Page 76 of Despite Mortal Sins

It was only when Derikles teleported in that his second flipped on the lights. Stark light flooded the space immediately, and Isaiah had to keep himself from growling.

Derikles must have known what he was walking in to, but the dutiful male endeavored to cut through the unease that’d settled over the Raeths behind Isaiah. “Tyee thanked us for coming, sovereign.”

“Did he.” It wasn’t a question.

Though he’d been attempting to keep the apathetic tones from his voice, he’d failed. The atmosphere, stilted with tension, became even more noxious when Sia and Caiaphas respectfully knocked on the door. Petty, Isaiah didn’t welcome them to his home, relying on Derikles to allow them entry instead.

He longed to be anywhere but here. What he hadn’t grasped before now was the utter despondency that gripped him with serrated teeth. Isaiah had been living in complete dissociation, even as he convinced his new clan members of his welcome.

Underneath the crushing tides of despair and depression, was a far greater fury that boiled in his blood. If he hadn’t already clamped down on it, the feedback loop to his clan members’ minds would have keyed them into his black mood.

Six Raeths had their eyes trained on him when he turned to meet them, two of them watching him with more wariness than they needed. Instead of tiptoeing around the issue, Isaiah pinned Sia with a hard state.

“Before I was elected to murder Jacob, had you and your clansmen given thought to relocation?”

Sia’s eyes widened microscopically, but the woman kept her composure. “Of course. It would be unconscionable for us to ask you to maintain two disparate territories.”

“Unconscionable, you say.” Taunting, his voice was sharp with the barest trace of mockery. Sia, wisely, chose not to respond while he deliberately reined himself in. Casting a glance to Derikles, he spoke once more. “We will expand to the east. Derikles, have Cleo work with Tiberius to oversee the expansion.”

“Of course, sovereign.”

Isaiah’s eyes found Sia. “Caidan is no longer your senior healer.”

“No, he sought the Light several years ago.” Sia explained, hands wringing together the only sign of her unease. Tonight, she wore her long ebony hair in a severe bun at the back of her scalp, her worn fighting leathers making an appearance. Clearly, the Raeth had expected a fight.

“And who has taken his place?”

“Raphael.”

Isaiah scoffed, but managed to keep his voice even when he responded. “Raphael is only a child. He will mentor under Jaeda.”

Dutiful nods from the two newest clansmen in the room. Jaeda inclined her head, her summer blue eyes fixated on his. “I will need to speak with each of our new clansmen to assess their abilities and needs, Isaiah. A healer is no good to people who don’t trust her implicitly.”

As sovereign, it would fall to him to introduce her to their new people and establish the bonds that would carry them through the centuries to come.

The problem was that Isaiah had no energy for it. Every ounce of it had been dedicated to putting one foot in front of the other. Now, seeing the ever-expanding list of responsibilities ahead of him, he simply wanted to give up.

Isaiah didn’t consider himself a defeatist, but against the disruption of the latest week of his life, his drive to blaze the trail ahead had faltered.

Though resignation and reluctance settled deep in his soul, he gave Jaeda a stoic nod. “I will make the introductions.”

“Thank you, sovereign.” Jaeda turned to smile kindly at Sia and Caiaphas. “I look forward to meeting with our new clansmen.”

At least Jaeda was kind to them.

Sorting through the logistics of the upcoming move proved fruitful, a temporary distraction for the weariness that’d blanketed Isaiah’s soul. They delved into the details, his lieutenants finding an easy balance and camaraderie through the conversation.

The depths of night had swallowed the sun by the time they’d resolved the pressing issues and laid plans for the expansion. Everything looked promising, and Isaiah had managed to keep his precarious temper in check.

Until Sia approached the one topic certain to tip him over the edge as they prepared to depart. “There is still the question of your lieutenants, sovereign.”

A tick started in his jaw before he could respond. “What of them?”

Sia squared her shoulders and looked him dead in the eye. “Where do Caiaphas and I rank?”

“Derikles will remain my second and you and Caiaphas will rank below Tien.” Giving her a flat stare, Isaiah returned his attention to the plans for the expansion, trying to deny the irascible emotions that surged to the surface.

“But Isaiah, certainly given my age and seniority—”

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