The room becomes still around us. The stinging feel of that deadly magic fades away. The glasses on the tables stop clattering, and silence settles in. Slowly, I release my tiring hold on my magic. Jeriko removes the needle. The vacancy in my father’s gaze remains in place; he stares out at the wall into complete nothingness, still the monster I know him to be.
Anger fumes through me.
I knock my own breath from my lungs as my body collides with my father’s thin frame, and I shove him to the floor. Wings crunch against concrete underneath us. My fist slams into his boney features. Fresh pain screams through my knuckles with every blow I land. Yet, I can’t seem to stop. I won’t.
Strong hands grip around my arms, and I’m thrown to the floor. It’s cold against my back as I slide into the wall with a hard thud. Jeriko’s blazing gaze burns into mine, and she gets right down into my face. She straddles my legs as she breathes hot, fanning breaths across my skin. The strength of her body covers mine completely, and it admittedly makes my heart pound with a trickling feeling of fear.
“You’re a fucking reckless bitch. Carver isn’t here to keep you in line, and I’m not about to let you get us all killed.”
My jaw clenches just as my knee comes up hard. It connects with her crotch, and I barely have enough time to appreciate the shock in her face before a needle pushes cold, tingling fluid into my veins.
Basilus’s haunting smile beams down on me as he pulls the syringe away. His every move is total grace. That serene persona he always has is right there on display.
“Shame, shame, I know your name.”
His taunting words register before the sedation overtakes my thoughts.
Chapter Nine
Merrick
“Merrick!” My name is called down the long hall that leads to my room, echoing off the walls.
I turn from my window while fresh air pillages my lungs, in time to see Casimir burst into my room still in his sleeping clothes. Deep crimson droplets stain his skin in a near perfect line across his face. His shirt is torn at the sleeve, material draping over his bicep to reveal an oozing cut. As if reminded of my own wound, I touch a hand to my side and wince. Superficial, so it will heal quickly, likely to be nothing more than a slender scab by this evening.
“Oh, thank the goddess.” His eyes bounce from the body to me before Casimir throws his head back in relief, pausing to catch his breath. He leans into the wall. “I thought when I found someone in my room that they’d already been to you... that you might be...” He swallows, unable to continue.
“I’m not dead,” I say. “Though I’m not sure if I should be offended that they only sent one assassin as if that would be enough or if I should be thankful.”
Casimir chuckles, the noise a nervous flutter. “I, uh, I alerted the guard.”
The statement rings true as lights along the perimeter of the castle grounds are flicked on to begin their scan of the property. No doubt any guards not on shift, sleeping soundly in their beds, had been awoken too. They’ll be at my door in no time.
“Good.” I nod. Sniffling, I take careful steps back to my bed and pull the sheath from my pillow. “I’m assuming yours is also dead?”
“Trick tooth. Poison.” His normally perfectly combed hair is ruffled at the back, a few slender strands falling in front of his face and clinging to the blood on his cheeks. His eyes are wide as he steps closer, nudging the door closed behind his boot before he goes.
My heart stutters in my chest. Worry seizes me the moment I recognize the panic trapped in his gaze.
“Aeton,” he says, though his voice is so quiet, even I can hardly register what he is saying while relying heavily on reading his lips.
“No,” I whisper back, shaking my head. I can already guess where he is going with this, and it isn’t good.
Casimir grimaces but continues. “He was in my room during the attack. He’s hurt, but we can’t... he can’t get caught.”
The whole castle will be awake soon. Guards will begin searching every room to make sure the castle is secure.
“Shit.” Keeping my weapon in hand, I give space to the sprawled body of the assassin and make my way to his side. “Take me to him.”
I glance at the body with a scowl. I’ll need to examine him myself before anyone else gets their hands on him. We’ll have to move quickly then.
Casimir doesn’t hesitate before turning and throwing the door wide. The quiet commands of moving groups of guards and the rapid pounding of their feet against the tiled floors can already be heard. My hand is slick against the doorknob as I pull my door closed.
The two of us are swift and quiet as we begin our sprint through the halls of the Dark Palace. I find myself scanning every dark corner and growing wary at every turn as if more danger awaits. It could very well be possible there is.
Danger is going to have to wait though.
Casimir’s reputation—what little is still salvageable after we’d so desperately denied the rumors—hangs in the balance. His credit as the third heir to the throne. More than all those things, I worry for him as a friend. The unimaginable things our father might do to him should he find out...
