Total pages in book: 401
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
“And before you ask, Millie didn’t know either. Isbeth’s trust in me only went so far,” Malik continued. “And the same could be said for Millie.”
The mention of Poppy’s sister caused my jaw to tighten. I’d been wary of her from the start but was even more so now that I knew Kolis could hijack the minds of the Ascended and Revenants.
Who’s to say he hadn’t already?
“I find it hard to believe she wasn’t privy to her mother’s plans,” I said finally.
“And how would you know what Millie was or wasn’t privy to?” Malik’s amber eyes turned cool as he held my stare. “You don’t know her. You don’t know shit about what she—” He cut himself off, his mouth clamping shut as he took a step back. “There was a time when Isbeth trusted Millie, but she wasn’t a fool, and there was only so much Millie was willing to do to prove her loyalty.”
I stiffened, having a good idea what Isbeth would’ve demanded of her daughter as proof of her allegiance.
What she would’ve demanded of him.
Malik held my stare for several more moments. “We knew about Penellaphe’s prophecy, and what Isbeth believed it meant. That’s it.”
As Poppy always said, reading emotions wasn’t a lie detector, but I believed he spoke the truth. However, I could still taste his unease. There was something he wasn’t saying.
“And how did Isbeth learn about the prophecy? Malec?”
“Callum.”
My lips flattened at the mention of the golden Rev. “I assume he’s still missing?”
“Unfortunately.” Malik sighed. “If anyone knows anything about Kolis, it’s him. The fucker is old. And he…”
“What?”
He ran his hand over his head. “It seemed like he was more puppeteer than servant to Isbeth.”
“I have a hard time imagining the bitch being okay with that.”
“I don’t think she noticed, to be honest. Isbeth enjoyed her flattery, and Callum made ass-kissing an art form.”
I was going to make an art form of ripping off the fucker’s head. “When did Callum show up, by the way?”
“Honestly?” He cocked his head. “Several hundred years ago.”
My brows rose. “Really? I never saw him when I was there.”
“I didn’t either until I…” His features tensed. He didn’t need to finish for me to understand. He meant until he gained Isbeth’s trust. Played the game. “But I got the impression he’d been around her for quite some time by then.”
Then he really could’ve been pulling the strings. “What else do you know about Ashwood?” I asked, shifting my focus back to Pensdurth.
Malik was silent for a moment. “There’s a lot you don’t know about the Ascended—about all of them,” he told me. “But Ashwood is one of the crueler vamprys. Life will not be easy for those living under his rule.”
While I was curious to learn what he thought I didn’t know about the Ascended, that wasn’t entirely relevant at the moment. Because what I did know meant that every mortal within Pensdurth’s Rise was in danger. “His rule of the city will be short-lived since he’s in open rebellion.”
Malik’s head cocked. “What are you going to do?”
As far as I knew, there wasn’t a sizable enclave of those who knew the truth about the Blood Crown and supported Atlantia in Pensdurth—nothing like the one in Masadonia. I couldn’t enlist their aid like I had when we wreaked havoc on the Teermans—the Duke and Duchess who’d once overseen Masadonia and the Ascended there. They’d helped me achieve my goal then, but it had cost innocent lives. Like Vikter’s. And that was on me.
Folding the letter, I thought about Reaver’s taunts regarding my duty to the realm. He hadn’t been entirely off the mark, but he also wasn’t completely correct.
“Have Kieran send a regiment to Pensdurth to give Ashwood and those there a chance to surrender peacefully.”
An eyebrow rose. “They won’t.” A faint smile appeared as he studied me. “As I’m sure you’re aware.”
“I am,” I acknowledged. “If those in Pensdurth refuse, then they are to secure the city and the safety of those within by any means necessary.”
“Sending a large enough regiment through the Blood Forest to carry out that order will be no easy feat,” he pointed out.
“No, it won’t.” A large group would draw the Craven like flies to honey. “That’s why our father will lead forces to ensure the contingent headed for Pensdurth can do so without loss. They can return once they’re through to the road to Pensdurth. After all, our father is…how did you put it? Restless.”
Malik stared at me for a moment and then let out a short laugh. “I’m sure you have no other reason for sending him.”
I kept my expression blank. “Of course not.”
“Uh-huh.”
I ignored that as something occurred to me. “Have we heard from the forces we sent to Masadonia?”
“We have not.”
Shit. That wasn’t good. “Have Kieran send some scouts. We need to know what is happening there,” I said. “I need to get back to Poppy.”