chapter 6

For the first time in short, most often lied to life, I was happy that everyone was busy; Ostana took Ethan out to the mall to finish Christmas shopping, Mr.Aconite was Goddess knows where, and Laker was currently with Emrys and together they were attending Prince Anton’s fitting then they were to train one of the last guard sessions before the crowning was upon us, and I was left to my own devices… 

Smoothing my pale hands over the nonexistent wrinkles of my black sweater dress, I took a deep breath.

I’ll either be thrown in the cells by the end of today or dead.

It was hard enough to convince Emrys that I was fine this morning:

“Lessie,” Emrys whined, drawing my hands closer to his chest as his dark brows furrowed together. “I don’t want to leave you alone. Are you sure-”

“Rhys,” I sighed. “I’m fine. Just go.” I tilted my head in the direction of our bedroom door, both of us knowing that Laker and Thomas stood on the other side. Emrys kissed my forehead gently after nodding.

“If something happens, anything-” Silver flared into his grey eyes momentarily as he hinted towards my new gained ‘fire power.’ “Call me. I’ll drop everything and come as quickly as I can.”

A knock on the huge, oak door drew me back to reality and I glanced around the room quickly; one table with two chairs were set up, pastries and small finger foods were complemented by teacups, and after sending the Goddess a quick prayer, I walked to the door with a forced smile.

“Kyrell,” I greeted, no showing any signs of my deeping anxiety or rapid thoughts, pushing away anything that was related to fire, blood, lies, and whatever else this stupid life had brought upon me in the past few months, and opened the door for him. 

His cold eyes scanned the gathering room, probably searching for any signs of entrapment, and then they settled on me, a deadly smirk kissing his thin lips, and I noticed he wore the one thing I wanted - a necklace with a one armed cross. 

I’m sure that if this worked out, that necklace would soon be in my possession and the dagger close after - then the rest of this would be easy.

“I was quite surprised by your invitation, Celeste.” He started as I showed him the way to the tea set up, his eyes watching me closely, and his brow slightly raised. “No one has ever voluntarily invited me somewhere without the promise of death or something close to that following behind,”

I couldn’t give him the satisfaction of being right… If this went wrong- No… This will work, it has to work. And if it doesn’t then at least I tried.

Hardly humming in response, we both sat down and I offered him a few cherry tarts which we took without a word. “I just thought that maybe,” I started, finding his eyes with my own. “Now would be the perfect time to get to know each other.”

Kyrell raised a brow. 

“Let’s face it,” I leaned back in my seat, eyes never wavering from his. “We both hate each other but if we’re to be in-laws, I think I should at least know a few things about you so holidays aren’t shit and vice versa. Or are you not man enough to have one conversation with me?”

I bit back a successful smile, watching how I struck a chord with him and his alpha-ness when I challenged his ‘manliness’; Kyrell’s jaw locked, brows furrowed, and his face stoic. 

“Fine,” He agreed. “What do you want to know? I’m quite busy trying to be Alpha Knight and this foolishness is not helping-”

“Let’s not rush,” I smiled, grabbing the hot teapot and pouring the amber colored liquid into the fragile teacup in front of Kyrell, white steam dancing from the cup. “Any sugar or cream?” 

“None,” Kyrell rolled his eyes, shooing me away from his drink, and without any hesitation he took his cup and greedily drank from it.

Patience… 

“I prefer a small dash of sugar usually,” I continued on my rambling, dumping the white granules into my cup and stirring it with a small silver spoon, and upon looking up, I couldn’t help a small smile grace my lips.

A loud, throaty cough escaped Kyrell after he had finished his tea, dropping his cup in the process only for the porcelain to shatter on impact, sending shards scraping against both the floor and my bare ankles that my heels didn’t cover, but I didn’t pay any mind; Kyrell was choking. 

“T-the-” Kyrell coughed, face turning red. “Te-” Cough, cough, cough. “Tea.”

“Is it not to your liking?” I questioned innocently, placing my cup down onto the table. 

Kyrell fell from his chair and onto his knees, one hand clutching at his throat as if he could rip away whatever clogged his airways, and his cherry red face slowly turning purple.

“Yo-you… Bitch!” He coughed out, tears of struggle pooling in his eyes, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of sick pride that ricocheted through my body. 

“Bitch?” I frowned and stood up, walking around my chair and passing the table only to stop in front of my struggling father in law. “I thought you’d owe me a compliment,” I spoke honestly, tucking a strand of my blonde hair behind my ear and swatted away Kyrell’s outstretched hand; flashes of fire, blood, and his horror clouding my mind.

Kyrell eyed me warily.

“I took a page out of your evil handbook, remember how this palace is built upon a small lake called Truth?” Ah, there was that fear. That horror he caused others now reflected into his own eyes. “Well, you just drank what I now call Truth Tea. Boiled with that lake water, seeped with tea leaves -oolong tea, I think- and placed for your enjoyment,”

Taking a breath, I watched how Kyrell now slumped against his chair as life started to leave him, eyes closing.

“Emrys,” I continued, wanting to get every last word in. “Thought that maybe your little witch bitch would make you immune to the water but I wasn’t so sure… Turns out I was right because look at yourself, you look pathetic.”

Where did this anger come from? Oh that's right, from all the abuse he made my mate suffer, tried to take Emrys’ future away, and killed at least one innocent girl who had no business getting killed; not to mention his twisted ways. 

“I’ll see you in Hell, Kyrell Thorn,” I spat, reaching forward to his spent self and tearing off the necklace. 

His eyes didn’t open.