Moon Raven Rising (The Moon Raven Trilogy #3)

46. Soren

Chapter forty-six

“Well, don’t just stand there! Attack!” I throw my voice as far as I can toward the useless guards who come rushing to the corridor a moment too late. Osiris betrayed me, Dax is free, and my son—they are all dead. I will make sure of it. “KILL THEM ALL!” I bellow.

King Phyrrohs begins to stir just as the dragon leaps from the parapet and over the crashing waves of the Ranmyrkr Sea. With a groan, he sits up, coughing, blood staining his lips and fist. He looks down at the crimson splatter with unfiltered anger, then slams it to the ground in a fit of rage.

One of the king’s guards hustles to his side, offering him aid in standing, which he swats away like a nuisance and pushes himself unsteadily to his feet. Using the wall to keep his balance, he pins me with a glare.

“This is your fault,” he says, his voice just a low hiss as he jabs his finger out at me.

“My fault? It sure looked to me like it was your son who turned his back on his kingdom. It was your son who violated our agreement.” Shaking my head, I lean in closer to him as I step past him. “This is no fault of mine .”

“Don’t turn your back on me! Your son was just as much to blame!” His words stop me in my tracks, and I crane my neck to look at him.

“I have no sons anymore. They are all dead.” If he responded to my words, I did not hear it. The roaring chaos in my ears drowns out all other sounds or thoughts from my head as I storm the castle. With each step, my anger heats to a rapid boil until I reach my drawing room. When I slam the door behind me, it bounces back open from the force, and I sweep my arms out in front of me, throwing all of the parchment on my desk to litter the floor.

My breath comes out ragged as I lean over the now-cleared surface. My palms are flat and pressing into the cold wood, and I growl my frustration into the empty room. The disappointment with Cano is never-ending. Just when I think he can’t sink any lower, he shows me a new level.

“My king?” Violet curls her fingers around the door and peeks her head into the room.

“What?” I bark in response.

“I just thought… Maybe, you might want to hear—”

“Violet! You know I hate mumbling! Spit it out or get the fuck out of my sight.” I slam my fist down on the desk and push away from it to pour a bourbon. I wash my mouth with the fiery liquid before pouring another measure and tossing that back too. She is silent so long that I turn, thinking I will find her gone, but instead, she is standing in the middle of the room. A purple-hued shadow danced in her palm.

“I can wield them.” She whispers while looking at the smoke, which flickers like a flame. My feet carry me faster than my brain can commute. I snatch her wrist into my hand, bringing the dark shadow closer to my face, inspecting it.

I hadn’t even noticed the starkly different shadows in the confrontation with Cano and the others. The scent alone should have given away what it was that she was wielding. The scent of death and rot emanated from the obscurity.

“Have you had any illness?”

“None.” She responds quickly, and my lips begin to curl at the corners.

“No side effects at all?” She shakes her head, and the grin spreads across my face. This could very well be the edge we need. Maybe take even more than I originally planned…

“When did you discover this?”

“I—um, well… It was…” She stumbles over her words, looking down at her hands. I crack my neck, sucking my teeth in frustration.

“Fucking spit it out, you worthless cunt!” I demand. Her eyes snap to mine, a shadow crossing over them, and I kick myself as the shadow disappears in her hand. She is the key to what I want most. I close my hands around hers, pulling it to my chest and laying her palm over my heart. “Please,” I clench my jaw, forcing an even tone. “Continue,”

She swallows, taking a moment to think about her words, and I press her hand a little more firmly to my chest as I try to smother my impatience.

“After I saw that they didn’t kill Raelle, I did the spell for myself.” She raises her chin, feigning pride, but I see the unease in the way she chews her lip and the way her eyes won’t meet mine. “I have not tried anything much bigger than opening a door or lifting a goblet of wine.” She says, finally meeting my gaze.

“But you were able to create a blade of the dark magic? And you used it to stab Dax.” I ask. The question is rhetorical, but she answers by nodding her head anyway.

“Do you think I killed him?”

“If we’re lucky, but Dax seems to have limitless luck himself,” I growl as I turn away from her and stride to the long window at the back of the room. The dragon is nothing but a speck in the distance, but I know the direction they are heading and have a king who controls dragons in my infirmary with little left to negotiate with.

Thrumming my fingers on the arm of the chair, I wait impatiently for the King of Valeska to wake after Dax’s shadow attack. I should have let him die, but if that happened and the prince were to be “ missing, ” I highly doubt that his soldiers would be willing to fight for me…

The sound of a cough causes me to perk up, and I snap my fingers to gain the attention of the healers. Two of them come in and start fussing over him. I’ve never seen what Dax’s shadows do when they are aimed to harm another Fae… after witnessing that show of power, I’m glad that I was not the one he unleashed it on. I know he didn’t even put the full extent into it because he was injured; that fact alone is a cause for concern. I’ve always known that Dax was powerful, but I never knew what his magic had manifested into as he grew into his power.

“My son, where…” Phyrrohs clutches at the bandages on his chest with a pained wince. “Let me up!” He tries to push from the bed but the healers fuss and insist that he stay lying down.

“Please sire! Your wounds…” The man says with round eyes, his urgency to do as he requests written all over his face. I clear my throat, having seen and waited enough. Phyrrohs’ head snaps in my direction, his eyes narrowing on me. A slow smile spreads across my face.

“I think the king is quite okay. Leave us.” I demand. The two healers look at each other then at Phyrrohs, where he is panting, still clutching his chest. I can see the protests they swallow with fear in their eyes. They make the wise decision and shuffle from the room without another word. When the door snaps shut, I turn to face the King of Valeska.

“Good morning, sunshine.” He opens his mouth to say something in response, but I roll my lips, wagging my finger at him. “No, no, no. I speak right now, and you listen . There is no denying that we have both been betrayed by our sons. The question still lies: what are we going to do about it? I’ve had some time to think while you have been sleeping soundly. Being healed by my healers…” His lip curls into a silent snarl.

“I see you have at least two dragons still here. I assume you can still command them, and it isn’t just your son who can control the beasts… Dax has officially declared war by coming into my castle, taking my prisoners, and attacking my guest . He has made Valeska an enemy by this attack as well. Am I wrong?” His glare deepens as he listens to me.

“The Ravendenes have been in my way for a very long time. I think it’s time that we eradicate Aldramani from the nuisance that comes with the name and I think that you would be wise to agree with my terms…” I continue, folding my hands on my knee where I have crossed my legs and turned toward him. His mouth opens again to protest or agree. I don’t know, but I am not finished.

“Do not speak. These are my terms. You will command your army to fight for me. Valeska will help me destroy Dax and anyone that stands with him. You can keep the moon bitch, but once you have her, I want you gone from Aldramani. Do with your son whatever you see fit, but just know, if he stands in my way, I will not hesitate to cut him down too.” When I finish speaking, I stand and walk to the single window in the infirmary and look out over the ocean, giving him his moment of silence to decide what his fate is going to be.

He doesn’t get a choice. Not really. He will lead his army in my fight, or he will die here tonight.

“My son has abandoned his right to Valeska; to the Drach name. I will lead my army in this fight, and I will take what I am owed.” He growls as he pushes up from the bed, chin held high.

“Well then, I guess we have a war to plan… We will take the fight to them. Get your rest, King Phyrrohs. We leave in the morning.”