Page 127 of Blood Red Rage

Roman's fingers went still against the desk. “Malakai died?”

“Yes.”

No one spoke, I stared at Kosta. “Then who the fuck have we been fighting?”

Kosta removed a photograph. Old, faded of two men standing next to each other. Identical faces, Identical eyes. One dressed in ceremonial black, the other beside him. My skin went cold. Draugr was first to move, he crossed the room and took the photograph.

“Twins?”

Kosta nodded. “Xion.”

Lucien swore softly.

Roman stood. “Malakai had a fucking brother.”

“A twin brother,” Kosta said. “Hidden from most records.”

“Why?” Volken asked.

“Because demon royalty doesn't always advertise succession problems.” Kosta pulled out another document. “Malakai was the public prince. Xion operated behind him with the intelligence, recruitment, punishment and political killings.”

I looked at the picture, the same face looked out of it, same fucking face. No wonder everyone believed Malakai had returned.

“He used his brother's name.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Fear,” Roman said. We looked at him his expression had gone cold. “Malakai already was a legend among the Demons.”

Kosta nodded. “Exactly.”

Draugr handed the photograph back. “So Xion resurrected a dead man's reputation.”

“And Ceasar helped him.”

Lucien's jaw clenched. “Meaning that Ceasar knew.”

“Almost certainly,” Kosta confirmed.

I laughed without humour. “Of course, he fucking did.” Everything rearranged itself in my head. The old alliance, the stories, the hesitation from the demon houses, the reason why some of them had followed, it was all because they thought Malakai had returned. Maybe some still did. “What happens if they learn the truth?” I asked.

Roman looked at me. “Some leave.”

“Some don't,” Draugr continued.

“No,” Kosta agreed. “Xion has built his own following now.”

“But the lie matters.” Volken finally moved away from the fireplace. “Because it fractures loyalty.”

Lucien smiled a slow, dangerous uplift of his lips. “There it is.”

Roman's eyes sharpened. “What?”

“We don't attack the army.”

Lucien pushed away from the window. “We make the army attack itself.”