“This is what will happen if you continue your assault on the Imperium,” Azrael threatened.
“He lies,” I reminded you as my mouth filled with blood and I lost control of my limbs. “He doesn’t know what will happen. That’s why he’s scaring you. Because he’s terrified as well.”
By degrees, your horrified features rearranged themselves into a placid expression. “Since you like to make threats, here’s one for you.” You conjured a faceless shadowborn, its mouth like a snake with its jaw unhinged. The shadowborn’s victim wasn’t human but a glowing orb of light—the way angels sometimes appeared in the earthen realm. The shadowborn inhaled the angel’s spirit until the orb dimmed to a dull gray and was reduced to soul ash. “Anyone with a good enough imagination can predict the future.”
“But my vision will come true.”
“Don’t visit me again. Send a message to the Thrones that we want to meet with them. Until then, our liberation will continue until you have no one left to serve you in the earthen realm.”
“I will tear your souls apart,” Azrael howled as the walls began to tremble.
We woke simultaneously, both of us sweat-drenched in a state of lingering panic, and I with a phantom pain in my gut. Without any exchange of words, I pulled you to me and whispered in your hair, “I won’t let that happen.”
I prayed it was a promise I could keep.
The other tribeswere not altogether pleased that you’d requested a meeting with the Thrones, who had a reputation for being indifferent at best and merciless at worst. They generally made appearances to dole out punishment, and their demands, when they made them, were not easily fulfilled. Not to mention the uncertainty as to how they might visit. In borrowed bodies? In dreams? As disembodied spirits?
Despite the unknowns, you insisted we go over our “game plan” should this meeting come to fruition. You spent two days with the Tribal Council listing our charges against the Angel of Death, compiling evidence of his injustices and vendettas. And while the Council deliberated, the warborn continued their siege, liberating Monaco and Istanbul and doubling the territories that were now under tribal control. Lucian, acting as Lena’s proxy, proved to be one of the sharpest tacticians in the group, as it was his idea to approach the Istanbul compound with a Trojan horse. The warborn captured one of Azrael’s warships where it was ported in Tekirdag, donned the uniforms of the Imperium, and sailed it into the heart of Istanbul’s fortress. The compound had fallen by nightfall without a single casualty.
I stayed out of the official Council discussions but was invited to the warborn’s tent to give my intel on the various Imperium strongholds, including their ancillary safehouses. My recall of their staffing and security impressed the warborn as did your input on who among Azrael’s forces could be compromised.
“I think Hyas has a crush on you,” you said to me one evening after we’d been in the warborn tent for hours, planning an assault on Bucharest.
“He needs an erosborn to relieve him of his frustrations.” I didn’t care for the way the warborn’s gaze lingered on you.
“Speaking of which, I think Lucian and Stefan are finally fucking.”
“Really? What makes you say that?” We’d devoted altogether too much time in unraveling that particular mystery.
“The other day Lucian embraced Stefan, and he allowed it. Also, Anika and Aretha. That’s a thing.”
“Is it?” I knew the assassin had been acting as Aretha’s personal guard. I didn’t know the role included handmaiden duties.
“I mentioned something to Anika on the sly and she all but admitted to it.”
“You really shouldn’t meddle.”
“I’m not meddling. I’m simply assessing our allies’ strengths and weaknesses.”
“Can you see yourself harming Anika to get to Aretha?” I asked with obvious skepticism.
“No, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t use Anika to influence her mistress.”
“How swiftly you’ve embroiled yourself in palace intrigue. I believe you have a talent for manipulating the court.”
“Is that a compliment?” you asked in mock surprise.
“Yes. You and Lucian are a formidable team.”
“And you’re proving yourself to be a huge asset as well.”
“I like to help where I’m able.”
“So humble,” you remarked smartly. “I still worry the warborn are slowly taking over.”
“A valid concern.”
“I want that meeting with the Thrones. If they agree to aid us in dismantling the Imperium, the remaining bases won’t need the warborn to defend them.”
