Chapter Thirty-Three
Valeris
Nadiyah wasn’t the perpetrator. My uncle was certain he had stabbed his opponent.
The blood soaking his clothes was proof of that.
After I disclosed to Howland what had happened, he assigned two more bodyguards to me and heightened security throughout the palace.
Someone was out there. Someone who wanted blood.
I threw open the door to my rooms. Zandyr waited in one of the chairs inside.
“I didn’t think you were allowed in here unless I was present.” I brushed past him, checking the two adjoining rooms for signs of anyone else.
“I’m your brother,” he said. “I didn’t know I needed permission.”
“Brother by blood only, not by heart.” The words were harsh, but we had both heard worse. We knew the reality of how our family worked.
He studied me. “Why do you hate me so much?”
His words caught my attention, forcing me to meet his gaze. “I don’t hate you.”
“Are you certain? I know our family isn’t close, but you’ve never even tried with me.”
I let out a chuckle. “You mean like you tried? I remember running to you as a little boy wanting to spend time with my older brother before I knew any better. All I got was a turned-up nose and mind games. Belittling. Condescending. Humiliating me if I dared enter your presence without permission. You never had any time for anything other than your books and your charts and your fist fights. Your bets and associations. You were above me and that was never going to change. You always felt like you were better than everyone else—even Ezrielle.”
Zandyr’s face turned red. “I had an important job to do, Valeris. I wasn’t a little boy with time for silly games and toys. I didn’t have time to be coddled.”
“Neither was I.” My voice turned cold. “But you never asked. Never offered to teach me. Why do you think I never went back to you after that?”
I hid the hurt I knew festered deep within me. I had learned to bury it long ago. To keep it out of sight.
Zandyr stood from the chair. “I’ve made mistakes in the past, Valeris, but through this whole affair you have acted like you’re the only one that has anything to offer this kingdom when you’re the one who has always done the least for it.”
“The least?” I stepped closer, inches from his face.
“I’m seventh in line for the throne, Zandyr.
No matter what I did or didn’t do, it would have never gotten me any farther in life.
But I was watching. From the background.
I know more about this kingdom than you ever will, which means I understand how catastrophic it would be for this country should you or Ezrielle be allowed to sit on the throne one day. ”
“As if you even know me,” Zandyr growled.
I was frustrated from not being able to figure out what was going on. Finding leads that only led to dead ends. Not being able to get anywhere and feeling like a failure. Perhaps that was why I let my emotions get the best of me, why I lashed out so strongly when I knew my words went too far.
“I know enough. I know you’ll be the worst king this country has ever seen, only second behind Ezrielle as queen.”
No surprise coursed through me when his fist slammed into the side of my face.
I rolled with the punch, but it didn’t lessen the pain.
Before he could strike another blow, my fist caught his jaw and we were all-out wrestling on the ground, throwing blows wherever we could get them, each trying to rise victorious.
I took all of my frustration out on him, letting it tear out of me.
A hand wrenched at my shoulder, yanking me off Zandyr. Howland stood between us, his arms outstretched to keep us separated.
“Are you quite finished?” he asked.
I wiped the blood from my lip. “You’ll have to ask him. I’m not the one who started it.”
Zandyr snarled, but Howland held him back.
“That’s enough. Look at your faces. No one will ally with you if they think you are warring within your own house. I’m going to ask again: Are you finished?”
Zandyr and I glared at each other, not finished but willing to surrender for now. He had given me the opportunity to do something I had wanted to do for years. Even though my head was throbbing, I did feel better.
I spat a spray of blood out onto the floor. “I’m good.”
Zandyr marched to the door, turning. “I came here to tell you I am not your enemy, Valeris. However, I believe that statement is no longer true.”
The door slammed behind him.
“Would you like to tell me what that was—”
“Leave me alone, Howland,” I snapped. “I am perfectly capable of handling my affairs by myself.”
Howland frowned but left.
Left me with the silence of my own making.