I stared at him. Poppy had said that he’d gotten her out of Lockswood. He’d spoken the truth. But did it matter? “Is that supposed to redeem you somehow?”
“Fuck, no. Because you’re right. I was the cause of those scars—hidden or not.” Malik slumped against the tree. “I saw Penellaphe. Not often. Isbeth kept her away from most, but I saw her before they placed her in that veil. I saw what my actions had done. And trust me when I say it should bring you a little peace to not have seen the aftermath when it was so new.”
I rose swiftly and took a step toward him, stopping short when I saw Kieran do the same across the clearing. I turned away from my brother, dragging in the cool night air until it dampened some of the rage.
“Did Alastir ever tell anyone that he saw me?”
I turned to him.
“Because he did.”
Holy fuck. “No.”
Malik’s eyes closed. “He saw and recognized me. I don’t know if I should feel relieved or not that he kept that to himself.”
But had he? Or was that something else our parents had lied about? Was that why they’d believed Malik gone to them? To Atlantia? Why they’d pushed so hard for me to take the throne?
“That night, when I looked into Penellaphe’s eyes and saw the Consort, I believed Cora then. You know, that she was right,” he said after a moment. “That Penellaphe would end the Blood Crown. But over the years, I realized that it didn’t matter who Penellaphe was in her heart. All that mattered was whether Isbeth found a way to exploit her power.” His eyes opened. “And you know she will. You saw it at Stonehill. In Oak Ambler. Isbeth stokes her anger, and Poppy responds with rage.”
“Shut up.”
“And when she completes her Culling, it won’t be rage she responds with. It will be death. It will be exactly what Isbeth is counting on. Something—”
I shot forward, closing my hand around Malik’s throat. “Poppy will never destroy a kingdom, let alone a realm. No matter what Isbeth does,” I told him, aware that Kieran had risen again but remained at Poppy’s side. “She, unlike her mother and me, is able to control her anger.”
“Do you know how badly I want to believe that?” His voice broke.
I went cold as I held his gaze. “If you even think of harming her now, I swear to the gods I will tear you apart, limb from limb.”
“If I wanted to try something, I would’ve made a move when she was younger and returned to Wayfair,” he bit out. “I haven’t. Neither has Millicent.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Millicent said it had to be me once she finishes the Culling.”
“And that wasn’t easy for her to say to you.”
“She didn’t appear to struggle that much with the words.”
“Millie doesn’t know her sister, but she wouldn’t choose that kind of end for her. She’s just trying to protect the people.” He held my stare. “And I hate that you even had to hear that. I do. To carry that kind of knowledge…that it will soon only be you who can stop her.”
“Don’t feel too badly for me, brother.” I dug my fingers into his windpipe just enough to cause him to flinch. “For I won’t lose one second of sleep to it because I would never do such a thing, nor would she give me a reason to.”
“And if you’re wrong?” he forced out.
“I’m not.” I let go of his throat and backed off before I did something I might regret. “We’re going to find Malec. We’re going to bring him to Isbeth.”
“But what the draken said about the Joining—”
“We haven’t done it.” I stared up at the sky, unsure of why I’d even admitted that.
“Fuck. For real? You’re married to your heartmate and haven’t Joined? You? Kieran? Hell…” A little of the old Malik I knew slipped in then. “I just assumed you had. Apparently, so did the draken.” He paused. “Will you? It might not work against a Primal curse, but—”
“That’s none of your fucking business. But, Joined or not, I won’t risk it.” I faced him. “Neither will Poppy.”
Malik glanced over at Kieran. He had returned to Poppy’s side, sitting in a way that had him bent over half her body as if he were shielding her. “You sure you aren’t Joined?”
“Yes,” I said wryly. “Positive.”
“Huh,” he murmured.
Several long moments passed as I stared down at him. “Why didn’t you ever try to take her life again when she was young and vulnerable?” I asked, even though I wasn’t sure I should know. Because as I’d said, Poppy was far better at controlling her anger than I was. “Why didn’t Millicent if she too believed in the prophecy?”