Seventy-Six

KEIRAN

After having my ass nearly beat by the Demon Slayer, we finally all calmed the fuck down enough to sit calmly in our chairs.

The weight of Raelisar’s name seems to thicken the air in the room. Every breath I take feels heavier, more deliberate, as if the island itself is aware of the storm about to descend upon us. And yet, I lean back against the marble table, watching the others with an expression that reveals nothing of the unease twisting in my gut.

Xaden stands at the far corner, his jaw clenched tight. The twins, Kallias and Rhodes, sit across from me, their usual air of casual arrogance nowhere to be found. Even they know what’s coming. And that leaves Remi—glaring at me, her brows furrowed in confusion. Always so quick to demand answers, always so stubbornly inquisitive.

“Who’s Raelisar?” Remi’s voice cuts through the thick silence, her frustration simmering just beneath the surface. She crosses her arms, glaring at me as though I’ve personally offended her by not explaining sooner. She has no idea the depth of the threat approaching.

I could toy with her, make her beg for the answer, but the tension in the room makes me reconsider. For once, there’s no time for games.

“Raelisar,” I say slowly, allowing the name to roll off my tongue, savoring the reaction it brings. “Is Vane’s brother. My brother.” I pause, watching the flicker of shock pass across her face. She doesn’t understand. Not yet. “But that’s not what you should be worried about.”

Her gaze sharpens. “Then what should I be worried about?”

I chuckle darkly, pushing myself off the table and walking toward her. She holds her ground, of course. She always does. Brave little Remi.

“You’ve heard the stories, haven’t you? Of the Reaper?” I ask, letting my voice drop to a whisper, as though sharing some forbidden secret. “The one who hunts through the Isles, the man who leaves entire kingdoms trembling in his wake?”

Her eyes widen slightly, and I know she’s heard them. Everyone has. Raelisar is not just a name—it’s a threat. A force.

“And why,” she begins, her voice shaking slightly, though she tries to hide it, “is he coming here?”

Before I can answer, Xaden speaks, his tone cold and clipped. “Because Keiran left the first Solis Princess stranded on the Fifth Isle. That’s why.” He glares at me, and I offer him a lazy smile in return. Xaden, always so quick to judge.

I watch as the realization sinks into Remi’s mind, the pieces coming together in that sharp little brain of hers. “The princess... Darling’s great-great-grandmother?”

I nod once, folding my arms as I lean back against the wall, observing her reaction. I don’t miss the way her hands clench into fists, the flash of betrayal in her eyes. But I can’t afford to care about that right now. Not with Raelisar closing in.

“Raelisar was... fond of her, let’s say,” I continue, a cruel smile tugging at the corner of my lips. “So you can imagine his displeasure when he learned I left her to rot.”
Her expression hardens. “And now he’s coming to get revenge?”

I tilt my head, shrugging slightly. “Something like that. Raelisar doesn’t need a reason to destroy. But now? Now, I’ve given him one.”

The room feels colder as I speak the words. Kallias and Rhodes exchange a glance, and I can sense their unease. They may be capable fighters, but Raelisar? He’s not a man you fight. He’s a man you survive.

Remi, however, looks furious. “You could have rescued her. You should have.”

I laugh, the sound hollow, dark. “And what good would that have done, hmm? She’s nothing more than leverage now. A pawn in a game far bigger than you could imagine.”

Her lips part, her breath coming faster, anger simmering beneath the surface. “Leverage? She’s a person—”

“She’s an opportunity,” I cut in smoothly, stepping closer to her, until I’m inches away. “And I plan to use her to ensure we survive Raelisar.”

Her gaze burns into mine, and for a moment, it’s just us. The others in the room fade away, their presence insignificant. There’s only her fire, her fury. Gods, I’ve always admired that about her. How fierce she is. How alive.

But even as she tries to hold her ground, I can see the cracks. The fear. The uncertainty. She doesn’t know how dangerous Raelisar is, not truly. Not yet.

“Keiran,” she says softly, pleading now, her voice shaking. “This isn’t the way.”

I smirk, reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger on her skin. “There’s no other way, little warrior. We survive by whatever means necessary. And right now? She’s our only bargaining chip.”

Remi’s eyes darken with frustration, but she says nothing more. She knows I’m right, even if she won’t admit it.
Kallias clears his throat, breaking the tension in the room. “So, what’s the plan?” he asks, his voice carefully neutral, though I can hear the edge in it.
I glance over at him, then at Rhodes, and finally Xaden. My brothers. My crew.
The answer is simple. There’s only ever one plan when it comes to Raelisar.
“We prepare,” I say, turning back to Remi. “And we pray that when he comes, he’ll be in the mood for negotiation.”
“Or we could try to kill him,” Rhodes mutters under his breath, though there’s no real conviction in his voice. He knows, just as well as the rest of us, that killing Raelisar is a fool’s errand.
I smile, amused at his audacity. “I’d love to see you try.”
Rhodes rolls his eyes, but Kallias is more serious, his arms crossed, his brow furrowed. “And if negotiation fails?”

I turn toward him, my smile fading into something colder, more calculating. “Then we hope I can buy us enough time with my Pearl. Or we die.”

Silence falls over the room. None of them know where my Pearl is—not yet. Not until I decide to tell them. But they feel her absence as much as I do. Without her, my power is... incomplete. And Raelisar will sense that the moment he steps foot on this island.

But I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me worried. I won’t give anyone that satisfaction.

Remi, however, doesn’t miss the shift in my expression. She steps closer to me, her voice low, her words laced with frustration. “We should rescue the princess. Now. Before he gets here.”

“No.” The word leaves my lips with finality, no room for debate.

Her eyes flash, and I can see the argument bubbling up inside her, the desire to fight me on this. I almost wish she would. It would be a welcome distraction from the creeping dread.

But I cut her off before she can start.

“I’ll handle Raelisar,” I say, my voice smooth, unyielding. “And you—” I lean in, lowering my voice to a whisper that only she can hear, “—you can stay here and look pretty while I do it.”

Her breath hitches, anger flaring in her eyes. I’m playing with fire, but it’s always been more fun that way.

Before she can respond, I step back, giving her a lazy grin. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think it’s time we did something other than brood over impending doom.”

She blinks, confused. “What?”

I smile, my eyes gleaming with mischief. “Let’s have a party. A drink, a little music... something to lighten the mood.”

Remi stares at me, her shock almost palpable. “You’re kidding.”

“I never kid,” I say, tilting my head in that infuriating way that always gets under her skin. “And don’t worry, no other girls will be involved. Just you and me.”

Her eyes narrow, suspicion flaring. But I see the way her pulse quickens, the way her breath catches just for a moment. She’s intrigued. Curious.

And that’s exactly what I want.

“Keiran,” she begins, her voice firm, “we need to focus on Raelisar.”

I smirk. “Oh, I am. But there’s no reason we can’t enjoy ourselves in the meantime.”

Her lips press into a thin line, but I can see the cracks in her resolve. I always know how to push her, how to tease out the emotions she tries so hard to keep under control.

“Come on, Remi,” I murmur, stepping closer once more, letting my hand brush against hers. “Trust me.”

She hesitates, and for a brief moment, I think she might refuse.

But then she sighs, rolling her eyes. “Fine. But no games, Keiran.”

I grin. “No games. I promise.”

She glares at me, but I can see the faint smile tugging at her lips. I know I’ve won.

And as I turn back to the others, I can’t help but feel a thrill of satisfaction. Raelisar may be coming, but for tonight... tonight, we’ll enjoy ourselves.

Because in this world, in my fucking castle, you take pleasure where you can.