“Oh, I have ensured that in my unlikely death, vengeance will still reign.” He leans back to get more comfortable in his seat. “I may be out of shape, but I still have my networks, andmanyowe me a debt.” He pauses, a sense of exultation exuding from him that feels callous. “That sister of yours is your weakness—yes, I’m very aware of it. You hurt Jane, in any way,Soren, and I’ll see to it thatsheis hurt, too.” He casually looks at the rings on his fingers and the naked forefinger. “Perhaps even involve your dear mother, somehow. I’m not here to make others suffer if it’s not needed, though. I’m getting too old for this reckless shit, so don’t make it necessary.”
My fingers twitch, knowing the exact blade I’d reach for and where I’d want to plunge it into him. Or grab one of the stone busts to smash his face in.No, stop. What else is expected from the Scorpion?He might have been gentle with Jane, but she has never seen her father outside that role.
He's a ruthless cunt to the rest of the world, an enemy no one wants to make. I didn’t know how to bring that up to Jane, who was barely keeping herself together when she asked about him.
The Scorpion isfearedfor a reason.
And I don’t like that he mentioned Serena. Or my mother.
“You know of my sister,” I calmly state, as I rest the empty water cup back on the table and clear my throat.
“Oh,” he squares his shoulders, glaring at me with a viciousness I’d expect from him. “Andwhere she is.”
My breathing grows deeper, and I control my eyes from revealing the shock flooding my system. I swear to the fucking sirens that I can feel he is speaking the truth.
In a fluid movement, my left thumb unhooks a sheath as an upside-down blade slides out from around my thigh, moving tomy feet so I can catch the hilt as gravity takes it. Ritter removes one from his sleeve at nearly the same pace.
My heart pounds from blood loss, my body shot. My ego refuses to acknowledge reason, which tells me IknowI’m not winning here. Even if I overpower an aged Scorpion, his men will kill me before mine reach me.
Maybe justonestab…
Grinding teeth, my knuckles are white as I grip my blade. “How the fuck do you know that.”
“If you’d like to have a real conversation, let’s have onewithoutthe metal.” He looks at my hand and motions to it with his armed one.Calm down. Hesitantly, I slide the dagger back into its sheath and re-secure it, waiting foranysuspicion that he might strike while my blade is away.
“Like before, let’s not waste time.” Ritter rolls his head around in a stretch before languidly blinking and staring me down, retaking his seat, and I do so as well. “First, let’s clear up the fact that Cypress is Jane and I’s great aunt from many, many generations ago. Jane doesn’t know that. And I’m not proud of hiding it. To be frank, Cypress is pure poison, but she also is her own antidote. So I’ll use her, knowing she won’t let Jane die while I poison the rest, even if that includes myself.”
I bet that witchy bitch is laughing somewhere, her ugly eyes blacked out.
“So that witch knows where my sister is, then? She probably even knows what roof is over her head and the exact passage I’d need to take to find her,” I state with clarity.
I knew Cypress was aware of my sister’s wellbeing, but to really accept she knowswhereSerena is, and is using me, makes me feel like my skin is peeling away at the seam. My sister is out there, no doubt suffering, and I have to play Cypress’s game with no insight as to when it’ll end, and for all I know, every day that Misery is alive is another day that Serena is in pain.
I barely register him mentioning they’rerelated.
Ritter gives a deep nod. “Save Jane’s life, and Cypress will tell you. I’m aware you two met recently, and in her vagueness,that’swhat she meant by keeping my daughter alive. You will be given absolute clarity as to where to find your family once Misery is taken care of, and only then.”
“Why in the hells does Cypress need Jane alive so much? How are you certain that Jane isn’t a victim of Cypress like the rest of us, and we’re not just fattening Jane up for the slaughter rather than keeping her safe?”
“I’ve nearly begged for that information, but all Cypress told me is that Jane is essential for Misery’s return. And I don’t think she’ll let Jane die, or walk her to her death. She’s loyal to her godandher bloodline.”
I nearly laugh when I consider a month ago I thought Jane’s name was rather simple, and her stature much too small to warrant aZenithcalling for her. Now, she’s like a bona fide treasure who requires utmost security.
“So,” I begin, languidly pointing at him. “You have a plan, surely, of what to do here? Cypress must have givensomekind of directive as to how we fight Misery?”
His entire face hardens in the dim lighting, his eyes shining when the fire flicks in a certain direction. His jaw flexes from grinding his teeth. “No. She hasn’t said a damn word in that regard. Just that we have to secure Jane.”
“Then she’s the most useless general in an armada I’ve ever met.”
He smiles, but not from humor. “Except she’s incredibly surgical when we remember her true allegiance is to her god, whodespisesMisery. My daughter just so happens to bethething Misery requires to reclaim his body—for whatever reason—which meansallof our survival is absolutely conditional onwhether Jane’s heart beats or not. So in that, we don’t need to know shit. We just need to be able to follow orders.”
A sardonic snicker escapes me after listening without breathing. It’s ironic that two Zenith—two people who clearly want to be in charge—are left in the dark, much like those who follow us.
Every part of Ritter seems just as annoyed as I am, this room teaming with animosity directed toward the rubies that encroach upon the space.
“So then explain,” I say, a thought crossing my mind, leaning forward and speaking quietly. “How do we keep Jane safe if her literal existence is what makes or breaks Misery’s revival? People will come for her like she has the biggest bounty on her head.”
“Precisely the reason for so much caution. Cypress is aware, and it’s why she’s meticulous in her execution. The Order of Ash may very well know, same with Blackwell. But they have a vested interest in keeping Jane alive, so they won’t speak. But we have to get her out of the city before word spreads, if it does at all.”
