Page 57 of A Game of Monsters

Rafaela shook her head. “No, not amongst the Nephilim.”

“Who are they?”

Rafaela leaned in close, dropping her voice to a husky whisper. “The dawn of the day when Gabrial was chosen as His script, she prophesied a person made from both realms, who would bring an era of peace for the Nephilim. Cassial believes that he is that Saviour, but he is wrong.”

“Then who…” I said, feeling my heart beating in my throat.

Rafaela rested a hand on my shoulder, her grip faltering but still strong. “I see a man, born from two realms, who wishes to save them both. Perhaps it is you, Robin. Maybe not. I suppose time will only tell.”

CHAPTER 14

Whilst I took the quill and prepared to sign the treaty, Cassial taunted me with his sly scrutiny, and he enjoyed every bastard minute of it. He watched me like a predator watching prey, whereas I couldn’t take my eyes off the horror behind him.

Standing proud behind his throne was a glass case, refracting the sunlight in beams of multicoloured splendour. But there was nothing beautiful about what stretched out behind the glass.

Wings. Two familiar limbs held by straps. I had to fight back the urge to scream or release my magic upon him again. Because I knew who those wings once belonged to.

The woman imprisoned beneath my feet. But for her sake, I had to be the demure king upholding the illusion of amity.

So, this was why Cassial changed the location of the treaty’s signing last minute. Because he wanted me to see them.

No one else noticed, perhaps thinking it was some glorified decoration brought over from Irobel. But if I looked close enough, I could see the stains of blood soaking into a few feathers.

For a pious man, Cassial held dark thoughts in his eyes. His silence scorched across my body as he watched me sign my name upon the parchment – securing the future for everyone I cared about. A world in which the fey and the humans would live in harmony. I was no mind reader, but one look at him, and I knew just what he wished to do with me. I took pride knowing he would never get the chance once the ink dried.

As the sworn protectors of humans, if Cassial made any move against me, it would forfeit the peace. He was a twisted bastard, but I had to trust he wasn’t that stupid.

Once my ink soaked into the page, I stepped back, forcing a smile so no one else around me knew there was anything to worry about. “Is that everything you need of me?” I asked.

Cassial didn’t reply with words but bowed his head instead.

I was the last person to sign the treaty. Althea and Elinor had gone up before me, scrawling their names upon a document that would ensure the two realms would become one. A place without borders. A representative from the Elmdew Court, a woman wearing a circlet of silver attached with the ivory horns of a stag. In her hands she held a baby, swaddled in blankets and cooing softly, I knew it had to be the young prince Jordin.

I took my place, stealing myself against any remaining hesitations.

I knew what I had to do to ensure that all this mattered – and with Rafaela’s help, I would. First, I had to make it through tonight’s ball, and tomorrow’s wedding. Then I would return to Icethorn with Rafaela, prepare to journey with Duncan to Irobel, and complete the ritual Rafaela had confirmed might just work.

But before then, as Rafaela had said, I had some peace to make and goodbyes to offer.

“Today, we have made history,” Cassial drawled, looking at everyone but me. “We have ensured those who come after us will get to enjoy a world in which our personal sacrifices mean something. Eighteen years to this day, we will return to Lockinge and host the crowning of the human Princess Eugena with the Spring Court heir, Jordin Elmdew, thus bringing our peoples together in more than just spirit. Until then, we begin our celebrations tomorrow with the wedding between Althea and Gyah–” Cassial physically winced at that, as if the idea of the marriage displeased him, but he dared not admit it aloud. It seemed I wasn’t the only one to notice. One look at Althea and I saw her eyes narrow. However, she was good at plastering a fake smile upon her face, whereas I was shit at it.

“If that is all,” Althea said, the dismissal overspilling in her voice. Even though I hadn’t told her what state I found Rafaela in, she certainly wasn’t pleased with the ‘confusion’ about her not being in Lockinge. “I would like to return to my rooms and prepare for tonight.”

Cassial bowed, waving a hand in polite dismissal. “Thatisall. Unless anything further is required of me, please enjoy yourselves. I regret I will not be able to join you tonight, but please, raise a goblet on my behalf.”

Murmurs rose throughout our crowd.

“Is there somewhere more pressing you need to be?” I asked, unable to hold my tongue.

Cassial slowly swept his eyes back to me. Bless his heart, he really did try and hide the abhorrence he held for me. “Yes, Robin Icethorn. In fact, there is. I’m required at the south border, to ensure our plans have been followed for the celebrations tomorrow. But do not concern yourselves with that, please. Zarrel will stay behind and see to any needs you have. For now, I wish you the best. My one request is that you are careful with the drinks tonight. No fun will be had tomorrow with sore heads.”

“Let them have a little fun, Cassial.” Zarrel nodded with a knowing smile, clutching Rafaela’s hammer in his hands as if it had always belonged to him.

“You are right, Zarrel. Drink us dry if that is what you would all wish.”

We were all prepared to depart when the doors to the great hall crashed open, and a Nephilim soldier speared inside. The suddenness had us all holding our breath, although Cassial actually seemed undeterred by it all.

“Your Brilliance,” the Nephilim bowed, breathless and faced flushed. “We have news from–”

---