“And when I’m done with you?” Crimson and midnight swirled through his flesh as it thinned. “You know where I will go,” Kolis hissed.

  I summoned the eather, letting it rush to the surface even as the tear in the realm opened. The scent of…citrus and fresh air grew, and I knew Attes wasn’t taking me to Carsodonia. He was taking me to Iliseeum. Because he could cross with the wards. Kolis couldn’t. The tear would seal behind us, and I knew Kolis would go where he threatened.

  To Carsodonia.

  To Casteel.

  And to Kieran.

  I dug in my heels and shoved my elbow into Attes’s stomach, tearing myself free. I locked gazes with Kolis as Attes shouted—

  The realm exploded in crimson and night.

  What sounded like a clap of thunder came from within me, sudden and sharp, and then…then there was nothing.

  CHAPTER 56

  CASTEEL

  Somehow, someway, Poppy had done something.

  “Is there a reason you wanted to come here?” Kieran asked.

  Besides that, being in the Solar made me feel like the walls were closing in on me? No. I had no good reason for being in the Great Hall. I just didn’t want to stray too far from where Poppy said she would return.

  And she would return.

  She had to.

  And when she did, she had a lot to answer for. After I held her.

  At least down here, I couldn’t hear Nithe’s restless calls as he circled the bay.

  But it had also been where I last saw Poppy. And Kieran, the jackass, knew that.

  “Is there a reason you all followed me?” I threw over my shoulder as I walked forward.

  “You know exactly why we followed you.”

  Yeah, I did.

  They were making sure I didn’t do something unstable. Untrustworthy. Unpredictable. Like shadowstepping my ass to Pensdurth. What they didn’t realize was that I’d already tried.

  I couldn’t open the realm.

  Poppy had known I would follow and had somehow prevented it. My mind immediately went to the Fates.

  Lifting the bottle of whiskey, I took a long swallow. It burned all the way to my gut. Over half the bottle was gone, but it had absolutely no effect on me. Not like it used to back then, when I felt more like a thing than a person. Which meant it wasn’t helping loosen the knot of anxiety in my stomach or dull the blade-sharp threads of fear that kept slicing through my chest every couple of minutes.

  Poppy was with that sick fuck, and I was here, sidelined like someone more of a hindrance than an ally.

  Fuck.

  Did she know I had held her after she fed? Watched her sleep?

  I took another drink as my gaze flicked around the Hall, my gaze shifting to the empty dais.

  “What happened to the thrones?”

  “We melted them down,” Delano said as he walked along the main alcove, his form appearing and then disappearing behind the Atlantian banners hanging from the alcove walls.

  I looked around, thinking something was missing. My gaze landed on the center of the Hall. “The statue?”

  “Poppy destroyed it,” Delano stated flatly from the shadows. I didn’t need to look at him to know he was pissed. “Before you decided to show up.”

  My hand spasmed around the bottle as I continued forward. Reaching the dais, I hoisted myself up and sat my ass down.

  I took yet another drink that did absolutely fucking nothing as my eyes landed on Kieran.

  “You can keep glaring at me all you want.” His steps slowed. “You’re not going to run me off.”

  “Or the rest of us,” my father said as he strode down the sweeping steps at the mouth of the Hall. Hisa followed behind him but stopped just inside, wisely keeping her distance. Both were dressed as if ready for battle.

  I, on the other hand, had no weapons.

  Their words felt like a call to war that I was more than willing to rise to. After all, I’d already run Emil, my brother, Naill, and Netta off.

  “Want to bet?” I asked.

  “I have no interest in making foolish bets.” My father sat on one of the marble benches framing the steps leading to the alcove.

  I shifted my gaze back to Kieran. He stood impossibly still, arms folded over the daggers strapped to his chest. I didn’t want them here to witness me trying to drink myself stupid and failing. “None of you needs to be here.”

  “Disagree.”

  I couldn’t tell if Kieran knew Poppy had done something. Part of me said he didn’t. The other half refused to listen to that part. “I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize Poppy.”

  She was already doing a bang-up job of that herself.

  Gods. Did she think I didn’t know what she would have to do? That it was also one of the reasons she hadn’t wanted me or Kieran there? She would have to get close.

  Fuck.

  “I didn’t say you would,” Kieran answered.

  I let out a dry laugh. “That’s bullshit. The fact that I’m here is because you feared I would do exactly that.”

  “No. That’s at least partially bullshit, you jackass. And you know it,” he replied. “We’re not there because Poppy and Attes were right. The agreement with the Fate and whatever protection it offers does not extend to us. He would come right at us.”

  “He would try,” I corrected, arguing for the sake of being an asshole. “And you said partially. Care to elaborate?”

  His jaw tightened. “You know what you would do the moment Kolis opened his mouth and spouted some nonsense.”

  “Hmm.” My attention shifted to Delano as he descended the shorter stairs. The dagger at his hip caught my attention. The color and shape of the hilt were familiar. I lowered my gaze, catching a gleam of dark red. Slowly, I lifted my gaze to Delano’s. “Is that the bloodstone dagger?”

  “It is.” He sat on the bottom step.

  My head tilted.

  Don’t, warned Kieran through the notam, his arms unfolding.

  Of course, he knew what I was about to do. I’d made it clear that I wanted to be left alone. They refused. That didn’t mean I wasn’t willing to go low—even lower than how I ensured Emil and Netta didn’t follow me.

  I doubted the latter would be speaking to me anytime soon.

  Kieran shifted his weight. This isn’t easy for me either. For any of us. None of us is okay with remaining here while she’s there.

  My grip tightened on the bottle.

  The difference is, we’re not acting like assholes, Kieran reached out through the link again. You’ve already said some nasty shit. You don’t need to add to that.

  I said some truthful shit. Nasty, truthful shit I had also spewed at Malik concerning a certain missing Revenant. If you want me to stop, you know what to do.

  Eather pulsed from Kieran as he lowered his chin.

  I smirked around the rim of the bottle. You’re going to need to put me into the ground instead of Poppy. Something you should have no problem doing.

  There was a slight flinch—a crack in his resolve to wait this out. You think I don’t know what you’re doing? Kieran interrupted. We’ve been here before. Didn’t work then. Not going to work now.

  He was right. We had been here before. Years ago, when drinking, fighting, and fucking did nothing to silence the shit I didn’t want to think about. I’d lashed out at him—at everyone. But I was a hell of a lot meaner now.

  You should be checking on your sister, I advised as I lifted the bottle. Then again, she’s probably busy getting fuc—

  Kieran severed the link, shutting me out.

  Ouch.

  I laughed, then took a drink as I shifted my focus back to Delano. I knew exactly how to get him out of here. “The same one made from the bones of your sister?”

  “Fucking gods,” Kieran muttered.

  Delano’s chin lifted. “It is, Cas.”

  “You don’t think that’s weird? Or disrespectful?” I shook the bottle, sloshing the amber liquid as I forced my mouth to keep moving, to speak the words that tasted sour and bitter. “I mean, that’s your sister’s bones—”

  The bottle shattered in my grasp, showering me with glass and whiskey.

  My father let out a low whistle as I opened my fingers, letting the neck of the bottle fall to the floor. I turned my head to Kieran.

  “I think you’ve had enough,” he stated.

  I hadn’t drunk nearly enough, considering I was still sober. “I think you can go fuck yourself.”

  Kieran’s lips twisted into a thin smile. “And I think Poppy would be very disappointed in you if she heard the shit you’ve been saying.”

  I stilled.

  “What?” Kieran stepped forward. “You don’t want to hear that? Just like you don’t want to face the truth about why she asked me to put her in the ground? Why she wouldn’t put that on you?”

  I was in front of him in less than a heartbeat, toe-to-toe. “I’m not talking to you about this.”

  “Of course, you aren’t. Because that would require you to pull your head out of your ass and acknowledge that you’re weak.”

  “Fuck,” whispered Delano.

  Eather hummed as I locked gazes with Kieran. “What the fuck did you just say?”

  “They heard me,” he retorted. “So I know you did. But I can repeat it for you. You’re fucking weak when it comes to—”

  I grabbed the collar of his tunic. “You want to rethink what you’re about to say.”

  Kieran laughed, the sound short and harsh. Delano stood. “Yet again, you’re asking someone else to think when you won’t.”

  A tremor ran through my arm, and I felt the eather pressing at my skin. My fist tightened around his tunic.

  “I told you last time,” Kieran said while Hisa descended the wider steps at the Hall’s entrance. “You want to do this? Let’s do it.”

  The corners of my vision turned a deep gray.

  “I’ll let you have the first punch.” Kieran leaned in. “Come on, Cas. That’s what you want to do.”

  I wanted nothing more than to lay hands on him.

  “No.” My father held up his hand, stopping Delano and Hisa as they moved closer to us. “Let them fight it out.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Hisa said.

  “It won’t be the first time,” my father responded. “And it will be much more interesting than listening to my son insult those who care about him.”

  Kieran didn’t blink as he held my stare. Another tremor ran through my arm.

  I shoved him back. Not as hard as I could have. He only moved a few feet. “That’s the last chance I’m giving you.”

  Kieran straightened and stretched his neck. I saw his flesh begin to thin, and he returned his stare to mine. “I was wrong.”

  Crimson threaded the shadows, crowding my vision.

  “She’s not your weakness.” His chest rose with a deep breath as he widened his stance. “You’re hers.”

  Will you become the fatal flaw in her armor?

  I snapped, crashing into Kieran and taking us to the floor. He took the brunt of the fall as I straddled him. Like he offered, he gave me the first hit. Didn’t raise a hand as my fist slammed into his jaw, knocking his head to the side.

  Kieran spat blood, then faced me, lifting his head from the floor. “Did that make you feel better?”

  No.

  Absolutely fucking not.

  Grabbing his tunic, I cocked my fist back—

  The realm suddenly tilted as a wave of dizziness crashed over me.

  “Cas?” Kieran’s face blurred as I blinked several times.

  Disoriented, I felt my body list to the side.

  “Cas?” Kieran sounded like he was a hundred miles away as he lifted onto his elbows. “What’s wrong?”

  “I…” Cold sweat broke out across my forehead. My skin was suddenly clammy.

  Pain lanced my chest, causing me to sway as my father’s and Delano’s voices faded in and out.

  Kieran caught my arm, steadying me. “Talk to me.”

  Something was wrong.

  I needed to tell him that, but I couldn’t get my tongue to work as a hollowness opened in my chest, wide and aching. I tilted, half-falling, half-dragging myself off him. I planted my hands on the cold marble floor, my breath caught somewhere between a gasp and a curse. A dull tingling sensation erupted along my palm, and then darkness.

  CHAPTER 57

  POPPY

  One moment, I was standing. The next, I was airborne as red-hot pain tore through me—blinding and absolute. My chest locked tight, lungs seizing before I could even take another breath or scream.

  I crashed into something hard—maybe a pillar? Whatever it was, it knocked out any air that was left in my lungs. Falling forward, I couldn’t get my arms or legs to work to stop the fall. I hit the floor with a sickening crunch of bones as a fire raged in my skin and under it, shorting out my senses. I lay there, the realm dark and silent, completely absent of light and sound.

  No.

  The realm wasn’t dark. I realized my eyes were closed as waves of agony coursed through my body, locking every muscle. The breath-stealing fire lessened with each pass but all that did was leave room for other pain. A dull ache in my ribs. A burning in my shoulder. Each breath I took required effort as I lay there, the scent of death and…charred flesh filling lungs that felt shrunken.

  The charred flesh…

  It was mine. It was where the essence had hit me. I could feel it: the torn, seeping skin. It wasn’t a direct hit, and it wasn’t a killing release of eather. Either the blow to his heart had weakened him or—

  My hearing returned, bringing with it the sound of something dripping, and the smack of bare feet against stone. Something I couldn’t afford to acknowledge skittered down my spine, stroking the eather. Bitter acid gathered in the back of my throat, along with a faint metallic taste. I peeled my eyes open. I was staring at the dome, which meant I was still on my back. Get up. I needed to get up. I knew this. I couldn’t remain down. Vikter had drilled that into me, but my brain was having trouble getting the message to my arms and legs.

  A deep voice hummed softly. “You really thought you could fool me.”

  We had, but that didn’t matter. What did was the fact that I needed to get control of my body and move.

  “That you could take me on.” His laugh filled the silent Hall.

  The essence throbbed as I pulled on every ounce of willpower I had in me. I managed to roll onto my side with a groan. The Hall spun, a dizzying rush of crimson and ivory before my vision cleared and everything came into startling clarity. Red furniture. White walls. Red smeared on the marble tile. Something in a messy heap, smoking—something in black with golden-bronze skin.

  Attes.

  My heart stuttered as I stared at the body lying on the other side of the Hall, closer to the door. The chest of his black tunic was torn open, and blood pooled under him. He wasn’t moving, and the sickening smell of burning flesh wasn’t just mine.

  The sound of footsteps drew closer and then stopped.

  Kolis.

  Move.

  My fingers spasmed, and then my hand. Move. A rush of pins and needles swept up my arm. Fight. Squeezing my eyes shut, I focused on the hot feeling in my chest. Not the pain. I forced all my attention on the essence as white crossed into my line of sight. Pants. White pants drenched in crimson. The thin material was pulled taut, lifting and then stretching over knees as Kolis knelt beside me.

  “You’re lucky, so’lis.” His blood-streaked hand appeared. Cold fingers grazed my forehead, causing me to flinch. His chuckle deepened, becoming rough. “That you are so loved.”

  My insides withered.

  “He took a direct hit for you—for someone who doesn’t even remember all he’s done for you. All he sacrificed for you.” Kolis’s fingers trailed over my temple. “Or perhaps I should say all he forced others to sacrifice for him.”

  I had no idea what he was talking about, and I didn’t really care. Not when all I could do was roll onto my side. Not when he was touching me.

  “He’s not dead,” Kolis shared. “Not yet. Not until I want him to be.”

  That was a relief.

  A sick one.

  Feeling had returned to my legs, the muscles there twitching painfully.

  “Unlike you, I made promises I intend to keep.” Kolis drew his fingers over my cheek, and my heart lurched as I realized he was tracing the scar there. “I can’t believe you actually stabbed me.”

  The spasms in my calves and thighs settled.

  “I wasn’t expecting that.” Kolis let out a laugh that was soft and disgustingly pleasant. His fingers slid over my lips, tugging on the lower one. “I know. I know. I should have. But I will admit, you caught me off guard. I didn’t expect the attitude mixed with the offer of submission.”

  Each breath I took became easier.

  “It was possibly the most contradictory spectacle I’ve seen in a long time.” His hand was now coasting over my throat, lingering briefly where my pulse had slowed. “But you’re probably wondering why I’m not nearly as weakened as you likely believed I would be.”

  I wasn’t.

  The thing that looked like Isbeth had said he’d been fed while entombed. Clearly, that had been the truth because he was just about as weakened as Casteel had been when I plunged the dagger into his heart.

  But I had wounded Casteel.

  And I knew I had wounded Kolis.

  I could hear it in his voice: a strain under each word, a bite of pain that thinned his breath.

  “I may have been little more than bones when I was freed, but I was never weak. I’ve never been weak—not like my brother or nephew. That was something they never understood.” His hand slipped lower. “But they will.”

  I held myself still, giving the essence time to heal what it could so I could fight—do some real damage. That was all I could think about because I knew I wasn’t defeating him. I wasn’t getting out of this. Healing from the blow of essence would nearly drain me. I knew I didn’t have it in me to even shadowstep. I was weaker than when I entered Iliseeum, but even then, I wouldn’t have won.