He tips his head back and roars up at the darkening sky and the stars that are starting to appear within it. “Fucking traitors!”
His hand drops to his side and his grin is dangerous as he steps out from behind the anvil.
I fight my instinct to move back.
“Fucking betrayal,” he says, no longer shouting. “They smile in your face, they pledge their allegiance, and all the while, they scheme and conspire against you. It is only fear that slows them down. Never forget that, Vandawolf.”
My father’s own warning echoes back within my mind, and I speak before I can stop myself. “Be careful of the enemies you keep close.”
Malak stops moving. He gives me a nod. “Yes.”
But now his dark gaze is turned on me.
I am also his enemy kept close.
“I have known for some time that Cohen Copperstream has been amassing power and support to overthrow me,” he says. “His house controls the crimson coal, without which we cannot forge. He has been restricting coal supply to other houses.”
I catch on quickly. “But not the Academy.”
“The Academy, run by Silverspun House.” Malak tilts his head. “To them, it seems he is now giving an abundant supply of coal. Of course, it looks like it’s for the students, but it is not. Other than the bare amount needed for the students to forge, the rest of that coal will have already disappeared into House Silverspun.”
Malak’s gaze becomes far away. “Until now, I didn’t know which house was supporting him. I didn’t think it would be the one closest to me.” His jaw clenches. “With all that coal, they will be forging something to bring me down… A weapon. A monster. Something strong enough to kill me…” His focus snaps back to me. “But I will send them a message written in blood.”
He takes a deep breath and his expression becomes serene again. “You will kill Cohen Copperstream for me.”
Chapter 35
My thoughts churn.
Not because I object to the task, but because, of all the targets Malak could have given me, Cohen Copperstream will be one of the hardest.
All of the times I’ve seen him, he hasn’t been alone. He’s always flanked by at least two other Blacksmiths from his house.
“I know you can do it,” Malak says. “You sliced up his brother as if he were nothing more than an animal.”
I don’t deny it. “I’ll need time to plan.”
“You will kill him at a time of my choosing. No sooner and no later,” Malak says firmly. “Do not squander your time over the coming days. My command could come at any moment.”
I take a breath, already contemplating how I might study House Copperstream for weaknesses.
“There’s one more thing you must do,” Malak says.
I’m more wary now. “What is that?”
“You will make it look like the human foreman, Nero, did it.”
“What?” I take a step back before I can stop myself. Nero is Petra’s father. If he’s accused, the Blacksmiths will kill him for a crime he didn’t commit. “Why?”
“Because Nero is Cohen’s faithful servant. He knows how to run the mine and the coal house. He has worked hard to gain a position of trust within House Copperstream. With both him and Cohen out of the picture, House Copperstream’s hold over coal supply will be fragile. I will replace Nero will someone I can control.”
Braddock. I’m sure Malak must be thinking of Braddock because until we arrived, Braddock was the only other human working in the coal house who is also Malak’s property.
But no. I can’t do this.
I will gladly kill Cohen Copperstream, but I can’t implicate Nero in Cohen’s death. I don’t know if Nero has a wife or other children, but Petra could also be killed because of it, and Thoren…
My brother would never forgive me.
