“But Isbeth has Ires,” Kieran said. “Why couldn’t she use his blood?”
“The cage Isbeth keeps him in nullifies the eather in his blood, rendering him powerless, and his blood useless,” Malik explained. “Another thing she hadn’t exactly considered. That’s why she kept you alive when she had other Atlantians killed. She needed your blood.”
I pressed my fingers to my temple as Casteel’s hand started moving again up and down my back. “Then how did she become a Revenant?”
“Callum,” Malik answered. “He showed Isbeth what to do.”
“The golden fuck?” Casteel growled.
“How old is this…Callum?” Reaver’s eyes narrowed.
“Old. Don’t know exactly. Don’t know where he even came from, but he’s real old. Callum knew how to make Revenants. It’s magic. Old, Primal stuff.” Malik’s jaw worked. “As fucked up as Isbeth is—and none of you truly knows how fucked that actually is—she loves her daughters. In her own twisted way.”
My stomach gave another sinking twist.
“She couldn’t let Millie die, so she used that old magic. And because Millie had eather in her blood, it worked,” Malik said after a moment. “It saved her, and she became the first daughter, and Isbeth started plotting for another chance. A second daughter.”
First daughter.
The full prophecy Tawny had shared with me had referenced the first daughter with blood full of fire and fated for the once-promised King. Good gods, we had even hypothesized that it had referred to Malik.
This Handmaiden was my sister, the first daughter spoken of in Penellaphe’s prophecy, and we…
“We are truly the product of a madwoman’s thirst for vengeance.”
“No.” Casteel turned to me, lowering his mug. “You are more than that. You always have been.”
I was. I repeated that over and over until it felt true.
Malik smiled tightly. “Millie should’ve kept her mouth shut about who she truly is. Only a handful of people know, and most of them are dead now.” His gaze shifted to his brother. “She knew what would happen if she told someone that little secret. That person would be killed, and Millie would bear the brunt of Isbeth’s displeasure.”
I stiffened.
“So, it’s got me wondering, why would she tell you that? There had to be a reason for her to take such a risk.” Malik stared at his brother, unflinching. “Wasn’t there, Cas?”
Casteel had set his mug aside. “She said some shit.”
His brother’s lips thinned. “I bet she did.”
The hand on my back slipped away as Casteel stepped forward. Kieran tensed where he sat, his eyes burning a pale, luminous blue.
“Let me clarify,” Casteel said, his voice dropping low in that soft, deceptive way it did that was often a prelude to someone being relieved of a vital organ. “She said some stuff that may be true, and other stuff that’s definitely bullshit.”
Malik chuckled. “Sounds to me like she said what you didn’t want to hear.”
“You know what I want to hear?” Casteel’s chin dipped. “Why you’re here. Why you’re helping us now.”
“Maybe you should tell your wife why her sister would take such a risk,” Malik countered.
“Are they going to fight?” Reaver murmured.
“Looks like it,” Kieran answered, glancing at him. “It wouldn’t be entirely abnormal if so.”
My heart had started pounding again. “What did she say?”
“I was going to tell you,” Casteel growled, his anger stroking my skin. “But it’s nothing worth repeating.”
Malik raised his brows. “Maybe it’s you who’s living in denial. Can’t blame you for it. I wouldn’t want to believe it either.”
“Believe what?” I grabbed Casteel’s arm, stopping him as he took another step forward. “What did she tell you?”
His eyes swung to me, but he said nothing. My senses stretched out, coming up against a wall. Air snagged in my throat. He was blocking me, and that could only mean—
“You were created for the same reason that Millie was. For one purpose,” Malik said. “Your sister failed her Ascension. You didn’t. And you already said what that purpose is. Except you’re focusing just on Atlantia, and it’s so much bigger than that. Your purpose is to—”
“Remake the kingdoms,” I cut in. “The realms. I know. I’ve heard that.”