The War of Two Queens (Blood and Ash 4)

“What I can feel doesn’t determine if you’re lying. Especially if you’re purposely hiding your emotions under the guise of another.”

“I’m not.” He stepped forward, stopping when Kieran lifted the sword higher, pointing it at Malik’s chest. A muscle throbbed in his temple. “I aided Cas after she sent that gift to you. Did my best to get rid of the infection his body couldn’t fight. Whether any of you want to believe it or not, I don’t want my brother here. I don’t want him anywhere near here. You need to trust me on that.”

“Trust you?” Kieran’s laugh was harsh.

“We don’t have time for this,” Reaver argued. “Either kill him or make sure he can’t betray us.”

Malik’s eyes flared brightly. “It’s her. You’re right. I’m here because of her.”

I tasted tangy, almost bitter anguish again. It was powerful, but what cut through it was sweet, reminding me of chocolate and berries.

I inhaled sharply. “Millicent.”

Kieran frowned. “The Handmaiden?”

He nodded. “Nearly everything—” Malik’s voice roughened. “Nearly everything I’ve done is for her. She’s my heartmate.”

My mouth dropped open. I hadn’t been expecting that.

“What in the actual fuck?” Kieran muttered, his sword lowering an inch. “The Handmaiden? The Revenant? The really weird, possibly insane—”

“Careful.” Malik’s head cut sharply toward Kieran as anger pulsed through him. “Remember when I said you shouldn’t get involved with Elashya? That doing so would end only in heartache?”

“Yeah, I remember.” Kieran’s skin seemed to thin. “I told you if you brought that up again, I’d rip your fucking throat out.”

“Exactly.” Malik’s smile was loose, but the acidic burn I felt promised violence. “I still love you like a brother. You probably don’t believe that, but make no mistake, if you say one more negative thing about Millicent, I’ll rip your fucking throat out.”

My brows rose.

“This is all heartwarming and shit,” Reaver hissed, “but we seriously do not have time for this.”

“You stayed because of her,” I said.

Malik shuddered. “I’ve done many unimaginable things for her. Things she will never have any knowledge of.”

Making up my mind, I stepped forward. “I believe you. That doesn’t mean I trust you. Show us where Casteel is. But if you betray us, I will kill you myself.”

Chapter 30

Malik had led us past the row of doors and farther into the depths of the Temple. The entry point was a door we never would’ve thought to open—one that led to a pantry that hid a false wall.

The entrance to the underground chamber was narrow and appeared as old as the Temple, the steps crumbling under our weight. It dumped into a hall that fed into numerous pathways, and we didn’t walk more than ten feet before taking a left or a right.

I had no idea how anyone could remember this path, but I knew one thing for sure—the spell may have worked down here, but we never would’ve found our way back out without blowing through the ceiling and into the gods only knew what. Because there was no way we were still under the Temple.

We all kept our eyes on Malik. Kieran’s distrust of his former brethren was as strong as his reluctant need to believe that Malik hadn’t forsaken his family and his kingdom for the Blood Crown. He was fighting it. I could taste and see that every time my attention shifted back to the Prince from wherever he was leading us. There was anger in the set of his jaw. Hope in how his chest rose sharply. Disappointment in the narrowing of his eyes. Uncertainty in the glances he sent me, ones that mirrored mine. Had we made a mistake? If we hadn’t, did the reason Malik remained with the Blood Crown justify any and all of the things he’d done?

“Why didn’t you help Casteel escape?” I asked. “You could’ve at any point.”

“You’ve seen what kind of shape he’s in. He wouldn’t have made it far,” Malik answered through clenched teeth. “His disappearance would’ve been noticed quickly, too. They would’ve caught him, and that wouldn’t have ended well for Cas.”

“You could’ve gotten him out of the city and to us,” Kieran challenged.

“I won’t leave her here,” Malik said without hesitation. “Not even for Cas.”

Kieran’s conflict grew, but mine lessened. Because I could understand that. I’d chosen to save Casteel over my father before I even left for Carsodonia.

“How much longer?” Reaver demanded.

“Not very much,” Malik assured. “But we need to hurry. I ran into Callum minutes before the horns blared, and he hightailed his ass to Isbeth. We got into it,” he said, and I noticed his knuckles then. They were red, the skin angry and ripped but already healing. He’d definitely been in a fight. “Callum was…”

“He was what?” I asked.

Malik glanced at me. “He was just saying some shit about Cas. He’s always saying shit. Still, I got a bad feeling. I was going to check on Cas myself when the mist hit the city, and I saw you all.”