Page 51 of To Ashes and Dust
I lowered myself into the seat beside her, my gaze drifting across the table, gauging the reaction to her statement.
“You would abolish laws put in place to ensure the safety of those who would carry the future of our race, traditions and laws that have existed long before you were born?” Tobias spat.
The fact that he remained at the table irritated me to no end, and I cleared my throat. Something hummed in the air around Cassie as she leveled her gaze on Tobias, something I’d only felt when Cassie had attacked Calista, when her past lives had spoken through her. They seemed to be influencing her, guiding her, the scattered pieces of her soul fitting into place when she needed them most.
“I would change barbaric and misogynistic practices that hinder our people and do nothing to help our efforts.”
Our people. Something built in my chest at the words she’d chosen.
“The truth of the matter is, these practices were put in place when our race faced the possibility of extinction,” I said. All eyes shifted to me, and guilt curdled my stomach. “I should’ve never allowed such a law to pass, but fear and grief pushed me to allow those on the council at the time to make poor choices on behalf of our people. It’s time these laws changed. I expect you all to be prepared to discuss these changes at the next meeting.”
Tobias opened his mouth to speak, but I didn’t give him the chance. “Do not make me repeat it a third time, Tobias. You’re relieved of your title as Kyrios. Your presence here is no longer needed. I expect your things to be removed from the house provided to you by the end of the week.”
I leaned my elbows on the table and rested my chin on my interlaced fingers as I locked eyes on him. Tobias gaped at me and turned to look at Lysander, as if expecting him to speak in his defense, but Lysander wouldn’t meet his gaze.
He rose slowly, eyes lowered, hands trembling in fists at his side. Before he disappeared through the doorway, he muttered under his breath, so low I almost didn’t hear it.
“You’ll regret this...”
I glanced at Cassie, whose eyes remained fixed on the doorway where Tobias had vanished, our bond humming with the flames surging within her, the power reflecting in her expression. Pride wasn’t a strong enough word for how I felt about her. She’d handled herself better than I could’ve ever imagined.
“We shall vote on the new Kyrios of House Nous,” I said, and she turned her gaze to me, a subtle light of triumph in those hazel eyes.
I looked at the remaining Kyrios. “You all know Calista. She is a fine female, smart and well versed in our laws. Those in favor she be presented the option to become Kyrios of House Nóus?”
It was Xander whose hand rose first, followed by Aster, Alec, and Hector. Lysander hesitated, but his hand rose.
“Good. It’s unanimous. Cas and I will present the terms to her. Should she accept, we will reconvene with her at the next meeting, where we will discuss the changes to the laws.”
The meeting ended shortly after Tobias’ dismissal. The Kyrios openly accepted the terms to offer any male or female the option to train and fight with The Order. Details of the training were laid out, and the Kyrios were to reconvene to discuss the new laws, hopefully with the new Kyrios of House Nous. I still felt uneasy about Tobias’ words as he left, and I resisted the regret blossoming in my chest at the fact that I hadn’t cut him down.
The taps of Cassie’s shoes echoed off the stone walls as we walked side by side through The Council’s chambers. Zephyr and the others had left to return to the mortal realm, leaving Cassie and me to explore Selene’s temple before we returned home.
Cassie’s fingers glided over the knots and twists woven into the surface of the Stonetree table. “That was an interesting first meeting.”
A grin cracked across my face. “I wish I could’ve taken a picture of Tobias’ face when you called him a coward.”
She giggled, and I basked in that sweet sound. Gods, just when I thought I had her figured out, she would throw me for a loop. She’d been so reserved when I first found her, yet today, she shared just how sharp that tongue of hers could be.
“I would have it framed and mounted on the wall,” I added.
“Right next to his tongue on a plaque. The guy looked terrified.” She chuckled as she linked her arm with mine, the skirts of her silver gown dancing across the marble with each step.
Her smile faded, and I hated to see it go. “Was Zephyr telling the truth when he said you guys got a lead on Cole?”
My thoughts halted, and I swallowed. “He was. Not enough to give us his whereabouts, but…” Pain crept into my chest, raking through me like claws. “Thalia picked up his scent at the house where the immortal family was taken. It led to the woods, but then vanished.”
The news tore at the wound of his betrayal, and I was relieved Marius and Farah didn’t still live to see what their son had become, the terrible things he’d done. My gaze flitted back to Cassie, her expression a mass of conflicting emotions.
“You made a good call,” I said, all too eager to change the subject.
Her chestnut brows rose as we neared the arched entrance to the halls.
“When you recommended Calista to take his place. I think it will be a step in the right direction to have a female on The Council. I don’t think I could’ve made a better call, and while now may not be the time to focus on other laws, there may never be a good time. So, we must move to make things better for everyone while we can.”
She gave a half smile, eyes going distant as she looked forward. “I want things to change. Calista knows what it’s like for females of the aristocracy. If there’s anyone who would know how to better things, it’s her.”
“I agree.”
