Page 123 of A Deception of Courts

I glanced at the labradorite stone. The Hunters had deposited me right at the foot of it. As I had before, I sensed its thirst for me, more so now that my body was cut open in places, wounds leaking blood. As though it understood the conversation and sang with its longing for me to give it what it desired.

“You speak of life as if it is important to you,” I said, turning my focus back to Aldrick, hate sparking in my gut, the desire of his blood a song I couldn’t ignore either.

But he was no longer alone.

“No, no.” I leaned forwards, screaming at her.

This wasn’t happening.

Jesibel sauntered from the line of Hunters like a wisp of smoke. Bare feet, her dress barely clinging to her, dark eyes wide with a feral agony I recognised.

Aldrick turned his body to look at the person who moved with free will, sensing my distraction. Although, he wasn’t surprised to see her. “Come to me, that’s it.”

Like with Erix, Aldrick was controlling Jesibel.

I thought she’d gotten away, that Althea had saved her. But here she was, as if she’d never left. Perhaps she had, but Aldrick’s power reached far, like a leash, and dragged her back.

Jesibel didn’t look anywhere but at Aldrick – her focus entirely locked on him.

“You say that Mariflora is useless to monsters, then explain what I am,” Althea’s shout rose from the Hunters until I spotted her. She wasn’t on her knees like Duncan but standing among them. “What you have made me.”

“Wait, fey,” Aldrick commanded Jesibel, who stopped so suddenly and rigid I knew she was under his spell. But Aldrick didn’t care for her, not when Althea had just stolen every enemy’s attention in that moment. Including Aldrick, who almost forgot Jesibel was beside him.

Althea’s face was masked with red hair that billowed in the winds. The deepest ruby, as the colour of blood that covered most of her. “I’m a monster, and I am free from you.”

“The last Cedarfall,” Aldrick sneered. “Perhaps I should rectify that.”

“I welcome you to try,” Althea hissed, her eyes smiling with equal want for that very thing.

What happened next was so quick I refused to blink to miss it. Jesibel moved – the first sign she was not under Aldrick’s spell as I first thought. She leaned into Aldrick’s ear and whispered something.

His eyes flared open, a shout gargling out of his throat as he spun back on Jesi, likely surprised at what she said, or that she could even say anything without him commanding it.

The air split with light just beyond Jesi. I saw the small frame of a familiar boy for a second, then he was gone, taking Jesi with him. Aldrick stared at the empty space, shocked at what he’d seen. But it wasn’t empty for long, because the light parted again, flashing the determined scowl of Daveed the teleporter, followed by the ravenous Althea Cedarfall.

She’d traded places with Jesibel. Seconds, that was all it took.

“Boo,” she snapped at Aldrick, who didn’t even have time to lean back in his chair before she attacked.

Althea clapped her hands on either side of Aldrick’s face, silencing him. Her thumbs dug into his eyes and squeezed. His scream was a song of pure agony. There wasn’t time for him to send out a command to his followers, not as pain overcame him.

I watched, arms pinned helplessly to my side, as dark gore streamed out of Aldrick’s eye sockets and slipped into his parted mouth. Aldrick choked on his blood. He grasped at his neck with liver-spotted hands, attempting to claw at his skin for a reprieve.

But there was none to be found for him. His time, as we all recognised, was over.

“This… this is for my family,” Althea whispered into his ear as fire blossomed across her hands and spread across Aldrick’s face. The bright spark of furious crimson engulfed his skin, masking his silent scream in the roar of burning flesh.

“Stop her–”

“Burn,” Althea bellowed her war cry above the final command Aldrick attempted. “Youbastard.”

CHAPTER 34

Aldrick’s body sparked like aged, dried kindling, rupturing in flames until every inch of his skin was engulfed in them.

I felt nothing for him as ash peeled from the bundle of fire and drifted skyward on the spring breeze. Through the haze of licking, hungry fire, I couldn’t take my eyes off him as his flesh melted and bones charred black.

Grunts echoed around us as the Hunters regained control of their own minds. The once steady wall was now a mess of shouting Hunters with stark, pale faces and blinking, distant stares.

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