They were his friends now. He glanced to Lilliana. His family.
He’d never get used to that. She ran off into the crowd. Caleb started after her, only to find Xev in his way.
“Do you mind?”
Xev grinned. “Never. It’s one of my more irritating qualities.”
“Yes, it is. Out of my way, idiot.”
“She’s fine. Myone’s keeping an eye on Lil.”
That made him feel a little better. “We have to stop these talks. Every time I see you, my sphincter clenches. Can’t you ever just say nice weather? How are the crops growing?”
“How do you know I wasn’t planning on asking that?”
“Were you?”
That annoying grin returned to Xev’s face. “No. But you shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”
“I hate you so much.”
“I know. But you need to put that aside. My mother knows that you have a weakness.”
Those words tore through him like glass. “What do you mean?”
“It didn’t take much for her and the King of All Darkness to figure out why you vanished and then showed up on the wrong side.”
Caleb cursed his stupidity. He’d betrayed himself.
For Lil.
“Do they know who she is?”
“Not as far as I know.” Xev sighed. “But let’s face it, I’m not my mother’s confidante. She thinks you and I are still fighting, and not talking. That gives you an advantage.”
Maybe. He still wasn’t sure. And he definitely didn’t want to be wrong. Not about this.
Not about them.
They were the ultimate evil. And there was no stopping them from their cruelty. Xev was a perfect example. Azura had no mercy for her own child. She’d throw him to their enemies even faster than she’d betray Caleb. Nothing mattered to her other than power.
No, that wasn’t true. She wanted to kill her “good” siblings more than she wanted to do anything else. That was what drove her. Azura wanted to punish the ones who held her back.
Punish anyone who got in her way.
Right now, Caleb shared that last sentiment. He was more than willing to sacrifice her for the sake of his sanity.
“You have any other good news to tell me?”
“My boy’s now commanding his own legion.”
Caleb arched a brow, especially at the proud tone in his brother’s voice. “I have no response to that. Though I feel like you’re looking for a congratulations.”
“Little bit. Could you sound more insincere?”
“Not sure I should be happy he’s helping kill my kind.”
Xev looked around the crowd that surrounded them. “You sure they’re still your kind? It looks to me like you’ve upgraded.”
