Moon Raven Rising (The Moon Raven Trilogy #3)

32. Soren

Chapter thirty-two

That stain of a son of mine is going to meet his fucking end at the tip of my blade. He’s been nothing but useless since he was born. Every task I’ve ever given him, he’s disappointed me miserably. I blame Dax and that fucking instructor, Miles. If he isn’t dead already, I hope I can string him up next to the lot of them for the kingdom to see at my coronation.

“Sire,” the guard comes to an abrupt stop just inside the door of the smoking room. I stop pacing to turn and look at him.

“What have you found?” I snap.

“A messenger is here, a Loema guard. From Ravendene.” He says quickly, and my eyes narrow as he waves in another guard clad in brushed black armor and a deeper black Raven on a crescent moon emblem across the chest. Not an emblem I have seen a Loema soldier display before…“First commander, Pascal, of Loema.”

“Soren.” The man addresses me without title, and the immediate disrespect causes my blood to heat.

“If you come here to—”

“I came with a missive from the King of Aldramani.” He interrupts, and I take a moment to stare at the man who clearly has a death wish.

“I am the King of Aldramani,” I growl. He doesn’t respond; he only lifts his hand, his eyes never lowering. He holds an envelope addressed to me with the same emblem on his chest, sealing the letter. My jaw clenches tight as I rip it from his hand. I turn from the guards and storm to the hearth, ripping open the letter.

Soren,

As you may now realize, despite your best efforts, you no longer hold me prisoner in Castenelle. Accept this as your only warning—and my official claim on the throne of the kingdom.

Raelle is the rightful heir, and as her bonded mate, forged by fire and blood, I now am King of Aldramani. You have always wanted my shadows, and now I can promise you this: you will have them.

They will be your death.

King of Aldramani-Dax Fornax-Ravendene

I crush the paper in my fist. When I lift my eyes to meet the guard Pascal’s smug, knowing look, it sends me over the edge. I crumble the letter, tossing it to the floor, and swipe the mantle above the hearth clear. Bottles and baubles litter the floor in shattered ruin as I lose the waging war with my own anger. Osiris walks in just as I am charging the disrespectful guard with a death wish and blocks my advance.

“What is this?” Osiris asks, looking between myself and Pascal. That smug smile wiped from his face with a look of disgusted anger. “Were you attacking a messenger? ” He says, dismissing the target of my anger.

“Don’t you fucking chastise me! This is my kingdom, and I will do whatever I fucking please!” I move to step around the mountain of a prince, but he sidesteps, blocking me once again. My face heats, and my body begins to shake with pent-up energy.

Osiris puts his hands up as I advance again. Pushing me back at the chest, I turn my wrath-filled gaze on the Prince of Dragons. Pulling my arm back, I bring my magic to my fist. Fire building like an inferno in my palm. I’m going to blast him. It could ruin all that I have worked for again— because of Dax . My lip curls back as an idea sparks to life in my mind… Perhaps I kill them all. I have shown my good faith on our bargain. He will never know of my betrayal—until it’s too late.

The spark creates an inferno of possibility in my mind, and just as I let loose my flames, a wall of white energy surges into the room. The flames hit this white wall with fury, burning hotter than I have allowed in a very long time. When they finally stop, my breathing is ragged. My hands clench just above my knees, and I look up to see Osiris standing tall, the blonde bitch at his side, and the sparkling white wall of magic falling away like a waterfall.

“Consider yourself lucky it was me and not King Phyrrohs who intercepted this little fit of rage you just had.” Raelle says, looking down her nose at me as all of my guards gawk at the display.

As she takes a step forward, Osiris wraps her wrist in his hand, and she looks back at him with moon-filled eyes. The power I have not felt from her before fills the room with her aura and chills me to my bones.

“I’ll take care of this. Go back to your room. I will come to get you for the meeting with my father.” Osiris says to her before releasing her wrist, and her power recedes as she levels her gaze back on me, swallowing whatever words she was about to say. Her eyes returning to the bright green of her fathers, and the sizzle of power dying down like fire burning out.

Sweat builds on my forehead and drips into my eyes. I squeeze them shut, blinking rapidly, and flinch when Osiris is closer as they open.

“What is wrong with you?” Osiris asks, but I can’t think past the thundering booms of each pounding beat of my heart.

“Get the fuck out of my way!” I snarl, pushing past him and nearly falling over the desk in the corner. I feel the eyes on me as I search the drawers, finally breathing a sigh of relief when my finger brushes the soft curve of my pipe. Pulling it from the drawer, I take the pouch of herbs from my breast pocket and stuff it full before lighting it with a flick of my fingers. The flame is barely there, but enough to cause the sizzle and crack of the burning dried plant. Smoke fills my lungs, and as I exhale, my heart skips, sputtering to a lugubrious rhythm.

“Get out.” I grind the words through clenched teeth, and when only one moves, I slam the hand that isn’t holding the pipe down on the desk and bellow at the men standing in front of me. “ALL OF YOU, GET OUT!” Spit flies from my lips, and my jaw works as I watch all but one move to exit. “Are you fucking daft, boy?”

“It seems there is much more to the story of Soren Croix, isn’t there?” Osiris says, tilting his head to the side and eyeing me wearily. “Much, much, more…” He holds the letter from Dax in his two fingers, waving it at me. My gaze moves from the parchment back to the prince, my eyes still narrowed to slits. “Wouldn’t my father be surprised to find out this little bit of information?” He shakes his head, but a slow smile spreads across his face. “It looks as though the power just shifted… and considering you seem to be losing yours entirely… perhaps you stay silent and I won’t let my father know you have been playing him for a fool.” Breathing heavily, I watch through a darkened gaze as the prince retreats, glancing one last time with a smirk on his face. His words strike more of a cord than I am comfortable with. I don’t even know the full truth of what is happening to me. Regardless, I can’t let that dragon prick or Dax get in my way.

The dark magic helps me stay in the shadows, but it’s not the same as Dax’s. These shadows are filled with pain and rot. Each time I use them, my body turns into something I don’t recognize. Fiending for more, I use all I can before I lose myself entirely. Years I’ve spent using the magic and slipping away from my goal. Violet found me nearly dead. So young and heartbroken, by none other than Dax. She was like a tiny spark, cast on damp kindling enough to bring that deep roaring fire of determination back. Her lust for power matched my own. I gave in to her.

“Let me take care of you. Tell me what you need.” She crooned as she wiped the sweat away from my brows.

“I need—a cure.” Trying to sit, my body fights me. “I need to harness the power, or I need something that will help me at least survive it. I am meant to be king, Violet.” I lift my hand to caress her cheek. Barely an adult and eager to please, she leans into me. “Will you help me? You could be my queen if we can pull this off. Together we can reign.”

Her eyes sparkle with what can only be described as gluttonous determination. “I will; tell me what you need. Whatever it is, I will do it. I want to prove them all wrong. I am more than someone to use. I want the power to break them.” She says passionate. The thought of it alone causes my muscles to tense with anticipation. “I know of an herb used to help relax you; it helps with pains and may take the edge off from whatever is happening.” She whispers, pressing her hand over mine. Her red nails standing out starkly against the alabaster skin of her hands.

“Get it. I will try anything to rid myself of this. Once I can think clearly, we will make a plan. We will take the kingdom, my little flame. We will burn it all down and rule over the ashes if we must. I’ve been working toward this for too long to give up now.”

“Soren? Oh gods, what happened?” My eyes open slowly; the backs of my eyelids feel rough like sand coats them. My face lays in a pool of my own spit on the desk, where I apparently passed out after my power use. My mind plays the day over and over again. Each time I see it, my anger rises. Violet’s hands brush over me, and with each touch, my agitation with the whole situation becomes a living, breathing thing.

“Where the fuck have you been?” I growl, wiping the back of my hand at the corner of my mouth.

“I—I was searching for Cano.”

“And? Where is that little asshole?” I demand. She swallows—never a good sign unless she’s on her knees.

“He, well…” She sputters.

“Spit it out, or so help me. I will pluck it from your fucking head with the tip of my fucking dagger, you useless bitch!” My hand comes out hard, twisting her head to the side with a crack. She gasps, tears blooming in her eyes.

“He’s dead. Died within days of leaving here because of the dark magic taking over. Some of the guards I met on the road said they saw that guard Flynn deliver his body to Trent.” I blink and clench my jaw, thinking about the information she is telling me.

Always useless.

“Good Riddance,” I grunt as I stalk to the liquor cart at the window and pour a measure. “It’s time for round two of the remaking. Gather everything that you will need for tomorrow night.”