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Taly opened her eyes, but they matched the truth of her ears. She lay motionless, every muscle locked in place.

Aiden grinned and lifted his glass. “Greetings, cousin.”

Chapter 81

It wasn’t Aiden’s smile. Not his eyes or his laugh as he plucked a grape from a platter and popped it into his mouth.

And though it was still his voice, a new accent had commandeered it. “I told you,” he said, the vowels too drawn out, the consonants too precise, every syllable drenched with an antiquated elegance. “No deal, no peace. Now, I’m afraid we’re past the point of diplomacy.”

“Aiden?” Aimee’s voice trembled slightly. “Why do you sound like that?”

Taly’s heart hammered in her chest, but there was fire in her eyes. “Hello, Bill,” she said. “I’m sure it goes without saying, but I will make you regret this.”

“Aw, how cute,” the thing wearing Aiden’s face said with a chuckle. “You still think you’re in a position to make threats.”

“What’s going on?” Aimee murmured. She shook her head, as if denying it long enough could make the truth disappear. “This isn’t funny, Aiden.”

Aneirin tilted his head as if he truly pitied her. “Poor little Aimee, so scared and confused,” he crooned. “You always were the slow one, weren’t you? It’s all right here.” He tapped his temple. “Oh, how your brotherpitiesyou when you start throwing yourself at these men who will never see you as anything more than a half-blood. How hewishesyou would have some self-respect.”

Tears spilled down Aimee’s cheeks as she clenched her fists. “You’re not my brother.”

“Ah. Eureka! Finally.”

“I don’t know what you’re after, but you can’t keep him!”

Aneirin laughed. “On the contrary, I think I can do just about whatever I want. And if you’re looking to point fingers, kindly direct them over there.” He stabbed a finger at Taly. “I’ve given her every chance to see things my way, to understand thebrillianceof what we could achieve together. I offered her power, freedom, an opportunity to rule over this little pile of misery and rocks. I tried to do this the nice way, really, I did. But she has rejected me at every turn. And might I add withshockingrudeness.”

Taly’s body shook. She couldn’t stop it. “Get out of him.”

“No,” he said firmly, a faint, condescending curl to his lips. “This is what we call collateral, dearie.” He took a casual sip of wine, his footsteps drawing him closer. “We’re going to take it from the top now. Yet another example of my magnanimity.”

Taly’s stomach twisted as she met her cousin’s gaze. There he was—Bill, lurking in the depths.

His presence was palpable, almost suffocating, wafting off him like a miasma.

“What are you?” Taly whispered.

“Well, that is an interesting question, isn’t it? One you already know the answer to. It’s such a simple truth, really. Go ahead, give it a try. Say it out loud. It’ll be liberating.”

He leaned over to purr in her ear, “Say my name.”

Taly only closed her eyes, sweat beading on her skin. “Go to hell.”

There was a crash as he smashed his wineglass against the edge of the cot. Red liquid splashed. He held the shattered stem to his neck.

“SAY MY NAME!”

A bead of blood appeared.

“Do it!” Aimee begged tearfully. “Please!”

“Aneirin!” Taly spat it out like poison. “Aneirin of the Ash-Shallayn. King of the Belphegor, Father of Lies, the first and favorite son of the Magnus.”

He dropped the jagged stem. Aimee whimpered.

“You’re the Judge,” Taly said, voice quavering.

Azura had warned her—the gods were real. But even now, staring into the face of the root of all evil, Taly could barely believe it. Myths weren’t meant to step off the page.