Page 8 of As Above, So Below

Vaelyn watches me as if I were on the verge of leaping across the table and grabbing him by the throat. And perhaps today I might. Especially if he keeps on about the Lord of Wrath.

“Am I supposed to be flattered?” I flip to page thirty-three—a chapter on the Everbreeze family of Aeros. I’m determined to feign my interest in the book to emphasize my disinterest in anything Vaelyn has to say.

“Flattered? No,” he says. “Concerned, yes. He’s convinced it’s a matter of time before you return to him.”

Nausea and unease blossom in my stomach, setting my face to a scowl as I attempt to read. I’ll never return to Kassil. I barely managed to escape him the first time, and it cost me my freedom to move about the hells. It cost me Druka. But it cost her more.

A sudden jerking movement snaps my eyes toward my sibling. He’s leaning back in his chair, teetering precariously on its back legs. The thought of him crashing to the floor curls my lips with a wicked grin.

“Please do fall, Vae. I am in desperate need of distraction from my thoughts.”

He smirks. “I’m not going to fall.” His arms flail out as he hooks his toes under the lip of the table.

“You behave like an imp,” I say flatly, arching a brow.

“He’s hosting a gathering this evening.” Again with Kassil. “He’d like you to join.”

My mounting irritation is going to land me in Netharis’ study. The god of death doesn’t take kindly to those who assault the heir of the hells.

“Please return my most humble and emphaticno.”

His eyes race to mine. “I’dlike you to join.”

He stares at me from that ridiculous splayed position. And for a moment, I’m reminded of how things used to be. As much as I want to reconnect with my twin, I don’t think I can.

Beneath the table, tendrils of shadow creep across the floor, winding toward the legs of his chair. They wrap around the legs, and because I’ve no interest in stopping them, they yank.

Like a heavy stone cast into a pond, Vaelyn plummets backward, to the floor. In a swirl of shadows, he’s swept up seconds before landing against the polished obsidian and deposited upright beside the chair.

“Seriously?” he asks, brows high, voice incredulous.

My shadows race back to me, skirting beneath my robes.

“You’re failing to recognize when your company is unwanted,” I say, and he gives me a flat glare.

Smoothing his hands down the front of his black button down shirt, he straightens his silver feathered wings behind him. So strange for a demon to have wings reminiscent of a Life Bringer’s. Mine are darker than midnight. While they’re not the same flesh and bone like the wings of demons, they’re at least not bright and shiny like Vaelyn’s.

At first glance, Vaelyn could pass as fae.

Moonlight pale skin, waist length straight silver hair, broad shoulders, vivid blue eyes, and in possession of what mortals would consider an attractive face. All I see are his demonic tendencies. Vaelyn can be as manipulative as the god of death himself.

“I’m giving you the chance to get out of this tower, Ves,” he says, planting his hands on his hips. “Netharis won’t care where you go if I’m with you.” He picks up the chair and re-seats himself.

“I’ve already said no,” I retort, scanning the first sentence on the page.

Apparently, the Everbreeze royal family is renowned for their wind innate. Honestly, it’s not an innate I’d consider impressive.

“And if I order it?”

I freeze, every muscle coiling in tight.

“You come here, disturb me, and threaten to pull rank?” I spit the words, my voice low. “All for what? To watch Kassil treat me like property? Do you find his abuse of me entertaining? Has shadowing Netharis truly destroyed your mind? Or is this an attempt to win more of Netharis’ favor?”

Vaelyn grimaces, tearing his eyes away, unable to hold my stare.

Some of my brother remains in there after all.

“I see your tongue hasn’t lost any of its sharpness during your self-imposed isolation,” he counters quietly, irritation seeping into his voice.