He raised his chin, and there was no mistaking the air of smugness in his voice when he said, “I am.”
“So, you know what I think?”
“Can’t wait to hear it.”
Coming as close to the bars as I could without touching them, I mirrored his close-lipped smile. “I think you’re worried I will replace you.”
His laugh carried an undertone of uncertainty. “I’m not worried about that.”
Knowing I struck a chord, my smile grew. “Sure, Cal.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t call me that.”
I smirked.
Callum exhaled noisily, his normally unaffected demeanor starting to show stress. “What I’m worried about is the destruction of the realms due to the charms of a charlatan.”
“Charlatan? What a fancy word.” Pausing, I met his stare. “Cal.”
More of that blasé attitude cracked. “You think you know everything, but in reality, you know so very little of the truth.”
Did he really expect me to believe that he was concerned about the realms when he not only supported Kolis but had also been created by him? Come on.
“You have nothing to say to that?” he challenged.
Having grown tired of him the moment he entered the room, I resisted the desire to reach through the bars and punch him. “What is the truth, then?”
“Kolis is trying to save the realms.”
I blinked blandly at him.
“Or he was,” Callum amended. “Now, he’s more concerned with his supposed great love returning to him.” He shook his head. “See, even now, you can’t hide how much you loathe him.”
He was probably right about that since I could feel my face tightening. “My agreement with Kolis doesn’t mean I’m on board with what he tried to do to me or what he would’ve done to the realms,” I told him, proud of my response. “You were there when Kolis stated very clearly what he planned to do with the embers. At what point between becoming a Primal that’s never existed before, and killing any who refuse to bow to him, does saving the realms happen?”
“Life must be created,” Callum answered. “No matter what.”
I stared at him, thinking of what Kolis had shared about the Chosen I’d killed. He’d Ascended her. Did that count as creating life? The false King apparently thought so. “Is that what Kolis is doing with the Chosen?”
“That doesn’t matter.”
My frustration rose. “I disagree.”
“You’re just trying to change the subject.”
I threw up my hands. “You’re the one who brought it up!”
He shrugged. “I did not.”
“Oh, my gods.” Turning from him, I started pacing again. “Do you not have something better to do?”
“Not particularly.”
“Great,” I grumbled, my attention shifting to the doors. I wasn’t in the mood for this.
However, Callum was in the mood. “His Majesty may have only stated his…personal reasons for wanting to Ascend as the Primal of Life and Death. Blood and Bone,” he said. “But it was not the only reason.”
Since I didn’t believe for one second that Kolis cared about the realms, I wasn’t even going to bother arguing about it.
Callum watched me, his normal pleasant half-smile returning. “It’ll only be worse for you later when Kolis realizes the truth.”
“Sure, Cal,” I muttered. “In case you’ve forgotten, you were standing right there when Ione confirmed that I was speaking the truth.”
“She lied.”
My chest knotted as I made another pass in front of Callum, my hand pressing against the golden rope belt at my waist. The goddess had lied, and dear gods, if Kolis ever discovered that? I doubted she would live long. But I nibbled on my lower lip and reminded myself that Ione knew the risks. She had to either know what had been done courtesy of the Primal she served, or she was one of the many spies loyal to Ash spread across the Courts. It was quite possible that he’d mentioned her name before and I simply couldn’t recall it.
“I think you’re in denial,” I said finally.
“I’m not.”
“You must be if you think any god would risk inciting Kolis’s wrath.”
“You’d be surprised how foolishly the gods can behave,” he remarked. “I know you’re not her.”
I sighed, walking to the table. There were multiple unused glasses. New ones were brought in daily, and I had to assume it was done to prepare for a visit from Kolis. Resisting a shudder, I poured myself some of the bubbly water.
“And you’re right. Charlatan is far too fancy a word for you.” His gaze lowered to my throat. “I can think of another.”
I stilled. My hair was down, but it had fallen over my shoulder, baring the side of my neck with the fading bite.
“Perhaps whore is more to your liking?”
Grip tightening on the pitcher’s handle, I carefully placed it back on the table. “Do you remember what I promised you the other day?”
“Probably not,” he said after a beat of silence. “You’re as insignificant to me as you claim I am to you.”
Glass in hand, I faced him. “I promised to kill you.”
“Oh.” Callum laughed, the sound light and airy. “Sure, Sera.”
I walked back to the bars, a storm of anger building inside me just as it had when Kolis held me in his arms. “I will. One day, I will discover how you can be killed, and I will make your death the thing of nightmares,” I swore, and this time, I zeroed in on the hum in my chest, and I didn’t shove it back.
Summoning the embers as I had before, I let them come to the surface. Silvery essence sparked from the skin on my arms as the chandelier above Callum began to sway. And then…then, something else happened.
It was almost as if the embers took control, or maybe the knowledge held within them did—ancient wisdom that I tapped into on some unconscious level, like when the lightning bolt had briefly appeared for me.
My chin dipped, and my lips curled as a white mist seeped in at the windows. It flowed across the ceiling, thickening and spreading, becoming clouds—rapidly darkening, ominous clouds.
A storm.
A storm to mirror what I felt inside.
Lightning streaked from cloud to cloud, charging the air. A clap of thunder followed, causing Callum to jump. He whipped back around.
The storm I had created quickly dissipated, leaving a dull throbbing in my temples and my heart pounding. Closing my eyes, I took a sip of the fruity water.
Tapping into that power probably wasn’t wise, especially after Kolis’s feeding. I didn’t know exactly how much essence I could use before I weakened myself, or exactly what the embers would decide to do. But when I opened my eyes, I saw that I’d accomplished what I wanted.
Callum had stopped smiling. The skin below the golden mask was pale. Our gazes locked, and I felt the embers hum.
The doors swung open. Neither of us turned, even though my stomach suddenly shifted unsteadily. We both knew who’d entered.
“Why,” Kolis began, “is it that you two look as if you’re seconds from committing some atrocious act upon each other every time I enter this chamber?”