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I stare at her, taking note of the mounting frustration in her voice. If it were as simple as she says, she wouldn’t need to tell me so, and I don’t know who she’s trying to convince more: me, or herself. But one thing becomes apparent as she clutches at the chair beside her, and the color in her face drains away as if something is sucking the very life from her. Suddenly, I’m wondering how I didn’t see it before.
She’s lost weight. The shadows on her face are more pronounced, and her eyes are glassy. She looks… sickly.
As I consider it, all the pieces begin to fall into place. Her desperation to have this done. Her insane belief that Shemhazai can save her family. That in spilling my blood, it will somehow benefit her.
“It was you, wasn’t it?” I ask, my voice barely audible.
“What?” she hisses, her knuckles whitening from the energy she’s expending to keep herself upright.
“You left the gate open that night. That wasn’t an accident or a lucky coincidence. You knew something would happen. Were you already aware of the Disciples?”
She doesn’t deny it. She doesn’t even try to.
“Did you know I would take Rébecca too?”
Her lip twitches, but again she doesn’t answer.
“Of course you did,” I murmur, more to myself than to her. “Because either way, you thought you’d win. If something happened to Bec, and I was saved, you’d expect Azrael to blame me. And if we both died, then she was just collateral damage.”
“That’s a cute story.” She offers me a condescending smile. “You have quite an imagination, but I’m sure you must know nobody would ever believe that. I am a loving grandmother, after all. One who gave up everything to come here and raise my orphaned grandchildren. Where would they be without me?”
“You’re deranged,” I tell her. “Do you even realize that? Just like your ancestors before you who took pleasure in murdering the Wildblood sacrifices. You are no godly woman. You’re the epitome of evil itself.”
Salomé smiles, a strangely terrifying peace settling over her features. “Well, how fortunate I see exactly what you are too. And soon, you’ll be nothing more than a burnt corpse, rotting in the ground where you belong. So, brace yourself, witch. The Tithe will be paid.”
14
AZRAEL
What does she say? What are her exact words before she dies?
I don’t know if I ever hear what Elizabeth says. I see her lips move. I hear mutterings, maybe? I’m not even sure of that. All I know for certain is that Isaiah is gone by then. I’m standing alone on Proctor’s Ledge, and she is cursing me.
I turn onto our street, and through the slowly opening gates, I see the Society guards standing at attention. Two walk toward my vehicle suspiciously until they see it’s me and wave me through.
This is one of the benefits of being a Sovereign Son. When I need something, it’s a phone call away. I may have to deal with the likes of Councilor Hildebrand, but I can handle men like him.
I check my phone for messages as I climb out of the Jaguar, anxious to hear from the lab. It’s too soon, but there is a text from Emmanuel telling me he and Bec are out for the day and their itinerary. As if reading my mind, he sends a second message to say he’s taken two guards with them and that I shouldn’t have a fit. He knows me well.
I send him a text telling them to have fun.
One of the staff comes to take the keys of the car.
“Leave it. I’ll be using it again in a few minutes,” I tell him and head up the stairs to the front door where, before I’m even fully inside, Salomé starts.
“Your brother has taken your sister on an outing!”
“Good morning, Grandmother,” I say, tucking the car keys into my pocket and glancing over her shoulder up the stairs.
“Did you hear what I said, Azrael?”
I take in her appearance. She looks more like herself with her usual long black dress, her hair pulled tightly back. I wonder if it gives her a headache and realize, not for the first time, that I haven’t had a migraine in more than a week.
“Are you feeling better?” I ask her.
She seems taken aback by that. “Why do you ask?”
“Just because the last time I saw you, you weren’t well. You look better.”
“I’m fine. Thank you. But your sister is not strong enough to leave this house and with those predators on the loose.”
“Those predators? You mean Caleb Church?” She wouldn’t know about the Disciples, about Caleb’s meeting with Noyes and the fact that he has the backing of the Disciples.
“Yes. He’s still out there and she’s a target now that she’s associated with your witch. And she’s sick, Azrael. She needs to rest. To get stronger.”
