Page 98 of Broken Shadows

“She’s a manipulative bitch.”

“Says you?” she asks, her dark brow quirking up. It’s surprising how much she looks like my Evie, albeit her features are sharper, less refined. Yet, she repulses me with every micro expression and movement.

I lean back in my chair, pleased I finally provoked a hint of anger from her. “Saysme.” I place my tattooed hands in my lap and smirk, evoking a twitch in the corner of her painted lips. “Tell me, how did you convince Samuel that you love him?”

Her brows crease, her eyes wide with worry as if I’m in the insane one. “I love all of my stepsons.”

Bile bites the back of my throat. “You know exactly what I mean, you harlot.”

She laughs again. I know that sound will find me in my sleep, a damned soundtrack to my fucking nightmares. “I don’t know what you’re insinuating, but I love your dad.”

“Hmm. Enough to convince him I’m trying to steal his throne, if he even knows that story.”

“Throne?” Her brows rise up her forehead. “I never, ever told him such a thing.”

Samuel nods. “It’s true. Eva had nothing to do with it. I told our brothers that, which is the truth.”

I exhale sharply through my nose and shake my head. He said otherwise to Evie. He’s protecting her and he doesn’t even realize she’s making him into a scapegoat.

Silas looks at Samuel. “Wait. I thought you said Evangeline knew?”

“Me too,” Lazarus adds, and I smile as I watch his lie unravel.

“I thought she did,” Samuel offers. “Father didn’t discuss it with her.”

“We fucking hunted him,” Lazarus admonishes, gesturing across the table to me. “You said we were working underherorders.”

Evangeline has the audacity to look shocked. She even throws in a small gasp for good measure. What an excellent performance. I can’t wait to choke the fucking life from her. “None of that matters now,” she says softly, placing her hands between them. “All that matters is finding out if this is true.”

“You know it’s not,” I state, and she shrugs, lackadaisically resting her wrist upright against the chair rest. Her red nails drum against the splitting wood, each thrum evoking the madness deep-seated in my mind.

That’s when I hear my Evie and my heart quickly settles.

Lor? Is everything okay?

I close my eyes briefly.It’s going as well as I thought it would. I’ll come to you soon.

Evangeline tilts her head, knowing flashing in her eyes, but says nothing.

Evie’s voice softens the sharp edges of my madness. My own personal medicine.Did you find your dad?

No. They won’t tell me.

After a few seconds, her reply filters through.That’s because they think you’re a threat. Convince them you’re not or seek him out yourself.

I cut the bond off once I realize Evangeline's stare has warped into that of a succubus. “I know that look,” she says when my attention falls back on her. “Tell me, is my namesake enjoying her chambers?”

“You mean the witch? Your niece?” I shrug, forcing as much icy intention into my expression as possible. “You think I was talking to her?”

“Why else are you so focused? I know the look. You each have it when you’re using your inner voice.”

A cruel smile twists my features. “I wasn’t talking to her. I’m using her, just like I used you.Remember?”

Her eye twitches and my muscles relax. I’ve won. At least in aggravating her. But Evie’s right. I need to convince them I’m not a threat, when all I want to do is tear her and Samuel apart, limb by limb, and watch their skin melt from their bones as they burn in Hellfire.

Ezra chimes in. “He was talking to me, if you must know.” He sits back and mumbles under his breath, “Nosy bitch.”

I clear the hoarseness in my throat. “He’s right. Look, I don’t care what’s been said about me wanting the throne. About being locked in the Shadow Realm. Any of it. I want back in Hell, to be in control of my demons again.” Lies. It’s all fucking lies and Samuel knows it. So does Evangeline, but her eyes narrow, her lips parting an inch. She wants to believe me. Her heart rate picks up slightly, and I know exactly what I need to do. “I’m not a threat to Dad. I want my life back, that’s all.”

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