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His laugh was painful to hear. It was trying so hard to be amused.
Jaro stared at his brother in horror. "You ... killed people? Beastkind? Ourownkind?"
Isak grabbed his walking stick and twirled it in his hand. "Not so happy to see the family disappointment now, are you?"
"And to think I thought you'd hate me for being a whore," Jaro said, shaking his head, a wretched expression on his face.
"Jaro," Maia scolded, but carefully. She remembered Az's words outside, then. "Don't say something you'll regret."
Jaro looked stunned that Maia was talking to him more than anything. Azrail's chest ached.
"You're beastkind," she said to Isak, a wary edge to her voice.
"Your powers of observation are second to none, dove."
Maia scowled at the name, but didn't acknowledge it. Clearly, Isak's saint was whispering in his ear if he knewhersaint's identity. "You don't have an indenture."
"Yeah," Isak agreed with a shrug. "It broke a week ago. No idea why, but I'm not complaining."
Azrail exchanged a look with Jaro. A week ago; when Maia had been crucified and the pain had broken Jaro's cuff, too.
Maia sketched an ironic curtsy. "You're welcome. And it's a long story," she added at Isak's questioning stare. "Speaking of, why don't you get back toyourlong story, dickhead?"
"Aww," Isak breathed, framing his face with both his hands, his stick thumping into the desk. "We're doing cute pet names now?"
"I will stab you somewhere very unpleasant unless you tell us the rest of what we want to know," Maia threatened.
"Pass. My brother's already ashamed enough of me."
"Your brother doesn't have an unkind bone in his body, he's just in shock so be patient with him," Maia growled. "Story. Now."
Azrail's eyes went to Jaro and stayed there, watching the flicker of emotions across his friend's freckled face. Shame, guilt, love, surprise, and hope.
"Like I said, the vessels are taken to the island and into the saints' circle. They're not all beastkind; there are fae and halflings among them. As long as they have a spark of power, it doesn't matter, but beastkind were the biggest number. Maybe our blood works better, I don't know.
Isak drew a breath, not looking at them. "My job was to transport the vessels from the boats to the island, and then a team of soldiers walked them to the circle and slit their throats. But I killed every single one I transported, don't misunderstand me. I may as well have cut their throats myself." He paused and added, "Sometimes when one of the soldiers couldn't be there, I walked people to the rock and did just that."
Maia tilted her head, her pale braid falling over her shoulder. "I used my magic to fuck around in people's minds. I've twisted so many thoughts, cut out memories, and manipulated so many people into agreeing with the queen that I don't even know the number." She gave him a wry smile. "We're both monsters, Isak."
"No," Azrail, Jaro, Kheir, and Ark said at once.
Az turned and caught her face in both his hands, meeting her eyes with seriousness and honestly. "No, Maia."
"You're causing a scene," she said wryly, but her hands skimmed his waist, a touch of forgiveness.
He ducked to kiss her, lingering. "I don't care. I never meant those words; I swear to you. I wish I could take them back." But they'd burrowed deep in her mind. "I've sent as many rebels to their deaths or to injuries as you have manipulated. We're equal."
"Maybe we're all monsters," Maia said against his lips.
"If that's true, I’ll wear the title with pride. We’re the same, you and I—saints or monsters, it doesn’t matter what word we use when our souls resonate."
Maia rolled her eyes, but her eyes were bright and her cheeks pinker. "Pretty words, Knight."
"Pretty words for a beautiful woman," he purred. "And they're from the heart; I mean them."
"There's a room upstairs if you want privacy," Isak drawled.
"A room you've diseased with whatever's crawling in your underwear," Maia retorted without missing a beat. She leaned up to kiss Azrail and he bent to meet her lips. "No thanks," she added, pulling away.
