Page 169 of Death of the Glass Angel
“Did. . . did I create that place? Was I the one who trapped us there?”
“I. . .” He hesitated. “Strange, isn’t it? I didn’t expect it either.”
He avoided the question, answering one she had not asked instead. His grip on her relaxed, and Janus slipped free. Cradling her head, she limped toward Felsin.
He and his brother stood tensely opposite each other, hands clenched at their sides. Felsin interrupted whatever Brand had been saying. “Enough. Tell me the truth or I’ll force it out of you.”
“Are you threatening me?” Brand’s eyes flashed.
A sheet of stone jutted from the courtyard and slammed into Brand’s gut, throwing him onto his back. Felsin kneeled atop his brother. “Yes. Talk.”
Brand coughed. “I told you the truth. I protected Altanbern’s future. Its savior. And my place atop its throne.”
Two Gaevral soldiers rushed from Heras’s side and grabbed Felsin, pulling him off his brother. Esseg ran between them, offering Brand a hand up. Squeezing between them, Janus darted to Talon’s side and dropped to her knees, pressing a hand to his neck.
A pulse beat faintly, and his chest rose and fell. He was still alive.
“Little lass.” Esseg approached, round face pulled into a frown. “Step away.”
“No.” Janus’s voice was cracked and hoarse.
Esseg stared at her somberly, backing away to give her space. Someone approached her, and the world spun as Janus tried to look up at them.
“-Altanese law demands death.” She heard Brand say when she came to.
“Are you anidiot?” Gemellus spat. “You’d kill him without questioning him?”
“You saw what happened in there! Who knows what he’s capable of.”
Gritting her teeth, Janus wrapped her fingers around Talon’s wrist, refusing to let go. Gemellus stood a pace from Brand, arguing with him. Felsin watched them, golden eyes drifting to Janus.
“You have no say here, evoker.” Brand shoved past Gemellus.
Dinu pushed through the crowd, amber eyes sweeping the scene before widening. He darted between Brand and Janus. “Whoa. Why are we still killing each other?”
“Move.” Brand ordered. “That one tried to kill us. He’s working for the ones responsible.”
“Yeah? And who the hell’s that?”
Paulus was a step behind Dinu. A nasty gash cut from his cheek to his neck. “Castelmar, allegedly, but last I checked, evokers could not pull off such feats alone.” He glared at Heras, noticing her wound. “Something’s unraveling beneath our feet, and we’ve all been played for fools.”
“On that we can agree.” Brand tilted his head. “Move, Dobrescu.”
Dinu glanced back at Janus. “Not until I hear his side of the story.”
“I concur.” Paulus spat at Brand. “We have no reason to trust you lot these days.”
Janus raised her head, noticing Chief Kahn for the first time. He lingered behind Heras, uncertainty torn across his face. Though themotions seemed to pain him, he stepped forward. “Stand aside. The Altanese do not bend on our laws—assassins are to be made an example of.”
“Why are you in such a rush? He’s not going anywhere.”
Janus clutched Talons’ wrist tightly, watching Altanese guards close in around her, one gauntlet-bound hand reaching for her arm.
“Enough,” Felsin yelled. “I invoke the right of exile.”
“What?” Brand broke away from Gemellus. “Are you mad?”
Heras stood, clutching her wounded chest. “Silence, Brand.” She turned to Felsin. “Are you sure?”
