“What?!” I look around for the booming voice, but come to the realization that the voice is mine. I ease out from behind the column and into Kane’s line of sight. He stares at me in shock as I make my way over to him. “When were you going to tell me that someone tried to kill you?”
“I wasn’t,” he huffs.
“Why not? I’m your bride, I have the right to know.” Even to my own ears I sound like I'm whining, but I’m genuinely concerned for Kane’s safety. “Why are we still here if someone tried to kill you? Shouldn’t we be leaving?”
“Because in order to get to the island we need a boat. Elluine and her merchant’s guild are the only people here who have access to them.” He points to Elluine who stands firm in her distaste for the plan.
“Well, the sea is not hers to command,” I snap. “There will be someone with a boat who will be kind enough to allow us safe passage to the island.”
Elluine shifts on her feet and stands between me and Kane. I reach for my dagger, but Willem grabs my arm. I wasn’t going to stab her...not unless she gave me a reason. Her eyes catch his movements and she straightens her spine. “My objection is not a matter of kindness, but a matter of safety. I’ve warned him countless times not to go. You won’t make it across the sea no matter who takes you there.”
Dread leaves a foul taste on my tongue as Elluine storms off and pushes her way through a set of large wooden doors. I turn back to Kane.
“So, you don’t think I deserve to know when your life is in danger?” I ask him. My headache returns full force.
He waves his arm angrily at me. “Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t you who was nearly killed.”
I find the courage -or stupidity- within me to shove against his chest. “Why must you be so selfish? What if you hadn’t come back?! Would you expect me to wait here forever or scour to the ends of the underworld for you? Would Willem be obligated to return me to the castle until my time here ran out and I was forced to return home?”
He frowns at me as though my anger is unjustified.
“I was nearly your widow before I had the chance to be your wife.” I hate the pitiful sob that punctuates my words. “You may not care whether you live or die, but I do!”
I rush toward the stairs. I need to get away, to clear my head of these insufferable emotions, but he grabs my arm and pushes my hair out of my eyes. Kane grips my chin, but I stare at an empty spot on the wall defiantly, refusing to meet his stare.
“Why are you being so dramatic?” His words cut sharper than any weapon I’ve ever encountered.
I fling myself out of his arms. “Forget I said anything. It’s your life. Do with it as you wish.”
“Briar…”
He reaches for me but I sling my arm back. “No, Kane. Forget it. Let’s get on with our journey.”
I spin on my heels and ready my bags for the road ahead. We ride out of Phaendar before the sun reaches its highest peak. Kane attempts several times to speak to me, but I remain silent. There’s no use in talking to him when I’m angry and he has no intention of listening. I know Kane better than I know myself and he isn’t ready to hear what I have to say.
Kane spurs his horse on and rides hard ahead of Willem and me. The Reaper regards me with the usual amount of suspicion.
“I know what you plan to do,” he says. “I know you plan to kill Kane with that blade of yours.”
I pull my horse to a full stop, mouth gaping like a fish. “That is a serious accusation-”
“And one I’m certain is the truth,” Willem interrupts. “There’s no use in denying it, mortal. Clearly I underestimated you.”
I shut my mouth and narrowed my eyes, glancing ahead to make sure Kane hadn’t noticed. “What about you, Willem? I see the way you look at Kane when you think no one is watching. And, as you say, there’s no use in denying it. Are you working with Aiden?”
Willem laughs. An actual laugh that starts from his belly and bellows out of his mouth with honest amusement. “Aiden and I have been working together for quite some time. Much longer than you’ve been alive, I assure you. He and I share a common goal.”
“And what would that be?”
“Making sure that Kane never gets his hands on Drogaem’s crown.” The severity of his words is not lost on me. Neither is the truth I see in his eyes. Even so, I do not trust Willem. “You have to kill him, Briar. You must. The fate of the worlds rest in your hands.”
“Why?” I question. “Why do you wish to stop him?”
He reaches over to grab my arm but stops short, glancing in Kane’s direction. His voice lowers to a hiss. “He will bring nothing but ruin and you will be seen as guilty by omission.”
I shake my head surprising myself with shock even though I’ve known the truth all along. “Why did you choose to ally yourself with Aiden? I thought you and Kane were friends.”
Willem commands my horse to continue, but the pace is slow. “When I saw how unfairly the Nephilim were treated when Kane came into power, I reached out to his brother. I don’t care about that anymore, however. All I know is that Kane should never get his hands on
