Like tearing out the hearts of those who’d demanded Poppy’s death.
If I did that, shit would go south. Poppy’s life was on the line. So was Malik’s. The entire fucking kingdom was at risk. I needed that calm. I found it.
I dragged the towel over my face. “I didn’t mean the dungeons.”
“Yeah, well, it’s likely the only place she won’t be able to escape and slaughter everyone,” he replied dryly.
“True. Do you know how Phillips figured shit out?”
“Not sure, but like I said before, he’d been asking questions since the moment we left Masadonia.”
I supposed it didn’t matter now, but if he’d only kept his suspicions to himself—fuck, it wasn’t the man’s fault. He’d only been doing his duty.
“Word arrived from home.” Shoving open the barn door, I started across the packed snow. “Alastir finally learned of my plans.”
Kieran cursed. “We knew this would happen no matter what Emil managed.”
“Yeah, except that’s not all.” Yanking open the side door to the keep, I held it for Kieran. “My father is en route.”
He stopped, his brows lifting. “What the fuck?”
“That was my reaction.” I quickly told him about Berkton and my plan to hold them off there. “I’ll have to convince him that keeping her alive is the best course of action.”
“And if not?”
“Then war between Solis and Atlantia will be the least of our people’s concerns.” I passed the closed doors to the Great Hall. “I will not allow my father to harm her.” Stopping, I faced Kieran. “And I don’t expect you to stand with me on that.”
He stiffened.
“You stand with me against my father, it’s treason,” I reminded him. “I will not have you ousted from the kingdom—from your family.”
“The bond—”
“That’s an order,” I said, knowing it gave Kieran an out.
Kieran’s eyes turned a vivid, luminous blue. “That’s fucking bullshit, Cas.”
“More like it’s me doing the right thing for once.”
“No, it’s more like you being a stubborn asshole, per usual,” he shot back. “What do you think Delano will do if it comes down to you and your father? Naill? Elijah? My sister? Emil? I can keep listing all those who will back you.”
“They will be given the same order.”
“Do you think that will matter? Fucking gods, Cas. You know better than that.” Kieran shook his head. “They aren’t just loyal to you because you’re the Prince. They’re loyal to you because they care about you.”
“I know,” I shot back. “And that’s why I don’t want them getting messed up in this.”
“I have a spoiler alert for you—all of us are already messed up in this.”
“No, not this.” I shook my head, looking down the hall. “Everyone agreed to support me in freeing my brother. No one agreed to this.”
“And what is this?”
I wasn’t sure I could even answer that question. All I knew was that I wouldn’t allow anyone to take Poppy’s life from her.
“It is what it is,” I answered, walking once more. “I want Jericho out of here. Send him to Spessa’s End or back to Atlantia, but he needs to be gone.”
“Wise idea. He’s a problem.” Kieran paused. “So is this.”
A dry laugh left me as I reached for the exit. “Don’t I fucking know it?”
“We need to talk.” Kieran planted his hand on the door, stopping me from opening it. “You were with her tonight.”
“Of course, I was.”
His frosted blue eyes met mine. “I’m not talking about that, and you know it.”
I did.
“I thought you said she would leave you as she came to you,” Kieran said, voice quiet. “Clearly, that isn’t the case. What the fuck, Cas?”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Turns out I’m that kind of a piece of shit. Okay?” I reached for the door again.
Kieran’s palm flattened against it. “No, it’s not okay.”
My hand fisted as I stared at his, anger sparking. “We really don’t have time for this conversation, Kieran.”
“We’re going to make time because what I saw back there in the stables? You let her get the upper hand on you. Multiple times.”
I huffed out a laugh. “You know she can fight.”
“No shit, but you’re a fucking elemental Atlantian. She is still just a mortal, gifted or not. You could’ve easily gotten her under control. You didn’t. Anyone else, no matter if they were of the fairer sex or not, you would’ve handled that—” Kieran jabbed a finger toward the stables “—in seconds. You didn’t with her. Why?”
Running my tongue over my upper teeth, I shook my head.
“What is going on with you? With her? And don’t give me a bullshit answer, not when you’re ready to go against your father over her.” Anger tightened Kieran’s features. “You don’t keep shit from me, Cas. We’ve been through too much for you to start doing that again, so let’s not have a repeat. What is it?”
What is it?
“I don’t have time to get into this. We don’t have the time. We’ll talk,” I told him, pushing down the irritation. He had every right to question things. “I promise.”
Kieran held my stare for a moment. The line of his jaw was tight as he lifted his hand. He said no more, letting me pass. I was being a shit for keeping things from him, but this…whatever this was with Poppy, was different.
I entered the narrow staircase, already fucking troubled. The underground level of Haven Keep was damp and dank. Foreboding. Comfort hadn’t been in the minds of those who’d built the keep. Fear had.
Poppy didn’t belong down here.
She belonged in the sun.
Steeling myself, I dipped under a low doorframe and entered a dimly lit hall. The dull gleam of the old gods’ twisted bones that adorned the ceiling haunted my steps as I went to where Delano waited.
“Leave,” I told him. The wolven hesitated, glancing back to the cell, but he left.
I stepped forward, my gaze drifting over her. She sat on a thin, dirty mattress, her back pressed against the wall. Her face was pale, but her stare was as defiant as ever. Brave. Bold.
“Poppy.” I sighed, hating that she was here. Loathing that she was here because of me, but knowing the moment I let her out, things would be worse. “What am I to do with you?”
“Don’t call me that.” She shoved to her feet. Chains rattled, drawing my attention.
My jaw clenched. Delano wouldn’t have put her in chains unless he had a reason, meaning she’d likely attacked him.
I lifted my stare to her. “But I thought you liked it when I did.”
“You were mistaken,” she shot back. “What do you want?”
The hardness in her voice? The coldness? It was brutal, but it was all blade-thin. Fragile. “More than you could ever guess,” I said.
“Are you here to kill me?”
Her question surprised me. “Now why would I do that?”