Page 4 of Queens

“Breathe.” It’s David who speaks, and his sweet scent fills my lungs a second later. “Calm down, Cassia. Take a breath.”

I can’t.

My anger builds, mounting and mounting until I’m pretty sure I’m going to explode. I can’t contain it, can’t contain the power I inherited from Aziel. It’s my greatest failure.

David smooths a hand down my back. He’s using his infuriating incubus scent to settle my racing thoughts. It’s effective—the only compliment I’m willing to throw his way—and I force myself to tune out my thoughts and practice my grounding.

I’m standing beside my desk, the surface cluttered with the paperwork I stole from Aziel’s office. Paperwork that’s turning out to be useless. There’s a dirty cup in the corner of the desk. It’s filled with an ale so old, I’m surprised it isn’t growing mold.

I assumed Valeria left it here. I was surprised she came here to drink ale in the first place, but now I suspect it was David. He left it here to taunt me.

I suck in a shuddering breath. He runs another hand down my back.

“Breathe.” His voice is no louder than a whisper. “Let it go.”

That’s easier said than done.

Beyond my desk is a large window that overlooks a beautiful grassy bluff. Lust is known for its stunning scenery, and I stare into the nothingness as I will my thundering heart to settle. It works, but just barely.

Several minutes pass before I’m no longer at risk of leveling my home and the surrounding quarter mile of property. I lock eyes with David and dip my chin.

It’s the closest he’ll ever get to athank you.

“How soon can you get that tonic?” I ask.

“As soon as you need it,” David says. “Why the sudden rush, though? You’ve wanted to kill Mammon your entire life, but why now?”

I don’t have a good answer. Now’s as good a time as any, and I’m tired of sitting around waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I’ve given my parents over twenty years to deal with the situation, and as far as I’m concerned, they haven’t done shit.

I’ll see it through.

Chapter Two

CASSIA

I DON’T HAVE the luxury of time with the file I stole from Aziel.

I need to return it before he notices. If he suspects I’m finally making my move against Mammon, he’ll do everything in his power to stop me. He’ll succeed, too.

I’m not going to let that happen.

David walks ahead of me, his head held high as he bursts through the front doors of our childhood home. He immediately heads up the stairs that lead to the bedrooms. It’s early, and I suspect everybody is still in bed.

“Mommy!” he shouts, warning our parents of his approach.

I wince, hating how he’s never changed the childish titles he uses to address our parents. Valeria and I stopped using “Mommy” and “Daddy” long ago. David’s embarrassing himself, and considering we have three fathers, it’s much easier to refer to them by their given names. I’m not going to lecture David about it, though. Not today.

He’s buying me a few minutes of distraction, and I pray it’s enough as I slink toward Aziel’s office. The household is awake by now, and I clutch my bag to my chest as I maneuver around the busy shadows.

I make it to Aziel’s office without trouble, but my budding smile falls when I step inside and lock eyes with Silas. He’ssitting in Aziel’s chair, his feet propped up on the desk and his hands clasped comfortably in his lap.

He’s already dressed for the day, and he looks alert. He’s waiting for me.

He blinks, looking me up and down before settling his gaze on the bag I’m clutching against my chest. Something about him is off, and I can’t help but wonder if the fates told him my plan—or at least some watered-down version of it.

“Why have you been sneaking in and out of Aziel’s office?” Silas asks by way of greeting.

I cock my head to the side, playing confused. I have no reason to believe that Silas knows I was sneaking into Aziel’s office. He suspects, but that’s nothing. I’m not going to offer any information to him, not until I’m certain of precisely what he knows.