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“As I said, I know from experience how good he is at making a woman believe she means something to him. I bought it. I wish someone had warned me to keep my guard up. Then I would have been ready for that moment when he kicked me completely off his chessboard. That is the thing with Cain. He constantly replaces his pawns, because he tires of them so quickly.” She paused at a bang upstairs.
Wynter inwardly sighed. Anabel and her fucking experiments. Wynter just hoped the woman hadn’t set herself on fire again.
“Each new game comes with new pawns,” Ishtar went on. “Right now, he is playing a game with the Aeons. Like it or not, you are a key piece on his board right now. But once you have served your purpose, he will kick you off it too.”
Quite possibly. Wynter wasn’t under the impression that she was important to Cain. He was possessive of her and seemed intent on keeping her around, but it didn’t automatically follow that he felt any deeper emotions for her. She’d never allowed herself to think differently.
Still, she wasn’t convinced he’d so callously set her aside. Or maybe she simply didn’t want to consider it. “You really believe he’ll hand me over to the Aeons if they make him the right offer?”
Ishtar gave her a sympathetic smile. “Darling girl, he has tunnel vision where this particular matter is concerned. They betrayed us all, but they have also deprived Cain of something his entire life. Someone, I should say. For a millennia, his whole focus has been on retrieving what should never have been taken from him. He has known you, what, a few weeks? Do you think he would truly turn down the opportunity to obtain what he’s sought for so longjustto ensure your safety? Especially when you are mortal and will die soon enough in any case?”
“What do you suggest I do?”
“There is nothing you really can do. Cain will not give you space. He will not move you to another square on his chessboard until he is ready. And there is no way to ensure he doesn’t trade you if the opportunity arises. You would have no way to fight him.
“None of the other Ancients—not even myself—would wish to stand against him to help you. We want him to have what he seeks. Seth, though … Seth may help you. He has a good heart, unlike the rest of us. He would empathize with your situation. He is also the one person who Cain would not harm, so if Seth gave you sanctuary at his Keep, you would be free of Cain’s clutches.”
So, what, she wanted Wynter to pit one brother off against the other? Was that it? Or was it just a simple case that Ishtar wanted her away from Cain and figured that Seth was the one person who could keep them apart without there being any bloodshed?
Ugh, Wynter didn’t have the patience for this. Deciding the best way to get the Ancient to leave would be to let her think this ‘play’ she was making had worked, Wynter said, “I suppose it’s worth a shot.”
Triumph very briefly flashed in Ishtar’s eyes. Again, she gave Wynter a gentle smile. “All you can do is try. And you should. This is your life at stake. I know Cain is contracted to not give you up to anyone who may come for you, but there are loopholes. All he would have to do is return the rights to your soul, and he would no longer be obliged to do anything to protect you. Until then, he will indeed keep you safe. But only because you are of use to him.”
Maybe, maybe not. But wanting this conversation over with, Wynter continued to play the part of the crushed female. “It’s so hard to accept that he had me so fooled. He said so many sweet things to me. And he always insisted on me sleeping in his bed at night.”
A hardness slid into Ishtar’s expression at the latter comment, but it quickly melted away. “Of course he did. As I said, he wishes to keep you close.”
Wynter groaned. “I feel so stupid.”
“You are not stupid, dear girl. He is simply a very accomplished liar who reads people well. He senses what they’ll need to hear, and he tells them those very things.” Seemingly satisfied that her work was done, Ishtar rose. “Now I must go. I am sure I will see you at the festivities tonight. Do enjoy yourself. And best of luck with Seth. If anyone can keep you safe from Cain, it is him.” The Ancient then breezed out of the cottage.
Delilah stepped into the doorway of the living area. “What in the world was that?”
“A play of some kind,” Wynter replied. “Whether or not she’s telling the truth about Cain being willing to hand me over to the Aeons at a later date, I don’t know. But she didnotcome here out of any concern for me, so why else tell me all that?”
Delilah leaned against the doorjamb. “To shake any faith you might have in Cain? To make you distance yourself from him?”
“Butwhy, though? I know she wants Cain, but she can’t possibly view me as a true threat. She sees me as a mere mortal—weak, naïve, easily manipulated. She thinksnothingof mortals.”
“Exactly. To her, you’re nothing. And yet, you have him; she doesn’t. That stabs her ego. It’s all about howshefeels.”
“I guess. Still, this doesn’t add up to me. I mean, she put a whole lot of effort into trying to make me believe that Cain will one day betray me. Why warn me, when she’d surely be finding it amusing that I’m being played? Why shorten her fun? Why not prefer to wait for the day where I get to see for myself that I’m nothing to him so she can laugh at my expense?”
Delilah frowned. “Maybe you’re wrong in believing she doesn’t see you as a threat. Something about your relationship with Cain unsettled her enough to inspire her uppity ass to come all the way here and sow some seeds of distrust.” She paused. “Are you going to tell him about her impromptu visit?”
“Probably not. He wouldn’t like it. I don’t want the Ancients arguing among themselves at a time when their enemies could potentially arrive.”
“You don’t want to ask Cain about it? You don’t want to find out if just maybe thereissomething they’ll offer him in trade?”
“You think he’d really be upfront about it if there was?”
“I guess not, but it’s worth asking. We need to know, Wyn. We need to be sure these people will truly keep you safe.”
Wynter leaned forward in her seat. “You’re now thinking it might be good for us to just cut and run.”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Maybe that’s what she intended. Maybe that was the purpose of her little visit.”
