Page 34 of A Story of Sinners

Murmurs sounded around the table, then George scoffed. “Good judgement is not Dahlia’s strong suit. How are we supposed to trust her to make the right decisions?”

“Fate lies in her hands,” Matilda whispered. “If we act, we die, and the whole world burns.”

“Then we do nothing,” Brandon sighed.

I couldn’t do nothing, not if doing so affected my mate in any way. She was my first and upmost priority. I sat there silently, the wheels in my head spinning as the conversation around me continued, Aiden delegating duties to those around the table.

“Redmond, I’ll need you to study the shade male and find a way to exploit his weaknesses.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Redmond was too enraptured with the little seer next to him to care much of the request. He tilted his head, examining her eyes, her wrinkled skin and graying hair, as if he could peer into whatever gave her those abilities.

“Brandon, you watch the women and ensure no harm comes to them.”

A firm nod.

“George, you appease the so-called god of the Otherworld, and Ryken—”

I raised my brow and glared, seething at this measly little prince turned king, givingmeorders. He should count himself fortunate I hadn’t reached across the table and strangled him.

He dragged his hand down his face, cupping his mouth in his palm as he squeezed his eyes shut then reopened them. What he would say next killed him. Aiden knew he had lost control of the situation, and it wasn’t easy for him to admit defeat.

“I’m powerless against this threat. Brandon is powerless. George is powerless. You may see your mate. Just keep her from him until we sort this out. I don’t know the full extent of what he’s capable of, but from that small slip of power, it’s a lot. I want Dahlia to be saved. She can’t become one ofthem.”

“What she is is not in your control. You can’t save her. She doesn’t need to be saved,” I nearly growled. “But thank you for your permission to have access tomymate. It’s not like you could keep me from her anyway.”

He knew as well as I did that I would find a way to get what was mine. Always. I would keep Dahlia from that demon, even if it messed up Eulalia’s plans, the seer’s plans.

The moment their plan of doing nothing went sideways, I would take Dahlia, regardless of whether it destroyed the world or not.

Chapter15

Dahlia

Brandon had locked Gabriella inside her room, ignoring her complaints and suggestions that we be enclosed in a room together. Then, he shut me away. Company would have been nice, and I would have loved to spend time with her, to catch up and laugh like we used to, but there would be time for that later.

For now, I needed to be alone. Nobody needed to bear witness or be caught in the middle of what would come next, especially not sweet Gabriella. The last thing I wanted was for her to draw Malachi’s attention or have a target on her back. Her friendship did that all on its own.

I fidgeted in the quiet of my room, my legs bouncing as I sipped my tea and waited impatiently for the unwelcome arrival. Thirty minutes had passed since we’d separated, and while George was distracting Malachi by showing him and his party of shades to their rooms, it would only be a matter of time before he showed his face.

He wouldn’t be able to stay away for long.

Shadows filtered into the room, dark and tinted with the flashing maroon that seemed to be Malachi’s signature. I gently placed my teacup on the table and rose in greeting. The shadows grew thicker and darker as a winged figure took form. He lingered there for just a moment, then stepped out, the shadows at his back slowly dissipating upon his emergence.

“Hello,” I greeted as I waved my hand at the tea table set with an elaborate tea pot, cups, and small cakes. “Please, take a seat.”

“You were expecting me,” Malachi smiled. “That’s disappointing.”

He wanted to surprise me, to catch me off guard, instill me with fear, but it was imperative to remain calm. There was much to be discussed, and I needed to keep my bearings throughout this discussion. He needed to know I did not fear him. Not anymore.

“I’d be a fool not to,” I sighed.

“I see some time in that cage did you good,” he mocked, tucking his wings as he moved through the room. He sniffed and bared his fangs as he drew to a stop in front of the tea table, his gaze nearly burning a hole through the wood.

It was clear that he sensed what had occurred here, and my cheeks heated at the memory. “I assume you want to talk, so sit,” I demanded. The look in his eyes chilled me to the bone, a reminder of who I was dealing with. “Please,” I added.

He perched himself on the edge of the seat across from me with a straight spine and raised chin, his body carefully adjusted in a way that kept him from touching the table.

“Happy name day,” he said.

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