Page 58 of Horns of Wicked Ebony (Deathcaller Duet #2)

“Don’t forget I can aim them in your direction anytime,” I shot back.

A dark chuckle echoed in my mind. “I never will.”

Kiira covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hide her amusement, as Xannirin merely blinked at me.

After a moment, he cleared his throat, shifting in his chair like my words had set it ablaze.

“All right then. You have all made your points. I will ensure the nobles believe in this story, as well as the unveiling.” He glanced sidelong at Kiira, and I recalled our conversation about her not asking for forgiveness for sending that missive.

“So long as you can continue the omnipresence of us, adding Assyria to the mix now, I will do my part.”

Tension visibly bled from Kiira’s shoulders. My own chest eased too.

“Done,” Rokath and Kiira said at the same time.

Resigned, Xannirin slumped back, arms crossed.

“There’s one more thing,” Kiira added softly, twisting her long hair around her finger and securing it at the nape of her neck.

A muscle jumped in Xannirin’s jaw. “What?”

“I had another prophecy,” she stated, bringing her hands to rest on the table in front of her again.

He sat up straighter, arms dropping. “When? Of what?” His voice was laced with more enthusiasm and excitement than it had been in his entire time at the military academy thus far.

“Rokath and Assyria in the streets of Sivy. With an army of males and females at their backs.” Kiira smiled, though it wasn’t one of her warm and kind ones.

No, she looked like she was moments from lunging across the table and ripping her cousin’s throat out with her sharp teeth.

“So it is a good thing you chose the right side of this fight, Xannirin.”

His mouth hung open. “But I thought–”

“That the visions couldn’t change?” she finished for him.

He nodded, disbelief etched into his expression.

“As did I. But after discussing the timing with Rokath and Assyria–”

“You told them before me?” he snapped, eyes darkening.

She glared at him. “It concerned them, so yes.”

Xannirin’s fingers tightened over the polished wood. “Go on.”

“As I was saying,” she drawled, “the vision came to me shortly after Rokath chose Assyria over his soldiers. By choosing her, he changed his path. He changed all our paths.”

Is she going to tell him about hearing the word sacrifice?

I waited with bated breath for her to continue to speak. To my surprise, she left it at that. Though I was quickly learning that despite all their supposed trust in one another, none of the three ever quite revealed all they knew.

“How is that possible?” Xannirin mused, loosening his grip. Instead, he thumbed his lower lip, going deep into thought.

Would the Fates have revealed a new scene to Kiira had Xannirin continued to refuse these changes?

“The Fates are Gods. We are not, despite how we purport ourselves,” Kiira warned.

“Should they wish for something to change, they possess the power for that. They were clearly working through Assyria in that moment. In all the moments before that too, especially on the day the army arrived in Stryi to conscript, I think.”

Xannirin scrutinized me again, though this time without as much contempt as before. I still didn’t offer him any less of my ire. “I am beginning to see now.”

“About fucking time,” I muttered under my breath, attention flicking to Rokath. He lounged, one ankle thrown across a knee, like this conversation was boring instead of essential to our future. His bicep flexed as he braced his head on a closed fist.

“More changes will come, Xannirin. More choices. Hopefully with less severe consequences than what I faced.” He glanced at me, our eyes locking like they had when our mate bond snapped into place.

His love flooded me, easing the aches in my heart.

“But they will come nonetheless. Since we do not know exactly why Kiira’s visions changed, it’s best that each of these moments be weighed with the utmost care. ”

“With the stakes this high, it would be unwise to act rashly,” he acquiesced.

Silence lingered for a few moments as we all considered what the future might hold.

“I’ll return to Uzhhorod the day after tomorrow.

You need all the females you can get, Rokath.

This time, I sincerely promise that you will have them. The most powerful I can find.”

“Battle ready powers would be best, no matter the eye color,” I added because I was a fucking leader now too and he needed to respect that.

Xannirin dipped his head. “Kiira, if you have any messages you want to send, anything specific you want told or repeated, please get that to me tomorrow.”

“I will,” she promised, a half-smile tugging up the corner of her mouth.

“And you,” he turned his attention to me. “Make House Vrak proud.”

That was not what I was expecting him to say.

Determination straightened my spine. “I will.” But I didn’t agree for me. I agreed for Kiira, for the other females of this realm. Who needed to see what we could become. Who needed a symbol to ignite the fire in their hearts. Whose saw through the lies with devious eyes.

We would win this war. And when the final flakes of ash fell, our world would never be the same.