Inayah Beauradèl.
I recognized the shrill of her scream.
Manmi sounded the same when she found Tovares in Zemshaza’s grasp after the Fallen had nearly bludgeoned me. The scream she released before begging him to take her life instead. The scream that was the accompanying symphony of my nightmares.
A symphony I had only playing for the Beauradèls.
Pushing into a crouch in the trees, I leapt from my perch, landing on my feet with ease. I sauntered across the courtyard lazily, hands in my pockets as if I’d just finished an evening stroll.
“Wings high, Marcèllian. Inayah.” A nod. A cruel smile. “Long time no see.”
Their heads snapped up. Then they gasped. Both crawled backward on the ground, trying to distance themselves from me. I waved my hand. The back doors slammed shut, locking them out of their manor. Flexing my free hand, I poured out atorrent of souls into the courtyard. My Nanmiess latched onto the Beauradèls, dragging them forward.
“Have you been avoiding me?” I asked cheerfully. “I’ve been looking for you. For three centuries to be precise. I’ve looked forward to our reunion.”
“How in the stars...” Marcèllian breathed, unable to believe his eyes.
Inayah trembled with sheer horror as if she were staring at a ghost. In her defense, she almost was. Rumor had it I died in the Hèls and what had returned to Mortevain was a Fallen puppet that was a blight on the entire island. I planned to make that rumor true for them.
I grinned, nodding down at them as if speaking to old-time friends.
Friends who owed money.
Friends who realized that time had come to collect.
“You,“ Marcèllian seethed.
“Me,” I grinned. I threw an uncaring glance at Jacques’ remains. “Pity. You really should have begged more, Marcèllian.”
“You... youmonster,” Inayah cried. “You did this! You killed my sons. This was all you!”
“So you’renotthe moron I always assumed you were,” I chuckled, bending over them. “Shocking. I couldn’t be sure. What with you choosing this baboon’s backside as a wingmate and all.”
My hair slipped forward, the braids tumbling off my shoulder from where I had them tucked into my crown.
“Yes, of course, imbeciles. This was all me.” A pause. “You know. Just like Manmi, Papi, Vitani’s corpses were allyou.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Marcèllian whimpered.
“Play the rotting despot with an idiot who will fall for it, swine,” I snarled viciously.
Inayah opened her mouth to scream. I waved a hand, silencing her. She cried, but no sound came out. Her face drained of color as she clutched her throat.
“Well, doesn’t this look familiar.” I turned my head. “Marcèllian, don’t you remember when I was snatched away into the hands of a certain Fallen and whenIscreamedyousilenced me?”
Marcèllian gulped. He said nothing.
Guilt stained his eyes as he looked away.
“You know what’s funny? While rotting away in Zemshaza’s chains, that wasallI could think about.”
“Please,” Inayah mouthed. “Please forgive?—”
“Forgive?” I tutted, shaking a ringed finger at her. “Darling Inayah, it’s far too late for any of that. Don’t you think? Enjoy the rest of your twinight, asheaters.”
I laughed cruelly, lifting my gaze up to Yvette’s bedchambers.
“I’ll be back.”
