Chapter Twenty-Two #2
Kazim burst into a fit of Malovian that sounded like curses, straining against the chains.
Kallie took on a defensive stance, getting ready to attack.
“Insult the fae queen again, and you won’t have to worry about what my brother says next, because I’ll spear my sword through your ears.
It will be easy to do, as there isn’t a brain in the middle to block my blade’s strike. ”
“Why should I care about a bunch of fae prisoners?” Cameron said in a sniveling tone. “Queen Emmaline is not here to back you up, and neither is King Ethan. They are preoccupied elsewhere, and I doubt they will be pleased to hear their children had the gall to speak out against an Emperor.”
If this guy thought Emma was going to take the news well that Cameron had decapitated her son, he was a raving lunatic. She was going to cut him into pieces and scatter him throughout Ilamanthe by the time she got done making that hole in the afterlife for us to get through, that was for sure.
“My brother is the ruler of the fae. He leads a kingdom that is equally strong in comparison to yours, with vast wealth, incredible history, and warriors who are unrivaled on the battlefield.” Kallie’s sword glinted as she lifted it higher.
“He is not some jester you can order around as you see fit.”
Cameron rolled his eyes. “This boy does not take after his parents, and is no true monarch. I refuse to take him seriously. He has insulted me beyond repair, so I say he shall die!”
“You kill my brother, you end any alliance you have with the fae, and I’ll have your head before his own hits the ground,” Kallie took a threatening step forward.
A couple of guards planted himself in front of Cameron, but honestly, good luck.
Kallie would cut through them and end Cameron before this court had anything to say about it.
She’d slain far worthier opponents in front of me without stopping to take a breath between.
Cameron lifted his lip in distaste. “It’s too bad you lost your ability to shift. Your white fur would’ve made a pretty cloak for me to adorn.”
Marcus moved the second Kallie was insulted, digging in his pocket to withdraw his wand. He blasted off a battle orb that crackled as it spun. It exploded into the peak of the throne, ripping off the intricate carving at the top.
I knew Marcus, and I was certain he had lost his temper and fired without thinking. The only reason Cameron’s head didn’t get blown off was Marcus was a clumsy shot, and he’d missed.
Cameron gaped at the hole above his head, which was still smoking. “You shot me! Guards!"
He called for help, but even so, no one in the throne room moved to his aid. Cameron’s soldiers, council, and Associates hesitated, not sure whether to take action and set off the powder keg in the room that was already about to blow.
Marcus strode to stand beside Kallie. “You strike Princess Kalina, the witches will turn against you.”
“Let them!” Cameron boomed. “I’ll fight you, too! I’LL FIGHT ALL OF YOU!”
This was quickly turning into a battle between the fae refugees and the Elves, and the other supernatural races would join in.
If someone didn’t put a stop to this immediately, there’d be blood in the palace and all throughout the streets.
The Warden wouldn’t have to do anything to destroy what was left of our army, because we’d kill each other first.
Not in my city. Cameron might’ve taken Charlie’s political power, but he couldn’t take mine, because Elvish culture demanded the Holy Mother be respected in all circumstances.
Cameron could order all my authority to be stripped away and nobody in this court would take him seriously, because I was the conduit of the Elvish goddesses.
In this monarchy, he was ahead of me in the power structure, but he wasn’t over me spiritually.
I still had a voice, and I would use it.
I had failed to rise as Empress because I didn’t trust myself to hold an entire empire on my shoulders after the destruction I’d caused.
That ended now. Cameron was a spineless Emperor whose inaction had killed enough people already.
No matter how shitty of a job I’d do as a ruler, I couldn’t do worse than him.
I needed to think this through. I could become a leader, take this position from Cameron, but if I did, it would put my family in danger. I had two choices. I could stand down, and by doing so, protect Charlie and Casey. Or I could speak out, and make both of them a target.
Either I had to let all these prisoners die by submitting to Cameron’s will in order to keep my family safe, or I had to make my voice heard.
I knew what it was like to be locked in a prison, and to be left helpless. It went against my values to let these fae waste away behind bars. I didn’t have a choice, because I couldn’t let these people die. Allowing these prisoners to die wasn’t in me, even if it required taking a risk.
Even so, I doubted I could take this much responsibility on my shoulders. What if I couldn’t sustain an empire and a family?
Charlie stepped forward. “If you’re going to fight all these people, you’ll have to fight me, too.”
Cameron waved his hand. “Very well. You shall be the first I fall!”
The room went silent in shock. For as vile as Cameron was, few could believe he’d say that.
“You would kill your own son?” Charlie asked in disbelief. It was one thing for Cameron to take Charlie’s finger, and another for him to take his life.
Cameron shrugged casually, his pathetic lips in a pout.
“You don’t understand how much I’ve done to separate myself from you already.
It’s too difficult to run an empire and be a parent.
Gods know I couldn’t do both. Being a parent is hard.
I had to skip all my afternoon naps to watch you while your mother was at work, and interrupt my day every time I had to feed you. ”
Holy shit. Charlie’s food insecurities had started long before he was on the streets.
By the sound of it, Charlie didn’t get fed as an infant unless Kelly was there.
How Cameron had gotten two women to marry him, I’d never know, because this guy was a real prick and an even worse father.
I didn’t know how he came from Cassiel. Cameron wasn’t a good mob boss, a good Emperor, a good father, or a good spouse. He’d failed in every category.
The idiot rambled on. “Here you are as a fully-grown man, continuing to disturb my peace. You’ve learned nothing!
You’ll understand my position once you take the throne.
You love your son now, and I loved you when you came out, but that love has dwindled now that issues of more importance have risen to the surface.
You’ll come to find in time you will discard your own son for the benefits of your throne. ”
Fuck that. What was I worried about, questioning if I could run an empire and keep a family?
Cameron was a weakling, but I fucking wasn’t, so I could accomplish what he wasn’t capable of.
He was a deplorable man to speak to his son this way.
I didn’t even have feelings for Casey, and I’d never say any of this shit to him.
I was done letting Cameron rule. It was time for me to claim my crown, because whether I wanted it or not, no one could rule this kingdom like me. Cameron wanted people to fall at his feet, but he’d be falling at mine before the day was out.
I was Ava-Fucking-Marie Wahkin. Nobody, especially Cameron, the worthless worm, could tell me what I wasn’t capable of. I could save this empire, rebuild my marriage, and find a way to love Casey all while beating the Warden, and no one was going to stop me.
I could be Empress and still keep Charlie. I just had to prove to myself I was capable.
“The goddesses are against this.” I raised my voice over all the others, coming to the center of the room. The area fell silent as I sat at the base of the stairs that led to the throne’s dais, staring up at Cameron with resolve and without fear.
Charlie paled; he was worried about me speaking out, what the repercussions would be if I stood against his father. He didn’t want me to get hurt.
But I wasn’t in any danger, because Cameron blanched the moment he set eyes on me. He hadn’t realized I was there. His fingers turned white as he gripped the armrests of his throne, acting as if I was a specter personally come to haunt him.
Everyone in the room waited for my next words. I turned my head as I spoke to them all, raising my voice so everyone would hear. “Caralyn and Idril want us to have courage. We should take action to rescue the fae.”
“And how do you know? Have you heard Caralyn or Idril speak to you? How could you without any magic?” Cameron sneered.
“I don’t need to hear their voices to know what you’re doing here is wrong, and the most foolish thing you could do.
The goddesses would not support this mockery you’ve made of their empire,” I said plainly.
“You have a lot of nerve, insulting one of my ladies and threatening to behead one of our strongest allies.”
Cameron’s lip quivered, but he managed to keep a straight face. My eyes surveyed the room and landed once again on Oberi… and the glint of the metal collar he bore. “Why is that collar still on my Familiar?”
“He’s not your Familiar anymore,” Cameron seethed.
I raised an eyebrow. “We’ll see about that.”
I snapped my fingers. “Oberi. Come here.”
He dutifully trotted over, the collar dangling on his neck. That collar prevented him from using magic, from shifting, from being who he truly was. He would be restrained no more.
I hadn’t taken it off yet, because I knew the moment I did there’d be no going back. I had to be sure of the moves I was making before I made them. But I was done with waiting, and it was past time to execute my master plan. I needed to make a statement.