Page 59 of The Monsters We Are
Cain’s brow hiked up. “So you are calling my consort a liar?”
“I am making no accusations, I am simply stating my innocence.”
Innocence my ass.“No one’s going to buy your bullshit, Shelia. You teleported me to the vampires, you advised them to shoot me in the leg to keep me weak, and you told me to enjoy my time with Adam. You allegedly also told the vamps that an iron bullet to the heart or brain would kill me. It may interest you to know that you were wrong.”
Shelia’s gaze clashed with hers. “I said no such thing to anyone—”
“Stop fucking lying!” Cain shouted, the words echoing with a power that Wynter felt in her bones.
Shelia jumped. “I swear I’m not.”
“Yes, you are,” said Ishtar, squinting. “I see it.”
Wynter blinked, shocked by the Ancient failing to take her aide’s side. If the faces of the other Ancients were anything to go by, they were equally surprised.
Shelia shook her head in denial.
“Why would you assist those vampires?” Ishtar demanded. “What did they offer you that convinced you to betray me in such a way?”
“I would never betray you,” Shelia swore.
Ishtar’s nostrils flared. “I will never understand why, but Cain took the witch as his consort. By delivering her to those vampires, you betrayed him. And to betray one Ancient is to betray them all.”
“I thought you’d want her gone!”
“If I wanted her gone, she would be gone.”
Wynter snorted. The Ancient really shouldn’t be so sure of that.
Shelia began to sob. “I’m sorry.”
“Your apologies are wasted,” Cain snarled. He sliced his gaze to Ishtar. “I won’t allow her to live.”
Ishtar jutted out her chin. “She ismyaide. It ismyright to punish her.”
Cain prowled toward her like a predator eager to battle another. “Do not test me. My consort could have died because of what she did. The right to end the bitch’s life ismine.”
“I cannot permit such an act to go unaddressed by me, or it would encourage others to believe they can take similar risks,” said Ishtar.
“Then you may punish her,” began Cain, “but the killing blow will be mine.”
Wynter would much rather that the killing blow washers, but she knew he needed this; knew that he needed to avenge her in some way. And since she’d already taken care of the vampires, there was only the aide left to punish.
“I can agree to that,” Ishtar told him, surprising Wynter—the female Ancient wasn’t the most reasonable of people. “It will be a public execution. An example needs to be made of her.”
“Agreed,” said Cain.
Ishtar took a step toward him. “But let me be clear on this. I will not pay for Shelia’s betrayal. No matter what you might wish to believe, I did not put her up to this.”
Cain cocked his head in an almost wolf-like way. “Ishtar . . . if I’d thought you were behind this, you’d already be dead.”
They all knew that was true.
It was Dantalion and Azazel who dragged Shelia out of the Keep and into the courtyard of the bailey. The two males then backed away, joining Wynter and the other Ancients who were forming a circle around the sobbing aide.
The people in the bailey poured out of the workshops, barn, and other buildings to gather around, curious. Seeing the gory state of Wynter, many cast her odd looks. They really should be used to this by now.
Trembling, Shelia hugged herself, her gaze finding Wynter. There was no remorse or apology in those eyes. Only resentment and fear. A bone-chilling fear.