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When he took her hand, his familiar touch felt like a shock through her entire body. He kissed the air above her knuckles, and she felt the caress of his breath. But his voice was dangerous. “What did Flavian do?”
“Nothing. We must compose ourselves.”
“Did he touch you?” Lio asked, his voice quiet, his anger rolling into her aura with his magic.
Her toes curled in her slippers. “No, my love. I’m all right. I’ll tell you after the Council.”
She glimpsed the tips of his fangs between his lips, but he released her hand and took his seat. Beside her. She had to sit beside him and resist the urge to climb onto his lap.
Mak, Lyros, and Karege took their seats on Lio’s other side. All the players in their game were on the board. And they were relying on Cassia’s strategy.
She felt Lio’s deft touch in her mind. Her belly calmed, and her anxiety faded. Now was not the time to resist direct help from his thelemancy. If he kept doing that, she might make it through the Council.
Flavian’s chair creaked as he stood. “Lords and knights of Tenebra, delegates from afar, of the forty-nine Free Lords of Tenebra, forty-six are here assembled or have sent their representatives, who are empowered to vote on their behalf. On behalf of my father, Free Lord Titus of Segetia, I bear witness.”
Severin replied, “On behalf of Free Lord Severinus, I bear witness.”
One by one, the free lords or their representatives identified themselves and swore to a quorum.
Lio murmured, “I’m keeping count of how many of these men hold their seats thanks to your schemes.”
“Why stop at free lords?” she said with false confidence. “Next, I shall install a queen.”
“You have already done that, My Queen, and told me you’re pleased with your throne.”
Her aura tried to spin his magic into her again. Oh, no. She must not think about being seated on him. Did he want to torture her?
“Not at all,” he said in answer to her thoughts. “I want to tide you over during the proceedings.”
Flavian glared at them. Although he couldn’t hear them, he seemed to object to Lio leaning even a hair’s breadth her way. Lio looked back at him with a chilling gaze.
Flavian began to pace the central aisle. “My lords, I have gathered you here in the name of uniting against the threats facing our kingdom. I thank you for leaving home and hearth to answer this call. I thank you for braving what we have not spoken aloud, but all fear—the king’s wrath.”
Flavian halted at the foot of the dais and faced the Council. “I will speak it aloud now. Make no mistake. We are here to revoke our mandate from Lucis, forsworn King of Tenebra, and place a just monarch on the throne.”
The silence in the room seemed to grow heavier. If Lucis had any allies here, none spoke.
“Over the past weeks,” Flavian continued, “I have quietly presented each of you with evidence of Lucis’s crimes. I hope I have also demonstrated to you that there is one man among us who would make a worthier king. My lords, do you need me to make my case against Lucis? Do you need further proof?”
“Nay!” went up throughout the room, and boots pounded. Cassia heard the words traitor, betrayer, assassin on the lips of Lucis’s once-cowed Council.
“Are you ready to vote?” Lord Flavian asked.
“Long live the new king!” his supporters called.
Flavian reached up and planted his banner on the dais. At the sight of his new crest, Cassia longed for a fire spell. He had adapted the royal coat of arms, removing the fire that symbolized the Orders so the sun and the sword stood on their own. It was the design she had created for him.
“I hereby ask that the Full Council of Free Lords crown me King of Tenebra.”
Cheers went up throughout the hall. Without waiting for Flavian to finish, the free lords began to raise their Council Shields and affix them to the high backs of their chairs over their heads. The signal that they had made their decisions and were ready to vote.
Flavian had executed Cassia’s plan well. Too well. It was thrilling and sickening. If she and Lio and Solia had not come here tonight to intervene, her plot would have worked. Flavian would have been king by the end of the night.
“Of course he would,” said Lio. “Your plan always works. Unfortunately for him, he has lost the most important mandate. Yours.”
“He is supposed to accept challengers before they hang their shields,” Cassia hissed. “If he fails to do so, he will not like how I remind him.”
But Flavian drew his sword and raised it above his head. “Is there any man here who will make the same demand?”
