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“And you only spoke truth, nothing whimsical or foolish.” He grinned, flashing his fangs, “Does the witch bother you?”
Castian glared at him. “I could ask the same thing of you.”
The humor in Alek’s expression fell away. “Bother, isn’t the word I would use.”
“I sincerely hope you will not let your emotions dictate your behavior.” Tiller’s voice chilled their heated exchange, as he gathered the photos that covered the table. “One Jackal breaking his leash is enough.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” Castian assured him, his fingers tapping the top of the table. “The mission is more important to me than anything else.”
And that was the truth, his own vendetta was far more important. The hate he’d carried with him into the bowels of the council, still remained hot and thick within the pit of his stomach. He’d spent what felt like eons muttering the names of those who’d betrayed him over, and over.
Asher had given him the chance he’d needed, to return to that world. He wouldn’t let such an opportunity go to waste; his biggest problem wasn’t his goals but the witch Oye. He would have to maneuver around her, otherwise she could catch on to the fact that he wasn’t only there for the Jackal’s cause.
He could honestly say that he didn’t truly care about the lord’s intent.
Castian felt as everyone else did in the room, only none of them would say it. If someone wanted to burn Veil City down, who was he to stop them? In fact, if the lord’s goal was to tear the council apart, he’d hand the men a wrecking ball.
But he owed Raijin, and because of that loyalty and debt he would succeed at his mission and gain his revenge.
“Do you think you can do it, vessel?”
“You will pick up Oye from here.”
He was drawn back to the present by Raijin as he caught the card the ogre had tossed to him. Reading the address, he frowned. “Nashville?”
Raijin nodded, as he stood. “She lives in the human realm, so you can leave from there and use the tunnels to get to the next city.” He threw this over his shoulder as he made his way from the meeting room, he paused at the doorway, “And don’t forget. You can’t kill her, she’s family.”
Castian expression turned crazed, “And here I thought I could play with her to my heart’s content. I’m so disappointed.”
OYE
“You aren’t worried they’ll betray us,” Oye asked Lanias.
The shine of the Nerium shed light over the entirety of the large chamber they stood in. Oye watched the shadows hidden within its depths, move and shift. The large snakes made of wood and stone continued circling it. The four pillars that were larger than giants surrounded it, below Oye still wondered if it had been the right choice to bring it out.
“Betrayal by those connected to the council is as normal as breathing.” Lanias said, placing a hand on one of the pillars. Her eyes focused above.“I don’t worry over things I am sure are to happen.”
“Humph, no. You’ll leave that to me.” Oye said, crossing her arms.
Looking away from the Nerium, Lanias observed her silently for a moment before she spoke. “If you truly do not wish to go, I can ask one of the others. Though I did promise them that the reawakening of Nerium and the order wouldn’t encroach on their lives.”
“No, it’s fine.” Oye said, “I just don’t trust that Warlock, but it doesn’t mean I won’t be able to deal with whatever he sends my way.”
Hearing this, Lanias smiled. “That’s surprising.”
“What’s surprising?”
She shrugged, “That you actually are bothered by him. He’s the most palpable of the lot of them. One stole my sister, the other hates my guts and well, Alek is a vampire and he’s the most cloying.”
Oye laughed, “Ever since I served him his ass for snooping around here. It’s like every time we meet I’m hit with some form of bad luck.”
“Ah, yes speaking about that,” Lanias said, dropping her hand away from the pillar. She turned to face fully. “Those men revealed something to me that was disturbing.”
Stiffening, Oye felt her tension climb. There was little that disturbed a witch like Lanias. “What was it?”
“The women they were planning on taking were all descendants of witches but held no magic at all.”
Oye brow creased. “Not one drop?”
