Chapter Thirty-Nine Xander
When Siyala asked if she could lay her head on my chest following her confession, there was no force in this realm or any other that could have gotten me to say “no.” Gathering her up in my arms felt strangely instinctual, the fitting of a key in a lock that had previously been abandoned.
It is my favorite rhythm. Fuck if that wasn’t going to replay in my head for a long time.
But even as the rightness of her laying over me settled in, so did an impermeable sadness.
She would have to leave, return back to the place that had caused her so much pain, and I would have to let her go.
She could handle anything. Of that, I have no doubt.
She’d proven her strength time and time again.
But I know what it is to walk through life every day as if you are navigating a battlefield, and I am no stranger to the loneliness that often accompanies that journey.
Her lips part with a soft breath, the cadence of her breathing signifying that she’s fallen into a deep sleep, and though I have a dead body to clean up and a king to appease, I surrender to the way she feels against me.
How she laid her worries at my feet, even if it’s just for tonight.
Shutting my eyes, I breathe in her soft, floral scent, brand it to memory.
And with a reluctant sigh, I plan the details of her escape.
The gasps that follow me as I stride towards the throne room are warranted—expected, even—but they still pelt against me like stones flung at my back.
I could have chosen a more subtle way to go about this, but with King Dolian’s mind so focused on Princess Rhea—and the apparent lie that she is dead—I need something that will get his attention immediately. And I need to send a message to Simon.
He knew what Commander Miles had planned, and he taunted me with that knowledge, likely assuming I wouldn’t get to Siyala in time.
There are ramifications to him knowing that I did, but I have no doubt he will keep them to himself.
After all, he had gone directly against the king’s command in the hope that Miles might feed him information from Siyala that spoke to one of two facts: either I also received that information and was withholding it or I was giving her special treatment. Just like I was with Immie.
It had been a slip up, a diversion from my plans.
A rule broken, and it nearly cost everything.
But as I reach the double doors to the throne room and push them open, ignoring the protests of both Brisk and the guard standing opposite him, I decide that for Siyala, I’d break every rule. Even my own.
King Dolian stands on the dais, an arm draped along the back of his gold throne, the rubies glimmering brightly in the sunlight that streams through the nearby wall of windows.
His brows raise as he takes me in, the crown on his head making him appear taller.
“Xander,” he drawls, words cut short when I toss Miles’s bloody body down at the base of the steps.
Dropping to a knee, I pound my fist to my chest. “Your Majesty,” I greet, waiting a few seconds before looking up at him. “I bring you the gift of a traitor exposed.”
Movement to the right draws my attention as Simon strides my way, Jerrick at his side. At my left, Silas and Von move in as well, hands resting on the hilts of their swords. The king’s eyes shine with curiosity as he jerks his chin in command for me to stand.
“Treachery is a strong accusation, Xander,” Simon says, clasping his hands behind his back. “Surely, you must be mistaken.”
“I went to further interrogate the shifter after our enlightening conversation at dinner,” I tell him, enjoying the way his facade slips.
He glances to the king and then back at me, eyes narrowed.
“And there, I found Commander Miles opening up the remaining prisoners’ cells, including that of the shifter. ”
King Dolian descends the steps, coming to a stop on the other side of the commander’s body. “What would compel him to do such a thing?” he asks, though the question feels like formality. As if he’s already bored by the answer.
I shrug, acting as if I’m unbothered. I guess I truly am. Miles deserved a painful death. “Perhaps he was jealous he had not been promoted sooner, angry at you for drawing the process out. He didn’t give me an excuse before I struck him down.”
“A most unfortunate thing,” Simon sneers.
“We don’t have time to worry about traitors among us,” King Dolian says in response, and Simon lowers his head in apology.
“Whether it is as Xander says or the guard simply felt like getting some energy out, the fact remains that Commander Miles could not hold his own.” Hazel eyes snap to mine, and I cringe internally as pride flashes over his face.
Long ago, I might have craved such a look from him. Now, I endure it as I wait to see if the risk I’ve taken will pay off.
“Perhaps I haven’t given you the credit you are due, Xander. After all your years of dedicated service, maybe it is time you be rewarded for it.” He tilts his head to the side, his crown remaining balanced. “I am promoting you to Commander of my Trusted.”
No one moves or offers words of approval, and that only doubles the excitement I feel. This is better than I could have imagined. I will be in charge of the Trusted from here on out. “Thank you for this honor, Your Majesty. I will not disappoint you.”
“I should hope not.” He steps forward, the tips of his boots digging into the side of Miles’s lifeless body.
“Many important things are on the horizon, Xander. Anyone who disobeys, who does not work towards the vision I have for this kingdom, will be punished without mercy.” His eyes search mine, and not for the first time, I wonder if perhaps magic does flow in the Maxwell line.
Because how could one man hold so much evil without it?
“Anyone.” The threat is clear, and I acknowledge it without breaking his gaze.
We follow King Dolian out of the throne room to his next meeting, me at his side while the rest of the Trusted trail behind, their spiteful gazes scouring my back.
Though I’m now closer to the king than ever before, it’s come at a large cost. There has never been a larger target on my back than there is now.
Days later, I hold the next resistance meeting, my promotion met with overall excitement.
Alden broods in the corner but doesn’t speak whatever thoughts are dancing around in his head.
I don’t let the conversation move to Princess Rhea, instead keeping it focused on the king and my efforts to plan his downfall from the inside.
“I have more access to him now than I ever did before, and because of that, we can ensure he is dethroned with minimal loss of life.” It would be foolish to expect everyone to make it out unscathed, and I vowed from the beginning that I would never provide the resistance with false hope.
“Your trust in me is something I value beyond measure, and I swear to you, on my blood, that I am striving to take King Dolian down. That soon, Vitour and all her surrounding towns will know the justice and peace that can come from a kingdom led by the people.” I do not want to be king so much as I understand that there needs to be a singular figurehead to represent the kingdom.
I can be that, even if I’m not sure I’m owed it.
If I’m not sure that it’s mine to take. But, at least for a time, I can give the people a familiar name and face until someone better can take the mantle.
With the meeting dismissed, I wait to speak to Grayson until the last of the members file out.
I’m surprised when not only does Tienne hang back but Eve as well.
Greeting them both with a small smile, I take in the way my friend leans against the edge of the table, my brow furrowing at the shadows clinging to her cheeks and beneath her eyes.
“Are you well?” I ask her.
“Fine, just a little run down,” she answers. But I don’t miss the way Eve looks at her, concern bracketing her mouth. “This was Eve’s first official meeting.”
“Glad to have you as part of the resistance.”
Grayson takes the chair to my left, kicking his feet up on the edge of the table. “Welcome aboard,” he offers, and Eve smiles.
“It is an honor to be among you all. I am beyond pleased to learn that there are others who feel as I do about the king. Who are willing to be vocal about it.”
“You will find there are many, even if they haven’t joined the resistance yet. The hope is that, when the time comes to rise up, they will join and our numbers will become overwhelming.”
Eve nods as she laces her fingers together in front of her. We chat a little longer, my concern for Tienne growing when she begins to nod off during the conversation. With encouragement from Eve, the two leave, and I turn to Grayson as worry stabs into my chest. “Something is wrong with her.”
He nods, the acknowledgement doing nothing to ease my nerves.
“There has been a virus working its way through the barracks. Fatigue is one of the symptoms.” I force myself to take a deep breath as my mind flashes to those being treated for the Cruel Death in Vitour.
In most cases, the sickness sweeps in quickly, but sometimes, it creeps slowly, a predator seeping out in the form of fatigue and dizziness and nausea.
Those cases are rare, but… Seeing the concern that must be etched on my face, Grayson stands and plants a hand on my shoulder.
“Don’t worry, son. Everything is going to be alright.”
I can’t explain why those words feel like little more than an omen.
Leaving through the tunnel, I rejoin the fray on the main floor of the castle with worry still very much present in my mind.
I had been so focused on the king and the Trusted—on Siyala—that I forgot about the one death sentence that was impossible to avoid once it chose you. I forgot about the Cruel Death.