“Eira is dead, just as you hoped, Kael,” Lucas informed him.

Kael stood frozen in place, as if he’d forgotten how to breathe. His eyes never strayed from the tombstone. His gaze, usually so sharp, suddenly went blank. His body, usually upright and commanding, seemed to lose its strength—leaving Kael looking so weak.

At first, Lucas thought Kael would receive the news with great joy because what he had long sworn would happen to Eira had finally come to pass.

But that man’s nerves seemed to have shut down completely, leaving him utterly unresponsive.

“You can throw as many parties as you like now, Kael. No one will get hurt...