Anniliese had to hand it to him; he was exceptionally brave.
Stupid, but brave.
Kol ran a hand along his jaw. “Why did you help my son escape?”
It was a simple question. A straightforward question. Yet ripples of shock raced through the gathered crowd, murmurs of disbelief. How could the Laurent heir have done such a thing? After everything his family had endured?
It was remarkable watching one of the oldest Onitan families fall from grace so quickly.
Anniliese, though, only shrunk back further into the shadows. She held the full truth close to her heart, tucked beneath her crackling flames.
Gabriel hadn’t been the only one to help Andrian escape. And it was what Kol had wanted all along.
But that information wouldn’t keep the lords scared and obedient.
“He is mybrother,” Gabriel croaked, his breaths labored. “Notyour son.”
Kol waved off his words. “He is mine in every way that matters. You, on the other hand, hardly knew him.” He leaned forward, dark brow lifting. “Is a shared mother really enough for you to throw everything away? We could have achieved so much together, Gabriel.”
Gabriel only glared up at the dark god, fires burning in his eyes.
“Fine.” Kol sighed. “As regrettable as it is, we still need your house. And that son of yours is unfortunately too young to be of use to me besides motivation.”
Something in Gabriel faltered then. The barest hint of fear that he did all he could to hide away.
It wasn’t enough. Not if Anniliese, hidden in her alcove, still saw it.
Kol gestured a hand, an almost cavalier motion. The crowd shrunk away as twomudaemelted from the shadows, leathery wings rustling and claws clicking on the marble. One of them carried a familiar set of black and gold cuffs, bound together by a simple iron chain.
“I have tried to be generous and patient. I keep none of you as captives. Even Andrian Laurent, after raising arms against me and the other lords of this land in defense of the thieving moon-chosen queen, was treated as a guest rather than a prisoner. All I asked was forobedience.” Kol stood, shadows spilling from his shoulders. “Perhaps this will be enough to show those gathered here what happens when you disobey a god.”
Gabriel’s mask finally slipped, raw fear sliding across his bruised face. The twomudaeapproached him with snarling, dripping maws, evil traveling with them. Whatever foul magic that had created them sped their movements—one was a blur, appearing behind Gabriel before the young lord could scramble away. His arms were forced in front of his body, struggling helplessly in the demon’s grip. The secondmudaeclipped thedeistairshackles around his wrists, the iron chain clattering to the floor.
The demon released Gabriel and he slumped forward, barely catching himself on his hands. His arms shook, chest heaving, head hanging.
Kol tsked. “Not so brave without Qhohena’s fire now, are you?” He nearly spat the goddess’s name. “I believe in tailoring punishments to fit the guilty. Perhaps it’s time to show you how much that holy flame can burn, should you continue to follow the wrong path.”
Ksee stepped out of the crowd, a grin spreading across her face. Embers already danced in her open palm. “I know I have sworn off Qhohena’s magic, but I would be honored to do your bidding in this, Your Eminence?—”
“No.” Kol’s interruption was short and biting. His red-gold gaze swung across the crowd, landing on a small, dark alcove in an empty area of the hall.
On Anniliese.
She’d thought herself unable to feel more fear.
But when he smiled and the numbness in her cracked, she knew she’d been very, very wrong.
“Anniliese Hareth,” Kol said slowly, pronouncing each syllable of her name. “Please step forward.”
Anniliese didn’t want to obey. She wanted to retreat further into her alcove, to hide amidst the dust and decay and rot of this castle. To be left here, forgotten, for the rest of her life.
She’d never had such luck.
She stepped out of the darkness and into the great hall. It was late afternoon, and the dying sunlight streamed in through the windows, bathing the walls in weeping blood.
Kol smiled as she emerged from the shadows, but it was not the kind, friendly smile he’d given her before. This one was sharp and laced with something deadly, off-kilter, unfocused.
Betrayal. That was what Anniliese saw flickering in the dark god’s red-gold eyes.
