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“I never said that.”
“You said you failed at killing her.” I bit out the words. “That gives the impression you wanted her dead.”
“I needed her dead, we all needed that, and you know why. But that’s neither here nor there now, is it?” Her fingers twitched at her sides. “But I never wanted her dead.”
Her choice of words caused me to stiffen. “Is there a difference?”
“Cas,” Malik snarled. “She is not going to hurt—”
“No one is talking to you,” I snapped. “So, how about you shut the fuck up?”
Malik’s eyes narrowed, but there was no mistaking how his pupils constricted, or the look he gave me. I’d seen that a thousand times when we were boys and I annoyed him.
“Besides the fact that I can’t do shit to a Primal,” Millicent began, “I have no desire to harm her.”
“She killed your mother.”
“Mother?” Millicent laughed, the sound high-pitched and maybe a little crazed, causing Delano to tense. “Yeah.” Her laughter faded as she clasped her hands together. “That was our mother, but if you think I’m going to seek revenge, you must think I’m an idiot.”
“Well…” I drew out the word, smirking as Malik growled. “I wouldn’t say an idiot, but a little off balance? Yes.”
“I would be offended if that wasn’t true,” she remarked, her fingers beginning to twist together. She shook her head, looking at the ceiling. “I’m not a stranger to her. I spent time with her when she was a child.” Her gaze went back to where Kieran stood, no longer growling. “She probably doesn’t remember that. Probably blocked it out. Either way, she didn’t know, but I…I watched over her. She was always in the underground chambers…” She trailed off, the knuckles of her fingers turning white.
“Your father has been freed,” I said after a moment.
Millicent’s eyes closed, the skin tightening around them. Behind her, Malik had gone silent, his focus fully on her. “Good.”
A heartbeat passed. “He asked about you.”
Her eyes flew open as her chest rose but did not fall.
“We told him you were okay,” I said.
The breath she released was a ragged one. I looked at Millicent then—really looked at her. There was no dark color in her hair. It was a blond so pale it was nearly white and hung in curls to the middle of her back. There was no black or red mask painted on her face, nor was there anything painted on her arms. Freckles dotted her upturned nose and covered the high cheekbones of her oval face. She was leaner, but her mouth, strong brow, and stubborn chin? A jolt of shock hit me, just as it had when I’d first seen her free of the ink and paint. She looked so damn much like Poppy.
Millicent had asked me if Poppy rambled liked her. That and their appearance weren’t the only things they shared. I looked at her hands, how she twisted her fingers just like Poppy did whenever she was anxious or uncomfortable.
I glanced at Kieran, then refocused on Millicent. I was torn. Technically, Poppy hadn’t completed her Ascension, and I bet that made her somewhat vulnerable. I didn’t want to take any risks, especially with Poppy, but I thought about what I’d said to her while she slept. And about all the shit Millicent had likely gone through being raised by that bitch of a mother. I saw Malik, still watching her. I knew firsthand what he’d gone through before he started to play Isbeth’s game, and I knew he only did that because of her.
Millicent.
Poppy’s sister.
And Poppy had lost so much. Vikter. Her brother. The two people who were her parents. Time spent with her biological father. Time with Tawny. I didn’t know what kind of relationship Poppy would want with Millicent. There’d been no time to really discuss it, but I couldn’t stand in the way. Even if it disturbed me to know my blood had been used to attempt to Ascend Millicent into her godhood.
“Why did you run?” I asked. “Why did you flee the Temple?”
“Maybe that’s none of your business,” Malik shot back.
Since it was something I’d say if our roles were reversed, I ignored him.
“I thought…” Millicent blinked rapidly. “When I saw the silver light, the realms split open, and…and that draken come through, I thought it was her at first.” Her lashes lowered. “The Primal of Life. And even when I realized it wasn’t her, I knew…I know she awakened.”
I frowned. “Why would you run because of that? She’s your grandmother,” I said, and yeah, that still sounded weird.
Millicent’s eyes flicked to me. “No one hates Revenants more than the Primal of Life, and it’s not because we’re abominations—”
“You’re not an abomination,” Malik interjected.
She smiled, but there was nothing to it. No emotion. “Yes, we are. But with the Primal of Life, it’s personal, and I…I ran because I thought…” A heavy exhale left her as she focused on what she could see of Poppy. “I thought she would take me out.” One shoulder lifted. “I was afraid.”
