“Either way, if they did survive, I know where they’re headed.” The firelight reflected the malice in his aquamarine eyes.
I cocked my head to the side. “And where is that?”
“His uncle’s estate is only a few days from here.”
One scarred brow arched. “How do you know that?”
My sister and I had grown up outside Eloi, in the northern part of the Angel Realm, under our noble parents’ judging gazes. Maelsar was raised in the adjacent lanthi, second son of House Caerelith. He was my oldest and closest friend, the only person I trusted. While we’d traversed the west side of Keleti top to bottom in search of Seers and Elessarum, the specific location of other noble houses wasn’t relevant to our mission.
“You know I like maps,” Maelsar said with a shrug. “It would serveyouwell to look at one occasionally.”
I snorted my disdain. A piece of parchment wouldn’t tell me the direction of my prey’s travel. No, that was all instinct and understanding the psyche of my targets.
“And maybe don’t write to your sister until we’ve waited there a few days to see if they show.”
I hated how quickly relief loosened the vise around my ribs.
“Fine. We’ll set out in the morning.”
A grin stretched across his face.
“But if you’re wrong, I’m going to tell Iaoth that you let them get away.”
His smile slipped into a scowl. My expression remained stoic.
Harsh scrutiny raked over me as if he were gauging the seriousness of my threat.
Unfortunately for him, I was deadly serious.
“She’ll have my head for that,” he growled.
“I know. Still willing to bet that they’re alive?”
His arm dropped to his side. The glare he offered me was hotter than the pyre we’d lit for the dead Elessarum earlier. “Yes, you asshole. I’m going to get some sleep now so when we find them in the morning, I’m more than ready to capture them. I’ll take them to Sivy myself and lay them like a feast at your sister’s feet.”
I groaned at the image. “She’d probably enjoy fucking you more than Stadiel.”
Maelsar shook his head and shoved to his feet. “Guess we’ll never know.”
I grunted at that as he strode away. Long minutes passed, and still I did not move from my position. I needed to rest, to let my throat heal after using my magic to round up the group of rebels.
With a groan, I reached for my waterskin and finished the last of it. Weariness tugged at my limbs, but I had one more thing to take care of before I dragged myself to my tent and flopped onto the cot that was scarcely better than sleeping on the ground.
All the prisoners jerked away as I approached their cage. Two guards stood on either side, luminous light undulating around their arms, prepared to lash out at the traitors. They didn’t so much as flinch as I pressed my hands into the bars and gazed upon my kith.
The hateful glares that speared into me were a harsh reminder of who I was to them.
A hunter. A tool of the crown.
The monster that claimed their freedom.
The Issaraeth.
All around the realm, Angels whispered my name with fear.Especially those who chose to disobey my sister’s direct orders. Or her husband’s.
The only reason I wasn’t leading the Angel army was because Ishim was direct blood to the Koron, and his power was even more suited to battle than my own.
“Tell me their names,” I purred, fingers tightening over the narrow iron squares. From above, Ilae clicked his beak, tearing the prisoners’ attention to him. In a ruffle of feathers, he landed on the top of their cage, silver eyes regarding them with cold curiosity. The matching antlers atop his head glinted in the moonlight. Many shrank away from him.
