Brela gave him a winning grin, even threw in a wink, and then strolled through the doors with her chin held high.
22
Empress of Chaos
The woman had a death wish. So did her friends.
As Cason and the other Severinians bowed to their king, the three assassins glided through the office as if they owned the space. As if they had been here before and knew exactly what they were doing.
How in the four hells did they communicate so flawlessly?
Almost the entire room stiffened as the two soldiers stationed behind the king tightened grips over swords. King Ingram—who looked like an older, darker, and heavier-set version of Serill—merely watched Brela with amusement as she separated from her friends.
Cason stumbled slightly as he followed Farrah and Elias, careful not to make it look like he had to chase them to catch up. Three chairs had been set up in front of the king’s desk, and without hesitation, Elias spun the middle chair around and dropped into it, leaning his chest on the seat back with his chained hands propped in front of him. Farrah plopped into the right one—somehow done with the most feral grace that Cason had ever seen from someoneploppinginto a seat—and began picking at her nails.
Brela, on the other hand… four hells, she was bold. Serill’s eyes had widened, gaze darting between the king and where she was now perched—yes,perched—on the arm of a silver and blue couch just in front of the fire. Right leg bent, boots on the fabric, arms resting on her knee, and leaned back with a gods-damned decanter of wine in her hands.
She took a swig and then offered it to Boelyn who was still trying to figure out where she had stolen it from. Cason wasn’t sure Brela’s grin could get any wilder, proven wrong only as Boelyn swore and yanked it out of her grip.
Cason turned to see Serill’s jaw hanging open, somehow his own barely held shut to contain his awe. He dared a look at the king.
Who was smirking.
He hadneverseen the man smirk.
“The infamous Night Terror,” the king said, bracing his hands on the desk. “I’ve heard a lot about you. The nickname is fitting of your work. Though, as I’m sure you hear often, it’s a surprise to find such a title bestowed upon a woman.”
Brela mocked a bow, even from her seated position. “Empress of Chaos, Nightmares, and Death was a bit of a mouthful.”
Serill choked back a laugh, and even Cason found himself fighting a smile of amusement. Perhaps he was even more amused that Farrah and Elias kept their faces blank. Boelyn, on the other hand, rolled his eyes.
“What a curious creature,” the king mused, his eyes trailing the woman. “I must admit that I’m a little disappointed to see you just… sitting here. I assumed with your reputation you’d put up more of a fight.”
“I do have a flare for the dramatics,” Brela replied with a feral grin. Farrah let out a soft snort, dropping her chained hands to her lap with a clank. Brela’s head snapped to her friends. “That was a new record.”
Elias gave Farrah a half-hearted snarl of annoyance. She only returned a wink and a smirk.
Serill met Cason’s stare, his eyebrow raised. At least the prince had the same suspicion he did. Despite their offers of protection, these three were planning something. In fact, they might have been playing them the entire time. His fingers itched, but he kept the lightning within his skin.
Before the king could speak again, Brela sucked in a breath and spun herself off the cushion to stand rather than just plant her feet on the ground like a normal person. Cason would have rolled his eyes at her if she hadn’t grinned at him before turning to Boelyn who had created a barrier between Brela and the king, his hand resting on his sword.
“Easy, Sparky. Captain Valkip already beat you to the punch. He’s one twitch away from unleashing that lightning on me,” she purred, patting the man’s chest with her chained hands.
How did she do that so casually? And how did she know he was planning on calling his lightning and not his fire?
Brela turned on her heels, exchanged a nod with Elias, and began walking around the office, dragging her hands over shelves and humming to herself as if she were the only one in the room.
Finally, the king cut into Brela’s tune. “Aren’t you curious as to why you’re here?”
She paused at a table with the map of the kingdoms, her fingers trailing over the textured surface. Her humming stopped as she placed her elbows on the table and leaned forward, giving everyone a look at the shard in her collarbone… amongst other things. Cason’s cheeks flushed, but perhaps it was in response to the feral grin that now grew on Brela’s face, teeth flashing and pale eyes glittering as she stared down the king.
“I’m more curious as to why you think I’m going to help you,” she purred.
Cason knew that stare well, and tonight would not be the night that Brela lost.
Four hells. Brela had figured it out.
The king tensed under her gaze.The entire room tensed, including Farrah and Elias.
