Chapter 20
I woke to the sounds of birds chirping and the gleam of the golden sunrise streaming through my windows. My bed’s silky sheets felt sleek against my skin as I sat up, rubbing my face in my palms. Physically, I felt better than ever, like a million gold marks, but mentally, I was a mess.
What the fuck happened last night? The Tenebranian monster? I could handle that unexpected twist. But I kissed Jane.
I kissed my brother’s fiancée.
I had tried to fight it, to resist the urge to lean in closer to her, but I had failed miserably. The glint in her eyes as she peered into mine pierced through me, and the feeling of her soft hands against the stubble of my cheeks had unraveled my resolve. I had wanted to devour her.
And the worst part? I knew it was horribly wrong.
At that moment, I recognized myself as the biggest traitor in the universe, but I hadn’t even cared.
I loved my brother wholeheartedly, but he didn’t love Jane—not the way she deserved.
If he had, everything would be different.
I prayed to Amantius that this tale I had woven for my own comfort and peace was true.
Was I truly so depraved that I tried to pursue my brother’s fiancée?
What the fuck is wrong with me?
It didn’t matter. I vowed never to put my hands on her again. What happened was just a mistake, a blunder, born from too many pints of ale and amplified hormones on that dance floor. That was all it was. It wasn’t as if we actually had feelings for one another.
I sighed heavily, shaking my hair free and running my hands up and down my face, trying to clear the sleep from my eyes. The last thing I remembered was Jane’s handmaiden using her purple Light to heal my wounds, and then everything went black.
But the attack by the Tenebrae’s mutated monster lingered vividly in my mind, especially one crucial detail: the creature’s blood sparkled iridescently. I knew only one race with sparkly blood—the Fae.
The Fae were an ancient creation of Amantius, once residing on the planet Verdantis.
But like many thriving civilizations throughout the universe, the Tenebrae ambushed them twenty years ago.
Fortunately, some Fae escaped before the destruction of their home planet, scouting the cosmos for a new refuge.
Many found sanctuary here on Ornath, welcomed by my father. Ornath had always been a haven for refugees fleeing the perils of their home worlds, and I had always felt proud to call it my kingdom.
However, the Fae were a peculiar race, preferring to keep to themselves. My father granted them a generous piece of land in northern Aurath, which they called Cylvaris. I had visited Cylvaris once as a young man with my family, and I still remembered its enchanting beauty.
Cylvaris was nestled along the cliffside of a colossal mountain, where rivers and streams cascaded together into a giant breathtaking waterfall that plunged hundreds of feet below the clouds.
The Fae built their wooden cottages into the mountainsides, using the earth to their advantage while harnessing magic to enhance their way of life.
Fae wielded elemental magic in various forms. Unlike humans, who harnessed Source Light directly from the essence of their Celestial bodies, the ancient race had inherited the ability to channel the elemental spirit of the universe itself, granting them enormous power.
However, Fae law prohibited violence in any form, vowing to use their gifts to better their society, to enhance their existence.
The Fae had also been designed by the Goddess to be stronger, faster, and taller than any human. But their most remarkable feature? When their blood was spilled, it sparkled, as if infused with magic itself.
How could the Tenebranian monster possess Fae blood? It made no sense. The Tenebrae were mortal enemies of the Fae. Despite their vow to never participate in violence, the Fae longed for revenge after the annihilation of their planet, and they would never ally with the Tenebrae. It was impossible.
I crept out of bed, stretching my arms and legs with a big yawn. From my window, I spotted the village down the hill and couldn’t help but smirk as the memories of last night flooded my mind.
I could picture Jane resting her face in her hands, leaning over the booth, beaming as I sang to her.
I could see her being spun around by the patrons, a winged male holding her close as they danced.
A frenzied rage had simmered in my chest, a primal desire to rush off the stage and claim her for myself.
My teeth gritted at the memory, and I shook my head vigorously, trying to expel the jealousy from my veins.
Yet, in the very back of my mind, I couldn’t escape the grip of her breathtaking hazel eyes, locked with mine as I leaned my head against hers in that alleyway.
I could still feel the heat of her mouth against mine, my hands grasping her waist, pulling her securely against the hardness in my pants as my fingers tangled in her unkempt hair.
It had been the best kiss of my life.
I was so fucked.
Tempal sprinted to my side as I raced toward the council room. I desperately needed to speak with my father and his men. Jion would have had his team bring the body of the cavern beast yesterday morning, but I still hadn’t heard anything about it. Surely, they would want my account of the incident.
Tempal caught up with me and placed himself in my path as his eyes grew wide with astonishment. “Good Goddess, Mate. Are you alright? How come you keep getting your ass kicked lately?”
I rolled my eyes and pushed past him. “I didn’t get my ass kicked. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine. I slaughtered the thing easily,” I lied, glancing back over my shoulder.
“Yeah? And how exactly did you do that?” Tempal asked, accentuating his skepticism.
I halted and turned to face him, attempting to come up with any feasible answer to protect Jane and her abilities. “With my knife,” I fibbed again, forcing the proclamation through a clenched jaw.
Tempal frowned, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Interesting. I heard the beast looked like it had been blasted from here to Kilandria. I didn’t know knives could inflict that kind of damage.”
My mouth felt open as I scrambled for a quick response. “I shot the thing with my Light after I stabbed it with my knife.”
“Of course. Of course,” Tempal replied, a smirk creeping onto his face as he clasped his hands behind his back, rocking on his heels. “And how is Miss Jane? Quite a late night for a lady, wasn’t it?”
I hadn’t yet decided how to handle Jane’s ability to harness the power of Amantius.
Should I let the council know? Should Jane be the one to share it?
For now, I only wanted to do what was best for her.
I would speak with her first and let her choose how to continue with her training and how she wished to present her gifts to the kingdom.
“She’s wonderful,” I spat through a toothy smile as I turned toward the giant wooden entryway once more.
Pushing open the heavy doors, I was met with the stench of rotten, decaying flesh. In the centre of the room, the two Tenebranian corpses lay atop the exquisite white and blue marbled tile.
All six council members surrounded the creatures, examining them from every angle. My father remained seated at the crescent moon table, uninterested and unfazed.
“Didn’t think to call on me?” I asked over the commotion and shuffling of the elders’ feet.
“Was there a need to?” he snapped back, focused on picking at his nails with a dagger, refusing to meet my gaze.
The council members paused their investigation and rotated, listening in on our exchange. Jion stood among them, pinching his nose in disgust.
I strolled toward the carcasses, clasping my hands behind my back. “I don’t know. To see if I was in one piece?” I flashed a menacing grin.
The king waved a hand dismissively. “I have servants for that.”
The sting of his words pierced through my heart like a serrated blade. Not even a glimpse of death could bring my own father to care about my well-being.
Never to waver in my ever-feigned confidence, I cleared my throat and rigidly spoke. “Ah. Well, I could at least explain what happened,” I suggested, undermining his authority, a shot of gathering his spineless minions’ support.
“No need. We have the bodies.” He yawned lethargically.
My lips stiffly pressed together, filled with an ever-present wrath that accompanied me in my father’s presence. My nostrils flared as I took a deep breath, attempting to slow my rising heart rate.
“Did you notice their blood?” I projected from across the room.
The council members froze, glancing between my father and me, waiting for the action that was sure to unfold.
However, the king just continued inspecting his nails. “What of it? It’s clearly dried.”
The blood that had previously oozed from the monster was now crusted on its side, dried into a thick paste that no longer sparkled.
Desperation swirled in my brain like a tornado of frantic thoughts, each one crashing into the next as I struggled to find the right words to convince my father of the truth. But without evidence, I knew in my heart that he would never believe me.
“The blood resembled the blood of the Fae. It was shimmering under the lampposts. Sparkling, if you will,” I exclaimed, pleading with the now-listening crowd.
The council members exchanged looks of incredulity, murmurs rippling through the room. Jion studied me with concern etched across his face before shifting his gaze to our father, awaiting his reaction.
Finally, my father leaned forward, his hands bracing the table as he peered at the bodies. Then, he returned to his previous task. “Nonsense. Their blood is crimson red.”
The council members nodded in blind agreement.
Pathetic, spineless cowards.
I stepped closer to the crescent table, arms outstretched forward in appeal. “I know their blood is crusted now, Father, but I swear it. Last night, when the creature was first wounded, its blood sparkled like the Fae’s.
My father hummed contemptuously. “Thank you for the information. You may leave.”
No, not again.
“Father—”
“You shall not address me as such in this council room, boy! Have you no respect?” he hissed through gnashed teeth.
“Your Majesty.” I bowed my head, despair creeping in. “Please, let me investigate the Fae blood. I can travel to Cylvaris on my own and speak to the elders there. They may know something we don’t about the Tenebrae and their attacks.”
“Silence!” My father’s yell boomed throughout the massive room. “I said you were dismissed. Get out!”
My head hung low, shoulders slumping as the familiar pang of rejection flooded my body.
If my father were any other man on this planet, I would have kicked his ass by now.
I wouldn’t let anyone disrespect me like that.
I would dominate the fool and shove his head onto a spike.
But my father was not just any man—he was the King of Ornath, and I had to obey his every command, even unwillingly.
I left the council room before he could scream at me again, pacing outside in the hallway with my hands tangled in my hair, pulling at the roots.
I knew what I had seen, and Jane had seen it too.
The Tenebranian monster’s blood sparkled like the Fae’s.
There had to be a connection. If my father was too pigheaded to search for the truth himself, I would.
Just as I was about to leave, Jion tapped me on the shoulder. His features were twisted in pain as I turned to face him.
At the sight of my brother, the memory of Jane in my arms materialized in my mind, and I could barely meet his gaze.
“Glade, I’m so sorry,” Jion said. It happened every time my father yelled at or rejected me. Jion always apologized for him, eternally remorseful for being born first.
I shrugged him off, wishing to run away and hide from his sight. “It’s fine, Jion. Go back to your meeting.”
He leaned in closer and whispered, “Is it true, Glade? Did the beast’s blood really sparkle?”
Leave it to my brother to believe me but never dare to stick up for me in front of our father.
I nodded, and Jion let out a deep, guttural gasp.
“I can’t believe it. That’s huge! How can he not take this seriously?” he questioned, but I already knew the answer.
Because I was the one who said it. If Jion had seen the blood, things would have been different. The royal guard would be preparing to head for Cylvaris.
But the spare saw the blood, and the spare was unworthy.
I lifted my shoulders in a dismissive gesture, choosing not to answer. Jion didn’t need the reminder of the injustices in our relationship with our father. He lived with them every day.
“Look,” Jion continued in a hushed tone, “you should go. To Cylvaris. I can try to talk to Father about the blood, but who knows if he’ll listen to me. You should go and get some answers. I’ll cover for you.”
Moments like these reminded me why I loved my brother so much. Despite everything our father put us through, Jion had always been on my side. Even though we were forced to obey that disgusting excuse for a man, we secretly rooted for one another and did whatever we could to support each other.
Until last night.
Unable to resist, I wrapped my arms around him, holding him tightly for just a moment.
He only chuckled, patting my back with one hand. “I love you too. Now, get your stuff together. You leave this afternoon.”