Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Seth didn’t call all six guards away from the Aeons at once. He called them out of the library one at a time. Cain and the other Ancients questioned each of them rigorously. All swore that the Aeons hadn’t moved from their line of sight at any point, and Cain didn’t detect any lies.
Once the Ancients were alone, Dantalion cursed. “I do not see who else could have been responsible.”
Her lips pursed, Lilith looked at Ishtar. As did Cain. So did Azazel. Then Seth. Then Dantalion. Inanna instead closed her eyes.
Ishtar’s gaze went wide as she jerked back. “Do not look at me for this.”
“You have betrayed one of us before,” Lilith pointed out. “You went behind Cain’s back only recently. You cannot blame us for being reluctant to trust that you wouldn’t cross one of us again.”
“I hate the Aeons as much as any person here,” clipped Ishtar. “Do you really think I would free one?”
“When you know that this particular Aeon would seek out Wynter to do as you have always wanted and take her out of the equation, perhaps,” said Dantalion.
Her eyes hot with anger, Ishtar raised her chin. “Saul is one of our jailors. We need him dead along with Abel and Adam in order for our cage to break. More than anything, I want to be free of his prison. That is my priority. Releasing Saul would achieve the very opposite of that.”
Cain was under no illusions about Ishtar, so he knew she was fully capable of using another to harm Wynter, even if it meant releasing a captive. Still, he found it hard to believe that she’d released Saul. Ishtar was petty and vindictive, but her freedom truly mattered more to her than avenging any slight. She’d be more likely to table the latter for when she was finally out of their prison.
“Maybe someone did not physically free Saul,” said Inanna. “Maybe it was done remotely. Perhaps using a spell or some other preternatural means.”
“I don’t see how,” said Seth. “The guards claimed that Eve and Noah played chess while Rima fell asleep reading a book during the timeslot where Saul was released.”
“Or Rima astral projected elsewhere,” said Inanna.
“Perhaps no one aided him,” suggested Ishtar. “He could have found some way to escape without help.”
Lilith shook her head. “The keys to not only his cell but his shackles hung on a hook far out of his reach. In any case, he was in no fit state to free himself.” She paused. “Questioning the Aeons might give us the answers we seek. Theorizing will hardly get us anywhere.”
“Then let’s get to it.” Seth led the way as they all filed into the library.
The Aeons looked up. Froze. Exchanged uneasy glances.
Her face darkening with concern, Eve stood. “What has happened?”
“Two things,” Cain told her. “Seth and I spoke with Adam and Abel via a conduit. We made it clear that we would not fold under their demands. We don’t know what they’ll do next or when they’ll do it, but we’ll be prepared.” Cain twisted his mouth. “Also . . . Saul is missing.”
Eve’s lips parted in surprise. “Missing?”
“Yes,” Seth told her. “Someone freed him.”
Rima scanned the face of each Ancient, sitting up straight on the sofa. “You think it was one of us.”
No one denied it.
She cursed. “How could we possibly have done it? We haven’t moved from the Keep. Just ask our shadows. They follow us everywhere,” she added, a bite to her voice.
“We already have questioned them,” said Seth. “They confirmed that none of you left the Keep at any point.”
Rima frowned and flapped her arms. “Then why suspect us?”
It was Inanna who replied, “Such things can be done remotely.”
Eve’s breathing picked up. “It wasn’t us.”
“It doesn’t even make sense that we would do it,” said Noah, a nervous tremor to his voice.
Dantalion pursed his lips. “It does if you were fond of Saul or pitied him. But I’m more inclined to think that one or more of you are here to work against us. It would be a stupid thing to do, of course. But people do stupid things all the time.”
“You would rather pin it on us because you don’t want to acknowledge that one of your own has betrayed you,” Rima accused. “That is stupid.”
“Rima,” Eve drawled in warning.
The younger female Aeon whirled on her grandmother. “What, I’m supposed to take this lying down? I’m supposed to keep my cool when they are trying to blame us for something we did not do?” She slid her glare to Seth. “So much for us all building some sort of relationship. Look how quickly you turned on us.”
“Questioning you is not turning on you,” Seth told her. “You would have suspected me just the same if the situation were reversed.”
“No, I wouldn’t have,” she claimed. “I try to have more faith in people, especially my family.” Rima slammed her gaze on Cain. “Would it kill you to trust us?”