Feral, animalistic rage floods me, and Vessira’s eyes are wide with shock.With fear.
She stammers, unable to comprehend what in the Stars has just happened. “But— But, they’re lillath,” she breathes, panicked.
“Oh, Vessira…I’ma deity. You should bow before me and beg for my mercy, lest my wrath know no bounds and turn you into nothing more than dust on the wind,” I say with condescending power, relishing every heartbeat she lives in fear of me. I seize her chin between my hands, forcing her gaze to mine, “Lillath is like you, Vessira—a petty inconvenience with no real power at all.”
I shove her face into the obsidian walls with a force that has a strangled cry ripping from her throat. She says nothing, only looks at me in terror.
“Take me to get dressed for dinner, dog. I have an appointment to attend,” I bite, waving my hand impatiently.
It’s the first time I notice the guards—retreating, uncertain. They don’t approach, but their weapons are raised in defense. I spot Correk standing behind them, guard uniform on, and weapon drawn, though he doesn’t look ready to fight. He looks like he’s playing a part. He winks at me, and I can’t help but notice the smirk that tilts up his mouth.
Vessira scrambles to her feet, taking off in the direction of the chamber I got ready in last time, and I can feel her panic from here, a few paces behind.
I walk with regal authority, emanating power, but underneath my performance, my hands tremble at my sides and my breath comes out shaky and irregular.
Because despite everything, I have no idea if I’ve just revealed secrets that guarantee I live, or sealed my own fate at the gallows.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
KAEL
Seren gasps,her body bowing off the floor of the temple. Breaths flood in and out of her—ragged, wild—and she stares up at the ceiling, almost vacantly.Eerily.
“Seren!” I pant, gently shaking her shoulder, and she swings her gaze to me. She looks through me, as if her body’s here but her mind is somewhere else entirely.
“He demands blood… and sacrifice,” she whispers like an incantation, voice eerie and possessed.
“I’ll give him both!” I snap without hesitation.
Seren’s body begins to thrash and shake uncontrollably. I can’t just stand here and do nothing. So, I hold her. I squeeze her body to mine, at least protecting her from hurting herself on the tomb’s hard floor.
I gently shush her, soothing her, “It’ll be okay.” I rock her and smooth her hair down, just like I used to do with Nalya when she was scared or upset.
Her body goes still in my arms. Lifeless, heavy, slack.
Fuck.
You’re okay. You’re okay. You’re okay.
I chant the words like a prayer. Beseeching whoever will listen.
But my prayers are interrupted?—
“What are you doing, Kael?” Seren’s voice cuts through my desperate pleas, staring up at me with burnished bronze eyes.
I startle.
“I was just trying to help,” I say, dropping her back to the floor too quickly. She lands with a thud, but fights a smile—clearly amused.
Her eyes are wide with excitement—the same kind I’ve seen when she’s researching or planning.
“I have to admit, Kael, I like seeing you flustered. It’s refreshing,” she giggles, dusting herself off.
I fucking hate it, but my cheeks flare hot.
I push past it, hoping to forget it ever happened. “Are you going to tell me what has you so excited after scaring me half to death with that possessed episode?”
She giggles in the way I’ve only ever heard with Ronyn. “I think I just World Walked!”
