Herr Elyriane shook his head. “Oh no, I want far more than that.” He faced me, trying to stare me down like he wasn’t a head shorter than I was.
I offered him my calmest, most predatory grin. After all, I was the Issaraeth. He would do well to remember that before he spoke his desires.
Ruby mottled his aged cheeks. “I wanthimgone. Away from court. Let him bleed out on the front lines. His magic is far more useful there anyway,” Zarethiel snapped, dabbing at the dried blood beneath his nose for dramatic fucking effect.
I’d said the same myself for years, but hearing the suggestionfrom the male who dared touch my mate made thunderclouds cover my eyes. My fingers flexed behind my lower back, the only movement I dared allow.
“Furthermore, I want him to face a trial by light for daring to strike me.”
Iaoth sucked in a sharp breath. Stadiel’s expression remained impassive, save for the furious flick of his focus to me.
I nearly laughed at the absurdity of the suggestion. There was no one in his house who could possibly match my power in such a fight. Even if we were evenly matched, the Goddess was the true decider of the winner, shining her favor on whomever’s actions were true.
And protecting Sylaira far outweighed any slight on House Elyriane.
“Who will be your champion?” I asked, not a waver in my voice.
“Me,” he snarled.
Understanding exploded behind my sternum. He didn’t want me punished. He wanted me to be anexample. I gritted my teeth, holding back a string of unholy curses in his direction. Zarethiel knew that Iaoth and Stadiel would force me to throw the match, thereby declaring him the winner and him in the right of our house conflict.
Fucker.
I was trapped in a situation that would make me appear weak, especially losing to an Angel triple my age and far past his prime. And right now, I couldn’t afford to be anything other than the Issaraeth to those who would seek to exploit my newfound mating bond.
“Name your time and place.”
“Vaeron,” Iaoth hissed.
I ignored her, keeping my focus trained on Zarethiel.
“On the day your vows were supposed to occur, in the throne room. Where your humiliation of my house began.”
Stadiel rose, forcing us both to look at him.
“I will make the arrangements. We will also see Herr Räviel sent to the front, where he can face the Goddess’s divine judgement for his insult to your house.”
Zarethiel swept into another deep bow. “You honor me, Your Grace. Goddess save you.”
With a wave of his hand, Stadiel dismissed him. Once the door closed again, he stomped into my space. “I should not have to tell you how this trial is going to go.”
“I understand what is required of me,” I said through a tight jaw.
“Good.” He shoulder checked me as he spun to face his wife. “Should you fail, Sylaira will be forfeit. You can fuck her once more after it’s over to settle your bond and then ride off to the front. After that, she will be undermycare and mine alone.”
A sick, twisted feeling punched me in the gut. Inside, I was reeling. Unmoored. The beast in my chest thrashed, begging me to leap forward and bash Stadiel’s head in with one of his many precious artifacts.
Over my dead fucking body will he ever have power over Sylaira.
It took every ounce of my self-restraint to remain rooted in place. The tension in my muscles nearly made them tremble.
“House Elyriane will have their spectacle. But there is still the matter of the Seer,” he said next like my fucking mate was a pawn for him to place on the board however he pleased.
Iaoth flicked her hair over her shoulder, shooting me with an arrow-like glare. “We can’t have her running againifyou both go off to the front.”
My mind tripped over the word—both. Sylaira would go with me…so long as I forfeit the trial.
“I’ll be sending round the clock attendants with you. Thatway, when she Sees, we’ll have an immediate report. And shewillSee, Vaeron.”
