Chapter Seventy-One

***KALLIAS***

“Are we going to let her get away with that?” I murmur to Rhodes, my voice barely more than a whisper, as we watch the Darling walk away, her steps deliberate, her head held high. The smirk on her lips tells me she thinks she’s won this little game she’s been playing with us.

But she has no idea who she’s dealing with.

Rhodes doesn’t reply immediately, his gaze following the sway of her hips as she disappears around the corner. His expression is unreadable, but I can feel the tension rolling off him, a mirror to the simmering frustration gnawing at my insides.

“Let her think she’s in control,” Rhodes finally says, his voice like velvet laced with steel. “It’ll make what comes next all the more satisfying.”

A cold breeze sweeps through the open windows of the palace, carrying with it the scent of the snowy mountains that surround Velaris. The night is quiet, save for the distant howl of the wind, but it does nothing to calm the storm brewing within me.

Our Witch Mother had let us walk out of her prison without so much as a reprimand, her ancient eyes filled with secrets she would never share. She always did enjoy watching us squirm, testing our loyalty to her, to each other, and to the King we serve.

Keiran, the King of Night, the one we all bow to, is a force of nature—mercy and wrath entwined. But this? This game she’s playing with us? It’s pushing the limits of my control, and I’m not sure how much longer I can keep my shadows in check.

I shove those thoughts aside as we step into the shadows, following the Darling’s trail. She thinks she’s untouchable, that she can toy with us and walk away unscathed. But she’s wrong. So very wrong.

We catch up to her in the secluded alcove of the garden, the moonlight casting a silvery glow over the snow-covered ground. She’s standing with her back to us, unaware of our approach. I exchange a glance with Rhodes, a silent agreement passing between us. He nods, and I move forward, silent as a shadow.

Before she can react, I’m behind her, one hand clamping over her mouth to stifle her gasp, the other wrapping around her waist to pull her against me. Her body tenses, but she doesn’t struggle. Not yet.

“Did you really think you could just walk away from us?” I whisper into her ear, my voice a low, dangerous rumble. “That there wouldn’t be consequences?”

She trembles against me, and I feel a dark satisfaction at her fear, at the way her body betrays her. Rhodes steps into view, his wings half-spread, a wicked smile on his lips as he watches her with predatory eyes.

“Azriel,” Rhodes says, his voice smooth as silk. “Do you know what I love about our Darling?”

I raise an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

“She’s always so defiant,” Rhodes murmurs, stepping closer, his gaze locked on hers. “Always pushing, always testing. She never learns.” He tilts her chin up with a finger, forcing her to meet his gaze. “But she will.”

The Darling’s eyes flick between us, a mix of fear and something darker swirling in their depths. Rhodes’s power pulses around us, a tangible force that makes the air hum with anticipation. I can feel her heart racing against my chest, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps.

“Rhodes,” she breathes, her voice barely more than a whisper. “What are you going to do with me?”

Rhodes smirks, trailing a finger down her cheek, his touch light but commanding. “That depends, darling. How much do you think you can take?”

She doesn’t answer, but the way her body presses back into mine tells me everything I need to know. I release my grip on her waist, only to capture her wrists and twist them behind her back, holding them in one large hand. My shadows coil around us, brushing against her skin, making her shiver.

“You’ve been playing with fire, darling,” I murmur against her ear, my breath hot on her neck. “And now, you’re going to get burned.”

Rhodes steps closer, his wings casting a shadow over us, a dark, looming presence that sends a thrill through me. “Azriel,” he says, his voice a low command. “Tie her.”

I obey without hesitation, pulling a length of shadow-woven rope from the darkness around us. The rope is cool to the touch, pliant but unbreakable. With practiced ease, I bind her wrists, the knots tight but not painful. She tugs at them, testing, but there’s no escape. Not until I say so.

We step back to admire our handiwork, the Darling bound and at our mercy, her chest heaving as she struggles to control her breathing. There’s a flush on her cheeks, a mixture of fear and anticipation, and the sight of it sends a bolt of heat straight to my core.

“Look at our Darling,” Rhodes purrs, circling her slowly, like a predator stalking its prey. “So fierce, so proud. But you should have known better than to challenge us.”
She glares at him, defiance still burning in her eyes, but it’s tempered by the tremor in her voice when she speaks. “Maybe this is exactly where I wanted to be.”

Rhodes chuckles, a deep, rumbling sound that vibrates through the air. “Is that so? Then let’s see how much you enjoy it, darling.”

He nods to me, and I move in, my hands gliding over her hips, feeling the tension in her muscles, the way her body responds to my touch. I’m close enough now that I can feel the heat radiating from her, see the rapid rise and fall of her chest.

“What did you think would happen, darling?” I ask, my voice soft but edged with steel. “You don’t get to walk away from us unscathed. Not when you’ve been teasing us for so long.”

She swallows hard, her throat bobbing as she tries to muster a response. But before she can speak, Rhodes’s hand is on her throat, his grip firm but not cruel. “You don’t have to answer, darling. We already know.”

Her eyes widen, her breath catching as Rhodes leans in, his lips brushing against her ear. “You’ve been playing a dangerous game,” he whispers, his voice a dark promise. “And now, it’s time to pay the price.”

He steps back, giving me space to move closer, to press my body against hers, feeling every shudder, every gasp that escapes her lips. My shadows coil around us, binding her tighter, and I can feel her pulse quicken beneath my fingers.

“Are you ready, darling?” I murmur, my lips brushing against the sensitive skin of her neck. “Because when we’re done with you, you’ll be begging us for mercy.”

Her breath hitches, and I can feel the tension in her body melt away, replaced by something darker, something more primal. She’s ours now, and she knows it.

Rhodes’s hand trails down her side, his touch light, teasing, and I can see the way her eyes flutter closed, her lips parting in a silent plea. I smile, a dark, satisfied curve of my lips.

“Let’s see how many times we can make her come,” I say, my voice thick with desire. “Until she can’t stand anymore.”