Crimson Truth (Onyx Assassins 4)

Jocelyn gasped, horror filling her eyes.

“Xavier didn’t care either way, but he knew we needed Regus, so he agreed. He’s always been a tactician that way. The human emissary voted not to kill them, as did I.” He looked at me. “Since he was the brother of one of my oldest friends, I fought with everything I had. You know that, don’t you? I tried everything I could to save Frederick.”

“I know you did.” I managed to get the words out. “I never doubted that you would have gone to war for him, even risked our species. But Frederick died in the way he would have wanted, defending the woman he loved.”

Jocelyn’s hand went slack in mine. “He was your brother?”

I nodded.

Pain, regret, sorrow—every emotion flashed through her eyes. “Your brother was killed for loving a woman from another species, and you still chose…” Her mouth slackened.

“You?” My smile was grim as I tucked her hair behind her ear.

She nodded slowly.

“There was no resisting this.” I traced her mark with my thumb. “You and I were inevitable, marked by fate. There wasn’t a choice to make, Jocelyn. No force on this earth could have kept my hands off you.”

Alek’s phone rang and we all jolted at the interruption.

He whipped it out of his back pocket, swiping to answer. “Hello—Avi!” He bounded off the couch and strode for the door.

“I have to go.” I kissed Jocelyn quickly.

“I’ll come—” she started, rising with me as Alek threw open the door, breaking the spell she’d set.

“You can’t.” I squeezed her hand. “Just like I can’t stand at your side in witch territory, you can’t come to the war room. I’m—”

“Don’t apologize.” She pushed me away gently. “Go.”

I was halfway to the door when the sound of her gasp stopped me in my tracks. Whipping around, I found her standing right where I’d left her, a hand covering her mouth and dread filling her eyes.

“What is it, little witch?” I asked, uncaring that Lyric still sat on the couch.

“Two for your brother and two against...which means…” She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. “No. Tell me she didn’t.”

I wended again, appearing in front of her and cupping her beautiful face in my hands. “Don’t think about it.”

“Say it,” she demanded, her hands on my wrists. “Benedict, tell me the truth.”

My jaw flexed once. Twice. There could be no lies between us, not if we were to make this work. “The final vote was cast against my brother and he was put to death.”

“Tell me who cast it.” Her eyes pled with mine for a truth that didn’t exist, and a lie I’d never give her.

“Your mother.”

Her eyes slammed shut, and the lamps on the wall busted, sending the room into blackness.

“Benedict!” Lachlan roared. “Now!”

“Open your eyes,” I ordered, pulling on the mate bond, tugging to urge her compliance. If Avi was on the phone, I had to go.

Violet eyes met mine, hers swimming with unshed tears.

“I do not blame you. It was not your fault. You are my mate, and I am yours. That is all that matters.” I kissed her once more, not taking nearly as long as I wanted to, and wended before I lost the battle and stayed entirely.

The entire Order was in the war room by the time I walked in, and the look Lachlan gave me said he’d more than noticed my tardiness.

“I’m telling you, Samuel is trying to help me!” Avi argued, her voice strong and sure through the phone.

Hawke had already started recording the call and was pacing the length of the table, his daggers in hand, ready to battle an invisible foe.

“He’d never go against Saint,” Dagon muttered, raking his hand over his hair. “It’s not in his nature. Samuel’s only purpose in this life is to protect Saint.”

“Agreed,” Zachariah said with a nod as I took my seat.

“There’s no way he’d let harm fall to the princess, even if it meant going against his twin,” Talon snapped. “You know he has more honor than that. He’s always fought for the survival of the species.”

“You’re all so certain that Saint will do her harm?” Ajax argued, his voice rising. “Whatever has happened, he’s sure as hell not alone in taking her.”

“Obviously they both took her!” Lachlan roared.

The Hunters started to argue, their voices escalating into a frenzy of shouts.

“Samuel is only doing this because of Saint!” Talon.

“Saint should have been put down centuries ago!” Dagon.

“You knew he was dangerous and you still brought him here!” Lachlan.

“We had no idea how close to the breaking point he was!” Zachariah.

Hawke reached through the wall of Hunters and grabbed the phone, causing everyone to fall silent.

“Where. The. Fuck. Are. You?” Hawke roared into the speakerphone. “Enough of this shit, Avianna. Come home!”

Every head turned, and even Alek’s eyebrows rose.