Page 52 of Beneath the Watching

The man snickered. “Calm down, holy man.”

“Let me down or the first chance I get, I will drive a stake through your heart.”

Josiah straightened his shoulders and clasped his hands behind his back. “You’re welcome to try,” he said. “Half breed,” he taunted.

I tried not to twitch and was unsuccessful. “Crossbreed sounds so much better, doesn’t it?” he whispered.

His implication was a trumpet in my ear. He knew—and he was letting me know he did, loud and clear.

My knees hit the stone flooring, knocking the breath out of me and then his boot appeared on my chest, pressing me down. He didn’t seem to want to get his hands dirty, or maybe he just wanted to remind me I was beneath him, constantly using his pretty boots to get a point across.

“Quit your glowering and hold still,” he snapped at me. “Your friend Julian has ambition this court does not agree with.”

My eyes met his as he continued, keeping his voice low, “There are things occurring that cannot be changed.”

“What are you talking about?” It was all I could do to stop fighting him and shove my pride away so I could think straight. The knowledge he could end me right here, right now, and I'd never get back to Mabel was the only thing ensuring my cooperation.

Josiah stood up, dragging his foot roughly from my chest. His outstretched hand kept me flattened as he spoke again. “You will not repeat a word of this to anyone. You will have the opportunity to do so—many opportunities, but you will not. I don’t need to tell you what will happen if you do.”

I interrupted, “Then why tell me?”

“Your loyalty lies with no kingdom, and I may make use of you in the future. Already, you bear many secrets. I will be making use of your one friend someday as well.”

He watched me carefully, waiting for a ripple or tear in my aura to reveal subterfuge but none would appear. He was correct about my knowledge and the things I kept close, the things I would never speak of. I had firsthand experience through my family and knew the devasting consequences of loose lips. I nodded to the man, keeping my mouth sealed as I wondered what his end game was.

“Several things have to occur before that which I speak of comes to fruition. You will allow the midnight visits.”

“What midnight visits?” If this man thought I’d let him feed from me or divulge anything, he was going to be sorely disappointed.

My head was lifted and then slammed down against the floor. “Fuck,” I groaned.

“Don’t interfere with Ramone and Kiara,” he hissed. “Let them be.”

Oh.

“I wasn’t planning on it.”

“It will be asked of you.”

He wasn’t requiring much of me, requesting I leave others alone and ignorant, and I had other priorities. Ilya made his own bed and could lie in it; I was just grateful Mabel hadn’t put me in a similar position as he.

“Okay,” I replied.

Josiah lifted his chin. “You’ll be asked to investigate a treaty between the Second and Fourth Realm. There is no legal treaty, just a bunch of gibberish that will be debated. Don’t fret, Stefan,” the man chuckled, “this is right up your alley. You can fuck with the Fourth’s court all you want.”

“How do you know all this?”

A slow smile spread across his face. “I’ve been around a lot longer than you and I’ve been watching. Julian plans to overthrow Sem, but that will never happen. He was going to install Ramone in his place—which also will never happen.”

I had a feeling I knew where this conversation was heading but asked anyway. “So, what will happen?”

“Iwill.”

Letting out a deep sigh, I asked, “What does that mean for me?”

Josiah gestured to me to stand up. “Nothing. You’re not a threat.” I bristled. “You have no motivation or ambition to rule anything, and I can make use of you if you obey me.”

I thought of the treaty he’d mentioned, a paper supposedly crafted to help ensure peace between the two frequently warring Realms that espoused the benefits of free will.

---