58. Chapter Fifty-Eight
The Summer Court has sent assassins to every city to pick apart the usurper’s regime.
That was all I cared about in the letter. The rest was inconsequential—murmurs about unrest in the furthest cities, updates on how many victims she’d gotten leads on. I didn’t care about those things right now.
I said no more innocent blood—and I knew how foolish of a promise that was to make in times of war, but it was one I wouldn’t forget. Too many died when Sólkon’s men docked at the shores. Far too many.
“It could be a red herring,” Casynox said as he picked apart a biscuit across from me. I threw the paper on the table and stood to start pacing. “Sólkon isn’t stupid enough to kill more of his men after we captured so many already.”
“He is, and he has done it before,” I said and pinched the bridge of my nose. “We need to control the cities still under Sólkon’s control. There are a lot of people who don’t like the sight of me, but we cannot let that weaken us.”
Casynox nodded and set his half-eaten biscuit on a napkin. “There will always be people after your crown. You know this.”
I barked out a laugh and rubbed my face. After leaning against the mantle of the fireplace, I let my gaze wander out the frosted window. “How is Lyra?” I muttered.
“Angry.”
I blinked, nodding. I expected no less.
“She is out for blood. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen her so vengeful before. And, for the first time in half a century, it’s not directed at you.”
I chuckled breathily and looked at Casynox. “When things calm down, we will have a memorial for him. It’s the right thing to do.”
Casynox nodded and stood, tapping his finger on the table. “I think you should be worrying about somebody else, for now,” he said as he gave me a knowing glare. “You’re no fool, but you are being a coward.”
I gaped at him, sputtering to defend myself, but he snapped at me.
“I don’t want to hear it. Your kingdom will be just fine if you’re not scooping up every pile of ash on the street for a day or so. You’ve done enough—you need rest, and you need a clear mind.”
My mouth snapped shut, and I breathed through my nose in frustration. Casynox smiled widely at me. “I cannot rest, Cas. If I do, we lose everything.”
“We will not lose everything,” he said quickly. “But you will if you don’t get your head out of your ass.” When I cocked my brow, he held up his hands in surrender and bowed so low, even the cruelest monarch would be pleased. “Sorry. It is in my humble opinion, as your humble servant, that you should get your head out of your ass…Your Majesty.”
My lips twitched into a smirk, and I waited for him to stop staring at his feet. “Call me Your Majestyagain, and I will stick my foot up your ass.”
Casynox beamed. “Wouldn’t have it any other way, snowman.”
I approached my friend and smacked a hand on his back, walking with him out of the den. Our footsteps echoed beneath the weight of our idle chatter, but as I looked ahead and watched the light dance against stark shadows cast on the wall, I saw darkness move. It was almost sentient, and it made me pause.
It was beckoning for me. But when I blinked, it vanished.
“Seen a ghost?”
“Sorry,” I muttered after looking at Casynox. “I think you’re right. The stress is getting to me.”
“And Saph thinks I’m the crazy one. Can you believe it?”