah stood, brushing frost from his sleeves with movements that suggested boredom rather than concern. “I’ve done nothing but exist in your castle and offer occasional commentary.”
Azariah was the only person who made Whichello want to commit murder. His brother knew how to get under his skin with nothing more than that annoying smile Whichello was itching to wipe off his face.
“Even if I had helped Dimitri escape,” Azariah said, voice dropping lower, “which I’m not admitting, what would you do about it? Execute your own brother on suspicion? That would certainly send a message to the other demons in this castle.”
