Chapter 68: Chapter 68

The vision of the Hanlons had had its effect. The two pre-cogs had induced it on purpose, and I realised then how their power was growing. A few months earlier, they only saw fleeting and uncontrolled images of the future. From now on, they were able to see on demand.

The trials therefore ended with the revelation of the Hanlons. Connor Burton Race was now in the tall tower office, in a private conversation with his older brother, Carmichael. I longed for this interview to end, because I had asked Johnny to watch for Connor’s exit, and to bring him back to me as soon as possible. I had already been waiting in my private lounge on the top floor for an hour. Because yes, I now had a private room to receive whoever I wanted. I had submitted this request to Carmichael shortly before the wedding. At first, he had offered me an office near his to, I suspected, monitor the comings and goings. I refused his proposal out of hand. Not to mention the discretion that I wanted to preserve if necessary, the tower was gloomy and represented, in my opinion, a bygone era that I gladly left to Carmichael. My personal living room, on the other hand, was a pleasant place, bathed in light, and above all, it was only mine. A refrigerator and a coffee maker stashed behind a cupboard provided the necessities of sociability if I had to play the hostess. For comfort, a large grey sofa and two mustard yellow armchairs ensured the well-being of my guests, while a neat decoration in blue tones completed the whole thing. The walls framed a stone section on which modern paintings and designer furniture clashed. Obviously, I had chosen each of the elements of this piece with Johnny’s approval. A black armchair with a crazy design was also reserved for him, to the right of my desk, the only rustic element that I had kept in my new space. Connor would therefore be the first to discover the usefulness of this place.

I realised with surprise that I was excited about performing my duties as queen for the first time and felt a certain satisfaction. Sitting on the sofa, I fought not to bite my nails as my patience was reaching its limits. I was hungry and wanted to get to the common room as soon as possible to eat. So I felt some relief when I saw Connor Burton Race open the door, followed by Johnny.

“If it’s to tell me the same nonsense as Carmichael, you can save yourself unnecessary trouble.”

I didn’t answer him and continued to observe him. With a gesture, I invited him to take a seat in front of me. He sat down on the chair that I pointed out to him, and looked around him. His tattooed arms hugged the elbows of his seat, when his clear eyes finally fixed in my direction. Johnny turned to me, exchanged a knowing smile, and retired.

Connor was probably wondering what he was doing here, when Carmichael had already told him that he would be watched, that he didn’t trust him, etc., etc. I still remember Blake’s words: Only Connor inherited his father’s lust for power. He was Magnus’ favourite son, and you don’t become the darling of such a person by stringing pearls. No, Connor must have done a lot of misdeeds to gain his father’s admiration, but I’d rather ignore them for now. The past was the past, and I felt that, in the looming war against the Six, Connor Burton Race’s actions were not a priority in the matter that concerned us all.

He was a handsome man, with a shaved head, a flawless face covered with a fine beard and a body dotted with tattoos. You can’t say that his countenance inspired confidence, like the rest of the men in his family, for that matter. I had made efforts with Carmichael, whose changes I recognized. Meeting this challenge with Connor was probably going to prove impossible, and, according to the Hanlons’ vision, it was improbable. However…

“I need you,” I said before seeing his eyes widen in bewilderment.

“How? So you’ll be the only one who doesn’t take me for a traitor?!”

“Why are you here?”

“Sorry?”

“Why are you at the castle?”

“I came to attend the wedding,” he said, stretching his arms.

“I’m talking about the real reasons for your presence. I’ve never seen you before and here I am meeting you after my wedding. Why?”

“I wish I had met you earlier, when I heard rumours about you. That my brother was betraying our Master Hand for a young woman of unprecedented abilities, and that he was keeping you here so my father wouldn’t get his hands on you. It’s true that I would have liked to meet you at that time, but it wasn’t possible. Yet I was curious to know the one who inspired such madness in Carmichael, he who is not well known for taking such dangerous initiatives.”

“That was years ago.”

“Absolutely. And last year, when you came back to the castle and my father lost power, I asked my brother to meet you. He refused.”

“Why would Carmichael stop you from coming?”

“Can’t you guess?”

I remained cautious. I had never suspected that Connor had sought to know me before, and I had taken his absences for rebellion. After all, his brother had inherited the position of Master Hand, so that seemed plausible to me. He smiles.

“My brother didn’t want to take any chances, I guess.”

“What?”

With that, Connor stood up and walked over to me. I stood up too and faced him for the few seconds of silence that followed my question. He smiled again and cocked his head to the side. I sensed his mood, and half guessed his thoughts. He was definitely a very handsome man.

“Let’s imagine that I came earlier,” he said, amused.

“Well?”

“Maybe Carmichael’s plans wouldn’t have turned out the way he wanted. What do you say?”

“So he’s the one who stopped you from coming.”

“I wasn’t even invited to the ball celebrating his return. He refused my presence and that only increased my interest, you can imagine.”

“I don’t see why.”

“Because my brother had to be sure that no one would stand in his way. He was never attached to anyone. Here he was going out of his way to keep me away from a woman. Maybe he was scared that you might find me more to your liking?”

This conversation made me uncomfortable. As he said that last sentence, he grabbed my hand and fixed his eyes on it. I pulled my hand away when I felt radiant heat shoot through my arm.

“I’m not here to talk about Carmichael. Besides, I’m certainly the only one in this castle who doesn’t take you for a traitor.”

Connor raised an eyebrow. Leaving my last statement in suspense, I made him a coffee. My guest went back to his chair, relaxed his legs and welcomed his cup with a smile. His curiosity was in his eyes.

“I have a favour to ask of you,” I replied.

“And this service, you ask me in the absence of your husband.”

“Does it bother you?”

“No way!”

“Nobody must be aware of what I’m going to tell you and ask you tonight. Carmichael would try to talk you out of it, and…”

“A marriage that starts well!” he interrupts with a laugh.

His smile of satisfaction transformed his face. If he was handsome sullen, he was a real Apollo when he was in a good mood. If it weren’t for his arrogance that made me want to slap him in the face.

“What exactly are you asking me, Everliegh?” he finally said more seriously.

“I want you to betray me. At least, in appearance.”

A silence. Connor, surprised, ran his fingers under his chin, not taking his eyes off me. The time for explanation had come.

“I think I was the source of the Hanlon vision.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Since my meeting with the Six, and Blake’s revelations, I thought of my mother locked up there, this mother whom I don’t know and who could just as well be an invention of Blake... then, I thought about how we were going to have to go about winning against them. The oldest caste families join their ranks and the weakest in spirit allow themselves to be convinced by the fear they inspire in them. This doesn’t give us the advantage. Many will still join them, especially the old and fervent supporters of your father, Magnus. You know your father was abducted here, right? I think it was precisely to ensure that his supporters would join him that the Six absolutely wanted to have him among them.”

“I think so too, but I still don’t see what I have to do with this.”

“I want you to join them.”

“Sorry?!”

“I want you to go to the island of Eos, where their stronghold is, which they have taken great pains to hide. Their confidence is probably their weakness, and if they think you’re loyal to them, then you’ll be able to tell me anything I want to know.”

“It’s a perilous operation that you are asking of me.”

“You’ll have no trouble convincing them, I’m sure. Nobody thinks you are loyal to Carmichael and me. No one can read your mind, and finally, if what I think turns out to be right, you’re immortal, then they won’t reject you, but rather will be happy to welcome you in thinking that you’ll give them new support. I also want you to give me detailed plans of their fortress, and find out where my mother is locked up. It will also be necessary for me to have a certain knowledge of their numbers and of the powers that will come before us when the time comes.”

“You make me feel like I have no choice.”

“Because you don’t. What do you think they’ll do with Magnus, once they get what they want? Blake agreed with them that he should die in excruciating circumstances when they see fit. And what do you think they would do with you if they ended up victorious in this war?”

“If they think I’m loyal, there’s no reason for them to get rid of me.”

“If Carmichael and I are no longer there to block them, no immortals will survive. They’ll not share their power once they are sure to be masters of the world. They want to become gods for our kind, to be revered, and you’ll always be there to remind them that they’re not the only immortals on this planet.”

He pondered my words for a minute, then got up and went to the window overlooking the courtyard garden. His gaze wandered off.

“You tell me about the Six, and their intentions towards my father. But can we talk about yours, Everliegh?”

“What do you want to know?”

“I know from a reliable source that you tortured him and that you wanted to kill him.”

“Death would have been too quick.”

Connor turned around, his enigmatic gaze piercing me, and I barely had time to collect myself when he sat down on the couch. His speed had nearly knocked over the cups of coffee on the coffee table.

“Why should I ally myself with a woman who tortured my father? Tell me.”

“I am your Queen now, Connor, whether you like it or not. Whatever happens, I don’t have much to lose, whether you accept it or not. And Magnus, I would gladly kill him, but there’s no longer any question of me murdering my husband’s father.”

“What do I have to gain if I succeed in my mission?”

“You’ll keep the western territory.”

“I already have it.”

“You might not have it anymore.”

To my amazement, he cracked a smile. He stood up again and held out his hand to me.

“I’m leaving this Sunday. I’ll send you news before my return.”

He shook my hand, which concluded our pact. Then, with a gesture that I hadn’t anticipated, he brought it to his mouth and kissed it. This contact set my flesh ablaze, and my cheeks blushed. Looking up, Connor smirked, proud to have provoked that reaction.

“See you soon, dear sister-in-law.”