Page 53 of Queens

I’ve read through hundreds of documents these past few days, even the ones so dull and tedious, they had my eyes drooping and my head bobbing. Aziel has given me a prestigious position within Wrath’s military. I don’t think he’s entirely pleased about it, but it’s what’s expected. I murdered Mammon, and this is my payment.

He’s been quite vocal about his displeasure toward Silas’s and my lying, though.

I’m in charge of overseeing Wrath’s generals, monitoring their work and reporting directly to Aziel. It’s an honored position, one I never imagined I’d be given. It comes with a painful amount of paperwork, though, and I have a lot to catch up on.

Aziel’s door opens, and his assistant peeks inside. He gives Aziel a curt nod before disappearing again, the door clicking shut behind him.

Aziel frowns. “Cassia’s returned.”

Ah. I stifle my reaction, not wanting to draw attention to my precarious relationship with the woman. Despite my personal feelings, she’s Aziel’s daughter. He loves her, and I’m not looking to upset him.

Aziel and I grew close during the war and the years immediately after, but we aren’t friends. My primary relationship has always been with Charlie.

“I hope to speak with her today,” I say. “I’d like to make things right between us.”

Aziel cocks his head to the side. “I wouldn’t recommend that. She’s…” He pauses. “She can be…”

I understand what he’s trying to say. I’ve not spent much time with Cassia, and it’s evident she’s out of control. She’s entitled and angry, which I’d argue is an awful combination. She’s nothing like the Luna persona she used inside Greed. That woman was conniving and sly. Calculating.

Cassia is none of those things. I’d rather not deal with her tantrums, but I feel obligated to make things right.

“She and I are to be working together,” I point out. “That will be significantly easier with her approval.”

Aziel shrugs. “Best of luck to you, then.”

That’s not encouraging.

—————

“Enter!”

I draw in a deep breath, preparing for the monster I’m about to encounter. I’m expecting the worst. Cassia hasn’t given me much of a reason to expect otherwise.

My muscles tense as I push open her office door. I’d like to believe she learned her lesson after attacking me the other day, but Cassia doesn’t give the impression of being a woman who learns from her failures. I suspect she actively goes out of her way toavoidlearning from them.

The scent of Cassia’s floral perfume hits me as I step into her office. It’s admittedly a good scent, and I let it fill my lungs as I eye the woman behind the large desk in the center of the room.

Cassia’s office is a perfect replica of Aziel’s. From the built-in bookshelves lining the walls to the color scheme, it’s obvious he was her inspiration when decorating this place. Does she actually like it, or is she trying to imitate her father?

Does she know the Wraths openly joke about her desperation to be like Aziel? Several people have already warned me about it. It’s one of the first things they mention.Be wary of Cassia. She’s let her bloodline get to her head, and she seems to believe she’s a miniature Aziel.

I’d feel bad for her if she hadn’t attacked me.

The woman went for my throat, for my heart, for literally anything that would kill me. She was sloppy in her attack, too, nothing like the Wraths I fought in the pits. They were seasoned, but Cassia has no real fighting experience.

She stared at the locations she intended to teleport to. It gave her next move away, and it made fighting her painfully easy. I suppose that worked in my favor, though. Despite what people say, sheisAziel’s daughter. She’s powerful, and if she ever learns self-control, she’ll be dangerous.

Cassia sits stiffly behind her desk, blinking slowly as she looks me up and down. She’s sizing me up. Again.

She looks tired.

“Good morning, Cassia,” I greet her.

She blinks again, her gaze piercing, before shooting me a broad smile. It sets me on edge.

“Good morning, Rexton.”

Her voice is sickly sweet. It’s a lie. This woman attempted to tear out my throat only three days ago. She wanted me dead, and I made her cry. I looked her in the eyes as tears leaked down her cheeks.