Chapter 12

Unknown POV

I stand still under the dozen of gazes scrutinizing my face. I ignore the heat of her gaze as I watch as my brother paces around the room, anger rolling from him in constant waves. I know he is trying to intimidate me with his silence, but I stare him down coldly, avoiding her burning eyes.

“What you did was irresponsible and careless. You should be exiled for this offense.’’

His tone is harsh and he turns to face me. I feel him trying to impose his will on me, but I stand my ground. Showing weakness now could prove to be fatal. I hear her low chuckle from the back of the room.

“Yet I am still here. I proved I was right, and now, we can move forward with our plan.’’ I lift my chin and she stops laughing abruptly.

His peculiar eyes shine strangely for a second and he walks up to me, towering over me. I am far from short, but even I feel like a mouse when he’s next to me. I can feel the hot air on my face as he breathes out intensely.

“What if you weren’t wrong, but she wasn’t ready yet? Had she plummeted to her death and we had lost her, what then?’’

I force a smirk on my face to seem unbothered. If his eyes could start fires, I would have been scorched. The others stare at me with curiosity. Standing up to someone with more power and status than me was pretty uncommon within our community. Maybe my brother was right and I had spent too much time with the humans.

“Then I guess I would have been wrong for the first time. And we would both be dead.’’

He leans in closer to my ears and whispers so I am the only one to hear. Though I feel a chilling sensation go down my spine, I stand straight.

“You’ve been wrong before, little sister,’’ He spits and I feel my jaws tighten.’’ Do not forget why you stand lower than me instead of by my side.’’

I fight to keep my smirk in place, but I feel my heart pound in my chest. He backs away and looks around to the dozen people still staring at us from the sidelines. His eyes stop on her for a second and he seems to be listening to something. I wait silently until he breaks their conversation.

“As for all of you, do not forget who lead you all to where we are today. No one shall approach what belongs to me. Disobedience and putting Sophie in danger will be punished by a fate worse than death.’’

He turns to me and smiles with a frightening look in his eyes. As everyone leaves in response to his quiet wish, he stares at me up and down. I can still feel her lingering in my back.

“Please, my sister, I beg of you. Go near her again. I cannot wait to hear you plead for the sweet release of death.’’

“You do not scare me, brother,’’ I lie and let out a giggle. “You forget I know you as well as I know myself. Why would get rid of an asset like me so early in the game?’’

A strand of his hair slides in front of his golden eyes and he looks down at me menacingly. She laughs again and I get the feeling they’ve been hiding things from me.

“And you forget you how valuable hidden assets are. Stop standing around trying to convince me you are worth my attention and go prove it.’’

He walks away without looking back and I grab a dagger from my belt without thinking. He laughs as I get in position to throw it and closes the door behind him with a wink. Fury courses through my veins and I launch the blade at the door, screaming.

Her chuckle is closer to me now. I turn to her as I feel the air become colder and colder. Her frozen smile hardens as I refuse to bow my head. I start to feel a pressure in my skull.

Her sickeningly sweet voice resonates in the empty room. “What is the matter, my dear?’’

The pressure in my forehead increases until I wince and drop my gaze to her feet. I shake my head, unable to respond to her question.

“If you still wish to lead, then don’t just stand here. Do something.’’

Her tone is light yet full of poison. I nod and leave through the same door my brother did, grabbing my dagger on the way out. Still, I can hear her talk.

“I’m not opposed to another change of power.’’