Chapter 38 #2
The proud General might be kneeling, but his back is straight and he looks ahead, prepared for his fate. I admire him, his strength even as a part of me breaks seeing him so submissive.
I spent my entire life looking up to my uncle.
It goes beyond his mind, his accomplishments.
He trained me when my father tossed me away.
He allowed me into his office when I needed a place to hide from the rigors of palace life.
He read to me, allowed my mind to calm when things became too much.
When my mother died, he comforted us all, providing stability when Zelos tried to erase her memory.
“What is this, Father? Another tacky display?”
He laughs, but it’s full of coldness. “It’s punishment, my heir. The general was found colluding with traitors. You know the action I must take.”
“You’re lying,” I declare, holding out my arms. “The general is no traitor.”
Zelos smirks, fangs dipping over his lip. “He is. My brother worked with you and the rest of my ungrateful children to usurp my throne.” He snaps his fingers and the guards draw weapons, surrounding us. The smell of fear heightens in the domed room, and my fangs itch to grow.
My father looks to my mate, eyes narrowed. She holds her hands high, fingers bent and broken to grab the hearts of those enemies around us. There is no fear from her, no—only disdain and contempt.
“Looks like someone has her magic back. If you recall, my dear, you’re meant to be my weapon of mass destruction, not his.”
“Too bad I’m not married to you.”
Zelos’ grin falls. I can’t help but smirk as I see his understanding flash in those cunning eyes, as he spits, “Married? You found a Mage for the bonding ceremony?”
“It’s amazing what one can find hiding in the dungeon of your enemies palace,” I shrug.
Reid flickers his fingers like a bard telling a story. “Surprise. It’s another daughter.”
“Guards!” he roars, and the balcony above shifts as archers take their positions.
They rapidly fill their strings and I react.
As soon as the sound of a bow snapping is heard, I call up my shadows, blocking their assault, my body covering Max instinctively.
The court members yell, stampeding away into chaos so as to avoid the hits, shrieking when a stray arrow penetrates their limbs.
This is the king they pledged to support. He’ll sacrifice everyone for his own pursuits.
The noise of arrows hitting the floor stops abruptly, and I lower the shield. My father is gone, the crowd dispersed with most hunkering by the far walls as if that will protect them. There is no cover, no barrier, and some are withering on the floor from puncture wounds.
It’s never more apparent that the members of my court have no idea how war nor weapons work. It’s a disservice to my kingdom, really.
“Oslo!” Fee shouts, pushing past me, our brother on her heels. Max’s soft no pulls my attention from the room, looking for another attack, to my siblings on the dial.
Oslo lies still, blood pooling under his prone form.
Together, we rush to his side, an arrow stabbed through his chest, another in his leg, pinning him to the stage. He blinks, a trickle of crimson falling from his lips.
“Pull them out,” I command, already biting into my wrist. My blood can save him. It healed Max, it’s powerful enough to reverse this. I can still save my uncle.
Max’s fingers hover over his chest and she catches my eye, sorrow filling those blue orbs. “Kaden, it’s too late. His heart.” Her fingers twist again and I know, from her tone, his heart has stopped.
Dark Fae can heal any ailment, but it cannot reverse death.
Oslo looks up at me, smiling, fangs painted red, lips mouthing one final message that I cannot hear. Not over the rushing in my head, the failure sinking my gut.
He’s dead. I didn’t plan enough, didn’t execute flawlessly. He’s dead because of me. My heart shatters as the pieces fall to the tile at my feet. It’s a similar feeling as to when my mother passed only so much worse.
Zelos killed her too. Killed Sose. Now, Oslo.
He tortured my mate, brutalized my sister, abandoned my brother. Left me to rot in a cage until I learned to appease him.
He’s taken everything from me—every shred of humanity, gone, crushed under his heel. He is no father—no king to me.
There’s no fanfare, no celebration, no glorious battle as my uncle leaves this world for Seti’s domain. He dies on the cold steps of the throne he swore to protect. And I’m powerless to stop it.
My shoulders drop, exhaustion so damn heavy that the grip I have on my curse relaxes. He howls, almost encouraging me as his chains fall away. I have no reason to let him stay caged. No reason to ignore him. Not when he can help me do the one thing I need.
Kill Zelos.
My body shakes and this time, I don’t fight the shift. Don’t stop or hinder it.
Looking to Max, I make her one more promise. One I will keep. “Remember, kitten, I won’t hurt you. Not again.”
Her lips quiver and I close my eyes, fully succumbing to the curse.