Epilogue – Prince Rhistel Aaberg, Heir to Winter’s Realm, House of the White Bear
Epilogue
PRINCE RHISTEL AABERG, HEIR TO WINTER’S REALM, HOUSE OF THE WHITE BEAR
For days he waited. Lurked, listened, and prepared.
Trapped in his mother’s powers, Prince Rhistel bided his time, waiting for the moment she would least suspect his escape. His turn of fate.
His leashing of her.
The queen was confident in her whisperer magic, as she should be. However, her firstborn son had also grown in his magic. For over a turn, he’d been practicing without the queen’s knowledge. Rhistel was now as good as his mother. As powerful.
And far more ruthless.
He needed only to wait until the right time to test this belief, to slip out from under her thumb.
What would he do when he regained his freedom?
Turn on the female who birthed him, certainly, for while she’d suppressed his mind, he’d also learned of her past. All of it. Every traitorous inclination. Queen Inga could not be trusted, not for what the heir wished to put into motion.
Once his mother was indisposed, Lord Riis and Saga would be next. Saga—darling of the realm—would not be allowed to take what Rhistel had worked for all his life. Then, with those threats neutralized, he’d speak with his father.
Surely, the king would not harm the male he thought to be his son. After all, King Magnus was a bastard brought up by a male who was not his father. The king, though lacking in honor in many regards, would act honorably in this instance.
If not, Rhistel had the power to deal with Magnus Aaberg. To make the king a puppet on a string until such a time when Rhistel arranged the king’s death and claimed the crown for himself.
The only person he did not know precisely what to do with was Vale.
As often as the twin princes did not see eye to eye, they once had. They’d once been true brothers. Rhistel saw in his mother’s mind that Vale had learned they were bastards. Could this unfortunate truth bring them back together?
As long as he forsakes his whore. Which I can get him to do.
Yes, if it came down to it, when he met his twin again, Rhistel would whisper the Warrior Bear. Getting rid of Neve would be easy enough when Vale believed he no longer wanted her at all.
He’d have his twin back and a strong protector. A good plan, if he did say so himself.
Rhistel tested the shackles around his mind again, finding his mother’s power there, but not as strong as before. There were chinks in her armor.
She was tiring. He was waiting.
He’d strengthen for a few more days before breaking free and seizing his fate the stars seemed determined to strip from his grasp.