Page 121 of Between Wrath and Mercy

“He would listen to her, but not you?”

“Mmm, my mother helped as well.”

I knew there was something he wasn’t telling me. “Out with it, love.”

He sighed. “Lavenia is compelling him while my mother siphons his power.”

“They’re what?” I shouted, twisting toward him, my leg forgotten.

“He is the one who sent word to Keeva; he let her know you were in the dungeons. The bastard knew what she was capable of, and when he taunted me with the information, he blocked me from leaving. Dewalt and I killed four of his guards before Lavenia stepped in. He wasn’t expecting her to use her divinity on him; she’d always been so gentle with him in the past. She compelled him to order his men to stand down, and Dewalt and I ran. She must have made him lower the wards too so I could rift you out. She’s been compelling him ever since. He fought it at first, but when Dewalt went to check on Ven, he found my mother at her side, helping her.”

I exhaled a shaky breath, moving my hands back to my leg. “What will he do when she stops? I—should I run?”

“She will not be stopping. With his divinity siphoned away, she can hold the compulsion for longer.”

“What do you mean? Can’t his guards tell? Won’t people ask questions?”

“They think he is sick. Heissick. It is no surprise he is secluded in his chambers.”

“And then what? They can’t just stay with him forever.”

“No, but they can stay with him until we perform the ritual.”

I’d already said yes. I knew what it entailed, but to hear him say it was almost astounding, and I inhaled a quick breath. The idea I would be performing the ritual at all was a shock. I’d gone from anticipating an almost mortal lifespan, but now I had centuries. With him. My head gave a dull throb, and I peeked at my leg. I’d been distracted, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the wound had healed; only an angry, red line remained. I’d have to continue to send my divinity to it when I could, hoping to fight off any infection which might occur. Bending my leg at the knee and uttering a pleasant sound at what I found, I spun myself on the bench. Rain was there in an instant, arms out, easily anticipating what I needed and waiting for me to grab onto him.

“And after the ritual?” Putting my weight on the newly healed leg and finding I was satisfied with the results, I plopped back down on the bench, already feeling tired from the mild exertion.

“After the ritual, he will die.”

I stopped for a minute, my mind snagging on the words he said. “He’ll die?”

Rain appeared satisfied with my wounds since he turned the knob on the faucet and spun me, quickly unbuttoning the dress. I felt myself frown. I’d envisioned him undressing me a thousand different ways since the other night, but never had I imagined this. Malodorous and wounded, I was entirely dependent upon him. The soft glow from the candle on the counter helped it feel more like what I’d imagined, but it wasn’t the same.

“Yes. The four of us have decided.”

“What do you mean you’vedecided?” He slid the shoulders of my dress off of me, and an anxious knot formed in my stomach.

“My father is not long for this world, Em. The way he’s been since before I was born is undermining every good thing he has ever done. It’s time.”

“Who decided this?” I held my hand to my chest, keeping the dress from falling off me.

“My mother, Lavenia, Dewalt, and I. My family.”

“I suppose I missed quite a bit while I was asleep. Who could have guessed the conversations would be about regicide. Or is it patricide? Which takes precedence?" His hands rested on my shoulders, tenderly working my taut muscles, and I tried to resist the touch. "I suppose my opinion on the matter doesn’t count?”

“It depends on what your opinion is.” He moved in front of me, tugging my arms free from my sleeves and pulling the dress down off my chest. I stood, focusing my weight on the better leg, and he helped me slide the ruinous fabric past my hips so I could step out of it, and we worked together to finish undressing me. The water was nearly up to my knees, so I sank to the ground and leaned back against the bench, my body entirely submerged. Rain turned the water off, undressed, and slid down next to me.

“Myopinionis that I don’t want to be the reason for it. Your mother made it clear what she thought of me, and she's known your father to be like this for some time and hasn’t done anything. I don’t know how that could change because that bitch broke my legs.” He turned and pulled me, sliding me across the bottom of the tub to situate me between his legs, and began to wash my hair. I groaned and leaned into his touch. “I don’t want anyone blaming me in the future. You all decided without me, but it feels like I was a factor.” Rain took a deep breath as he massaged my hair and scalp, the scent of lavender filling the air. I thought this might have been my favorite part about saying yes to him. I’d never wash my own hair ever again if it was an option.

“Shivani is complicated. There’s no way for me to explain her behavior because I don’t understand it myself most of the time. But you weren’t the deciding factor for her. Elora was. I think the idea he could do something like that to a child and tell you, her mother, with not an ounce of remorse? This decision isn’t about you. He has become a monster, and we must put him down.”

“How?”

“That hasn’t been decided yet.”

“When? Can it wait until after we get Elora?” It was not lost on me how strange it was to schedule someone’s death. Someone’smurder. Rain finished rinsing my hair and pulled me back against him, head resting against his chest.

“Yes, it could wait, but I want you to have my divinity before the Cascade. I want to teach you to rift.” I tensed, remembering how hard it had been for him to learn. I hadn’t thought of the implication of having his divinity, and it intimidated me. He took a washcloth from the side of the tub and lathered it in soap, the smell of lilacs and violets filling the air. We sat in silence for a moment as he washed me, trailing over my shoulders before clearing his throat.

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