Page 98 of Reaper's Ruin
“Oh, I’m getting her in mine,” Marwyn said. “She’s got that fire. Bet she’s a screamer.”
“Ten gold says I bed her first,” Cassius replied.
“You’re on.”
A roar swelled in my throat, animalistic and burning, pressing hard against my ribs like it wanted to tear its way out. My vision narrowed to red. My grip around Soraya’s waist tightened reflexively, every instinct demanding I step out from behind this curtain andendthem both right now. I was ready to rip their filthy tongues out of their mouths, watching as they choked on their own blood.
Soraya’s hand splayed across my chest, as if she could sense the rage vibrating off me. The gentle movement settled me enough I remained still.
“Okay. Here. The last five,” Marwyn said, his voice low but carrying in the quiet room. “This one is close enough I can ride there. But these four are too far to get back in time for the coronation.”
“I can Realm Walk and use the portal trees to reach them,” Cassius said. “I’ll take the last four. Then it’s done. The King has no more heirs to contest his right to the throne. Fucking asshole and his little bastards everywhere.”
The King’s bastards? So... Soraya was fathered by the King?
Marwyn made a sound of agreement. “She better make good on her word once we do this for her.”
She?
The single word sent a jolt through me. Someone else—awoman—was pulling the strings? The revelation shifted everything I thought I knew about the Storm Court murders.
Soraya and I stood frozen behind the curtain while they talked about the next victims, making their plans before deciding they should get back to the party.
“A few more hours of dancing around like a pansy then I can get some sleep,” Cassius said. “Let’s get back and get this party over with.”
Their footsteps receded, followed by the soft click of the door closing. I released the breath I’d been holding, unwrapping myself from around Soraya and stepping out from our hiding place.
Her face was pale in the dim moonlight filtering through the window, eyes wide with shock. “Did you hear that?” she whispered. “They said ‘she.’ A woman is behind this?”
“I heard,” I confirmed, my mind racing through possibilities.
“But who is she? And why does she want me dead?” Soraya’s voice trembled as she paced the small space. “Why was I killed if this list is heirs to the throne? Children of the late King? I didn’t even know Faelora existed until I died.”
The answer hit me with sudden clarity. “Your father,” I said quietly. “If your father was Storm Court royalty—perhaps even the King himself...”
“No,” she shook her head, refusing to accept it. “No way. That’s impossible. That would mean—” her voice drifted off before she finished with... “I would be heir to the Storm Court throne.”
“It’s possible, Soraya. Maybe Lord Cassius wasn’t the only Realm Walker in the family. It’s rare to be a Realm Walker, but not impossible both the King and his brother-in-law carried the ability. It’s well known fae used to travel to the Mortal Realm and have love affairs with humans. Almost like a game they used to play.Your mother may have thought she was with a human and not even realized it was a fae King having fun in the Mortal Realm.”
Soraya pressed her hands to her temples. “This is too much. This can’t be real.”
“It would make the most sense. Rumors were that King Aric was known for being a bit of a rule breaker. Maybe he realm walked even with the ban against it. Perhaps you truly were the King’s daughter. There’s only one way to find out for sure. I’ll wait here and grab Lord Cassius tonight. I’ll make him talk.”
“What?” Her eyes widened in alarm.
“You heard him—they leave tomorrow to kill more heirs.” I turned to face her fully, urgency threading through my voice. “And we’re running out of time. The Veil Lords will start looking for me, and when they find me, they’ll find you. Not to mention, we don’t know how long Selyse’s spell will last. This is our only chance for answers.”
“Right here in the castle? What if you get caught?”
“I won’t. The guards aren’t stationed outside this door. They’re farther down the hallway, and the walls are stone. No one will hear us.”
“No,” she said, moving closer to me. “Maybe we should follow him and catch him tomorrow out in the woods. Do this somewhere private.”
“You heard him. He can realm walk. What’s to stop him from leaving from this room? It happens tonight. Right here.”
She bit her lip, twisting it between her teeth. “Okay. Alright. Let’s do this. I need answers.”
“You need to go back to our chambers,” I insisted, knowing what I might have to do to extract information from Lord Cassius. “I don’t want you involved in this.”
