My bottom lip trembled as I fought for control over my anger, and sadness at the state that I had left him in. “Dad,” I answered in a strangled voice, and he pulled me into a hug that enveloped my entire body.
Neither of us spoke for a very long time. But once we found the strength to pull away, he sat with me in my room for hours and requested to hear every part of what happened after I disappeared. I told him of my mother, and that she was gone now—truly at peace.
And little by little, all of the pieces felt like they were putting themselves back together. That was almost two days ago.
First, we would find a way to break the blood bond I shared with Cain. With me being…whateverI was now, I didn’t know if that changed the way our bond worked. Tristan has said the blood of a god was the only thing needed to create a soul bond. Did I have that with Cain now, too?
Regardless, once we severed it, Cain would be put on trial before the people, and his crimes would be announced in front of all of them. After that, he would be executed.
I would be the one to kill him.
His life was mine to take. No one else’s.
“Morrigan?” a familiar voice called from my door as it cracked open slightly.
I turned to find Dormius stepping inside, his hands were trembling, but his eyes held a new clarity that I hadn’t seen since before he came to save me.
“Come in!”
His gaze turned to the bed where Malakai’s lycan form snored loudly. Both he and Tristan had been sleeping in my room for the past couple of days. Tristan didn’t feel very comfortable here, and it would probably be a long time before he did. But he took walks with Azrael every day, exploring more parts of the castle and Dez’s grounds. Whenever Tristan left the room,Malakai insisted on “standing guard”—though his idea of protecting me seemed to be sleeping through every minute of it.
“You could honestly scream and he wouldn’t wake up,” I laughed, hoping to lighten the uncomfortable tension between us. “I didn’t know that you were coming to visit today. I assumed I wouldn’t see you until Saturday.”
“There’s…” He shot one more glance at Malakai before walking toward me. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
“What is it?” I asked, standing from my vanity.
Nervously, he blinked a few times as he stared at me and then turned back toward the door. Then, another man walked inside, this one a little taller than D, with shoulder-length brown hair. He wore a blue guard’s uniform, and had a helmet tucked into his side.
I tilted my head in confusion. “I don’t think I need any more people on my guard,” I insisted. “Truthfully, I probably don’t evenneedguards anymore.”
As I laughed, I realized that neither of them seemed to join in. Their faces were taut and serious, full of shared anxiety.
“What’s going on?” I asked both of them.
The guard stepped forward first, dipping his head into a graceful bow. “My name is Stefan, Your Grace.”
Guess we’re back to titles again.
“We can do without the bowing,” I mumbled. “And my name isMorrigan.”
Stefan’s lips curved into a grin, and he glanced back at D, whose eyes hadn’t left the floor. He wasn’t even looking at me.Why would he bring one of his guards to my…
I carefully watched the way Stefan’s eyes softened as he stared at D, waiting for him to speak.
“Oh,” I said aloud, not meaning for it to slip past my lips.
D’s hands balled into fists, and I could see his chest rising and falling in heavy breaths. Stefan wasn’t just hisguard.
“So, this is…Heis...”
“Yes,” D answered under his breath.
I dipped my chin, watching both of them quizzically. “Okay… I’m sorry,” I extended my hand for Stefan to take and shook his. “It’s very nice to meet you, Stefan. I’m just a little confused right now.”
D cleared his throat and took a step forward. “I understand that this is a lot to take in. And… I would appreciate if you refrained from telling?—”
“Did you just want me to meet him? You both looked like you wanted to puke when you stepped into my room.” I chuckled nervously. “I just don’t understand why this feels so secretive.”
