“We discussed many things,” Mater said evenly. “Among them was your recent success in the under realms.”
“Don’t lie to us. I was there. Tell them about Azrael.”
She sighed as if all of this was quite trifling. She must not believe I would turn against her. Would I? “Azrael requested a meeting, and I invited the other Grigori to join me. We were planning to bring it up at tomorrow’s Tribal Council meeting.”
“Liar,” I said lowly. “You were making a deal with the Angel of Death.”
“Was I?” she purred. “You only heard the beginning of our discussion and you interrupted quite rudely. How can you make such damning proclamations when you have only a sliver of the whole story?”
The point of my sword pressed against her delicate, lily-white throat, pricking the skin and raising a few drops of rose-red blood. “Tell them what you offered Azrael in exchange for your tribal lands.”
“It wasn’t only my lands in question.”
“Tell them,” I roared, and she flinched at the fury in my voice.
“The locations of the warborn bases,” she said with far too much surety.
“Their underground, undisclosed compounds,” I added. “And did you agree to it?”
She stared at me, blue fire in her eyes, ice cold even in her defiance, daring me not to cross her. “Do not go against your own tribe, Vincent. The warborn are not your friends. They will betray you, steal your lands, and enslave you just as swiftly as Azrael.”
“My own tribe?” I questioned derisively. “Who might that be?”
“Bloodborn, Vincent. You are bloodborn through and through.”
“Did you agree to tell them where the warborn bases were located?” I asked again.
“It was only an opening gambit,” she said, appealing to Aretha now. “We were only at the beginning stages of our negotiation. I needed a lure to entice the Angel of Death, but there were no real commitments made.”
“And what else did you promise to give him?” I asked, undeterred by her lies.
She glanced between us, and though I may have seen a glimmer of guilt, it was more likely an act.
“Your beloved Henri,” she said quietly, eyes darting toward me. “But believe me, Vincent—”
She didn’t finish voicing that thought because in one smooth arc of my sword, I slashed through her vocal cords and severed her head.
I hadn’t really consideredthe consequences of my actions when I beheaded Mater. I only knew that this revolution wouldn’t succeed if she were alive to sabotage it at every turn, and she’d been given several chances to repent. That was my justification, at least. I felt strangely numb to it all, and to her. It was a bloody, violent act of vengeance. Perhaps she was right. I was bloodborn through and through.
Lucian fell to his knees and grabbed for her hand while I stared at her glassy eyes and her snakes slowly dying. I felt calm. I’d been tormented by her for so long, but no more. She’d forced my hand when she betrayed us all to cut a deal with the Angel of Death. Mater was dead, for the time being at least. Bound to her bloodborn body, she’d no longer be able to interfere, which meant we were alone now in guiding this revolution.
Aretha offered Lucian the red cape that had belonged to the imposter soldier and he wrapped her head with it, cradling the bundle in his arms like a newborn.
“Lucian,” I began.
“Not now,” he said tersely.
Your hand was on my shoulder, a reassuring pressure. Meanwhile, Anika and the twins had shackled the panicborn and hearthborn Grigori while you subdued two others without even bloodying your sword. Orcus stood quiet as a corpse and just as pale in the candlelight. Your blade was turning in his direction when I halted you.
“Why didn’t you warn her we were coming?” I asked. He must have known we’d disrupt her scheme. He’d practically drawn us a map here.
“Perhaps there is something I want more than territorial gains,” he said cryptically.
“What is it?”
“Come closer, youngblood.” Despite your warning glance and his soul-death breath, I leaned in. “I want Azrael’s soul,” he rasped. You jerked me backward, and I assumed it was to protect me from having my own soul devoured.
Your blade returned to its former position, and I contemplated the shadowborn Grigori. Our objectives were in perfect alignment, and with his ability to trap souls, he was a necessary ally.
