“What do you have to say for yourself, Neophyte?” The Domnus asked, his dark eyes glaring from the skull’s sockets.
I shrugged, the slight movement causing the blade at my throat to cut my flesh. A thin line of blood oozed out. “I tripped.”
Bass scoffed behind me and leaned down. “I’m the better liar, little bro.”
He had no idea how good a liar I was. Since realizing how much power this world could offer, I’d donned a layer of perfection and rarely let it drop.
The Domnus tilted his head toward my stepbrother. “Remove the knife, Lord Sebastian, but proceed with a suitable retribution.”
Bass’s twisted grin was more terrifying than the Domnus’s grotesque, horned mask. My stepbrother pulled the knife away and slammed his fist into my face so hard I crashed to the ground.
Pain burst through my jaw while stars popped across my vision. Fingers gripped my hair and jerked me up, another punch crushing my cheek. And then another.
Ringing filled my ears as a metallic tang spilled into my mouth, hot liquid dribbling down my chin. My bound hands pressed into the ground beneath me, scraping against the rough stone. Bass gripped my already torn shirt, poised for another hit when a powerful voice rang out.
“That’s enough.”
My stepbrother released me at the command of the visiting Grand Domnus. As the highest-ranking member in the entire order, he normally dealt with the graduated Lords—or the Ascended.
But this was a special initiation.
The Grand Domnus rose from the high-backed chair, carved from a piece of ancient oak, and walked to the end of the stage. His crimson robe flowed like a river of blood, and the ram-skullmask with ominous curling horns made the Domnus’s pale in comparison.
“The founding families weren’t just merchants and ship captains trying to build a town. They were men willing to do whatever it took to control the coast.” He received a golden goblet from a masked Lord. “Are you all willing to do the same as our ancestors?”
Murmurs of agreement circled from the kneeling Neophytes, and I caught Gage Van Horn’s dark gaze, one of the guys I started my initiation with, looking as if he’d rather stab a couple of members than prove his loyalty.
Axel, my roommate, remained still and obedient like the rest of us, rivulets of sweat dripping down his face. Slate Wentworth, kneeling on the end, wasn’t paying attention, zoned out and most likely daydreaming of hot sorority girls.
The Grand Domnus paced the dais, his robe drifting behind him. “Copper Cove wasn’t built on trade. It was built on blood.”
I had no doubt about that.
“When rival crews threatened their dominance, the founders didn’t negotiate. They eliminated them. Quietly. Efficiently. Bodies disappeared into the ocean. Ships vanished in the night.” He stopped and stared at the contents of the cup like it held all the secrets of the order. “The brotherhood wasn’t formed for protection. It was formed to control who lived, who profited... and who disappeared.”
Chills raked down my spine, my blood cooling to subzero temperatures. If there was anything I believed about these men—the ones who formed the Serpents & Daggers, and the ones who ran it now—it was that they held all the power and they sure as fuck could makeanyonedisappear.
The Grand Domnus lifted the ram mask for barely a second to sip from the cup and then passed it to the closest Ascended sitting on the stage. The intimidating figure in red stepped ontothe stone floor and strolled toward us, an air of confidence around him that only came with being revered and worshiped.
“You are the last one to return, Neophyte Killian,” he said, his rich voice resonating against the rough-hewn stone walls. “Did you accomplish your task?”
Bass passed my leather satchel to the Grand Domnus. “It’s all there.”
“Yours was an especially tricky task, Neophyte Killian.” The Grand Domnus flipped through the documents I’d stolen from the congressman’s summer house. “But it looks as if you prevailed.”
“You got lucky, little bro,” Bass whispered. “Not sure if that luck will hold out.”
His words had frost spreading through my veins. Did he know what my last trial would be?
The Grand Domnus rested his hand on my shoulder and bent at the waist, the satisfaction in those familiar blue eyes making my spine snap straight. “I’m very proud of you, Killian. I’m so pleased to have both my sons with me.” Stanford Davenport lifted his mask for only a moment to reveal his smile.
My stepfather was a powerful man, but most had no idea how far his reach went. If you did, you’d better hope to be on his good side.
The Domnus strolled down the line of Neophytes, stopping in front of one that appeared on the verge of passing out. “You, Neophyte Parker, are the only one who didn’t complete his task.”
“I-I’m sorry. I just couldn’t.” He shook his head, sweat flying off the ends of his damp russet hair. “The girl didn’t fall for it.”
“It’s not my fault you couldn’t charm her into your bed. You should have done whatever it took to ruin her and get it on video.” The Domnus leaned forward, his horns hovering right over Parker’s forehead. “You could have drugged her for all Icare. Now, someone else will have to complete your task. And you will be released from this organization.”
