17. Kyros #2
I catch a glimpse of Kaeleith out of the corner of my eye as she stands.
She leans heavily on a walking stick before her magick snaps like the crack of a whip as she stamps the stick down on the wood floor.
It silences Ruaan instantly. Anger at Ruaan vibrates through my soul, and I too am forced to obey her magick as it locks my muscles in place and adheres my feet in place where I stand.
“There will be no fighting in my home. You are at a turning point.” Her gray eyes bounce between the two of us.
They pass between me, where I stand with a clenched fist balled in the fabric beneath Ruaan’s chin, and him, where he sneers back at me.
“There’s much to gain and much to lose. Your decisions on how to proceed will, undoubtedly, determine which outcome it is for you to receive.
” Ruaan and I stand off with the old dweller standing at our side, our eyes still locked in a battle of wills.
Kaeleith snaps her stick on the ground once more, and her odd magick falls. Neither Ruaan nor I budge, though.
“Do you suspect she has magick?” Ruaan asks, with a predatory tilt to his head.
“No,” I push him back, releasing his tunic and causing a full smile to split his face. I ignore the fact that I want nothing more than to make him choke on his teeth and keep talking.
“Why fight me on this then?” He asks with narrowed eyes. “She is the princess of nothing… why do you care what happens to her?”
“You know nothing about her. Is that what you wanted by bringing Colette here—to use the one person that Astraea cares about to help you? Does your kingdom have its sights set on my kingdom too?” As soon as I say the words, I realize I’ve said too much.
His hazel eyes illuminate with realization.
I see the moment it happens, the flicker of recognition.
“Your kingdom?” He follows me as I stalk back toward the window. “I thought you looked familiar, but I hadn’t put it together. I should have known!” He slaps his hand down on his knee as he sits in one of the chairs facing the mountain.
Anchoring my thumb to my jaw, I use three fingers to massage the pulsing pain starting above my brow.
I should just kill him here and now. Rolling my neck, I square my shoulders, coming to a decision because as much as I would like to kill the bastard for threatening what is mine, I can see how he can be of use to me.
“Tell me what your goal is in this, Ruaan?” I want him to tell me everything he knows. Only then will I decide his worth to me. I cross my arms over my chest. Ruaan presses his lips together, his arms crossing as he narrows his eyes on me.
“First, I want to hear it. Tell me I’m right about who you are.”
“You know who I am.” I slowly say, and he shakes his head with a self-satisfied smirk.
“No, I know who you have said you are. Who are you really?” He asks, and I take a deep breath. I suppose this moment is the turning point Kaeleith had warned about. Once I give this knowledge, there is no turning back. The way his eyes burrow into mine tells me he knows it too.
The cocky prince and I have met before, even before the courting affairs Connard was posturing with.
It was when I was working for Phaedra. Our paths crossed, as I had a job that led me to run across the border to Pyraxia.
The stupid bastard chose the wrong kingdom to flee to.
Turns out Ruaan was also searching for the same man for an entirely different reason. A reason that was much more personal.
It wasn’t a smooth introduction. We quickly found out what the other is capable of. In the end, we took care of the target and came to a mutual understanding. I had a feeling that he was an acquaintance that would be useful to have on your side versus against you.
It was honestly a shock to see him in the court of Eathian, but then again, his father would want to strengthen his kingdom with a powerful allegiance…
I assume the prince was there as unwillingly as Astraea, though, based on the reason our paths crossed in the first place.
The torture that he put the man we were both hunting through.
It’s not something you do to someone for not paying their taxes.
It was personal. It was a death carried out with a weapon forged in the pain of love.
Ruaan's life has been closer aligned to what mine would have been, had it not been ripped away by Connard. It is widely known that his kingdom of Pyraxia is fearsome on its own. It is closest to the Dead Sea, where the Scylia have claimed as their territory. They cross that border more often than not. The people who live there have been accustomed to savagery because of that fact. I know, as well as many others, when you are raised with savage hands, you either learn to be more loudly lethal, or you learn everything you can to be the quieter threat. It’s clear the latter is Ruaan’s style.
“I am Kyros Ruvaen. Eldest son of King Kratos and Queen Evren Ruvaen. Rightful heir of the Eathian throne.” I declare, each title rolling off my tongue as if they were always meant to. He merely chuckles.
“Ok then, so why not go back to Eathian with the princess in tow and take back what is rightfully yours? Why sit around in this divine forest with her while all hell breaks loose out there?” He sweeps his hand out in a gesture to the cabin around us.
“I’ve told you who I am; now it’s my turn for answers. I want to know everything that led to you coming to Eathian. Tell me more about the prophecy you speak of.”
He narrows his eyes on me, then at Kaeleith, where she stands still looking between the two of us before he claims nonchalance with a shrug.
He leans into the high back of the chair with a sigh and points to the other chair.
As he stares at me, he props his boots up on the table and folds his arms over his arrogant chest with another half grin.
“It’s going to be a long night; might as well sit, Kyros.
You aren’t going to like what I have to say.
” He says with his brows raised high. I know he’s right; whatever it is, I’m certain it has to do with Astraea and those who have caused her life to be what it is today.
All I can do is hope that I can decide to trust this bastard to give me the facts.
I don’t sit. Instead I lean against the window frame and look through the glass pane at the Halcyon mountain range, thinking about the hell I will bring down on this realm if anyone ever tries to hurt Astraea again.
Magick or not, I will become the very nightmare they will all fear.
It’s only a matter of time before Astraea comes out here or Colette wakes up. Ruaan rolls his injured shoulder and shakes his head as he finally gives up on me sitting in the chair and continues telling me what I wish to hear.