I brought all of you here today to discuss the necessity of choosing a new leader. I have called the community leaders from each village outside of the capital as well as their citizens; lords and their estate members; as well as the citizens living here throughout the capital because I want you to have a say in your future. Each of you should have the opportunity to decide how you want to structure your empire moving forward. This is your home, and I want each one of you, human and vampyre alike, to have a say in what happens next.”
“Human? Humans will get a say in what happens next?” A male voice questioned, and I glanced in his direction. He was young and human, and the way his eyebrows shot toward his hairline as his lips puckered in an “o” gave away his shock and awe.
Kyella’s face grew more serious, brows furrowing as she considered the young man. With a heavy sigh, she responded, “Malakai lied to every single one of you, maliciously, when he claimed that humans weren’t equal to vampyres. I didn’t think it was possible to live in a society where both thrived, but the Tridian Empire has shown me how incredibly wrong that perception is. Bringing that same level of equality and peacehereis essential, which is why you must pick a leader who is able to facilitate that. A leader who can bring this empire into the future, instead of remaining in the pain-filled past.”
“And how do you suggest we do that? We have never chosen a ruler,” a woman called out from the middle of the group.
“We can help you run an election,” Kyella explained, though I knew she had her own opinions of who would make the best leader for the Thaician Empire. Luckily, I think the citizens saw the very same potential that she did.
“I know many of your loved ones and community leaders may have been injured or killed in the war, more so many are dealing with the losses within your villages,” she said, sympathy lacing her tone as she dropped her chin for a short moment. “The weight of ruling an empire is heavy, so you should elect someone who is willing and eager to serve this empire and take on the responsibility of leading vampyres and humans alike. Being a ruler is not about ruling over people, it is about serving those who have placed their trust in you. Taking the time to choose the right person for that is essential.”
“What do you know of Malakai?”
My head whipped around, searching for the speaker as my hands fisted at my sides. Kyella’s soft, commanding tone eased the anger that burned in my gut at the insolent question. Her head tilted up as she said, “I was his Thrall before I escaped to the Tridian Empire.”
Soft gasps met her exclamation, but she pushed forward, the shadows in her eyes not as dark as they had once been when discussing her past. “But I escaped, and I became stronger. I realized that my past had been tainted with lies. That burden is now on each of you, and a small but meaningful step forward is choosing someone to lead you.”
“The decision will be yours to make, of course,” she said as several people throughout the room nodded. Relief pooled in my gut to see thoughtful looks on most of the faces surrounding us. “Elections take time to organize, and I will be leaving soon to return to the Tridian Empire. We will be leaving forces behind to defend your future until it is stabilized here, but during the interim, I believe we have a candidate who can lead you through these hard times if you are interested.”
“Yes.” A voice filled the space as everyone seemed to agree, looking cautious but curious.
“Commander Tristan,” Kyella called, turning toward her friend and confidant with a reassuring smile, “if you don’t mind, please join me.”
Bafflement filled Tristan’s face, lips turned slightly downward as he stepped forward to stand next to her. His head tilted slightly as tentative smiles met him from around the room. Kyella offered a bright smile to the group of Thaician citizens.
“You may recognize Commander Tristan from the time he’s spent over the past few days helping with relief efforts. The compassion that he has shown to each and every person he has encountered speaks volumes to his character.”
“Kyella,” Tristan started, voice low as he stared at her, disbelief coloring his features.
“Tristan, like myself,” she said, voice rising with the emotion behind her words, “believed that liberating those under Malakai’s rule was the only option available to us. He chose to come back here with me, despite having escaped the Thaician Empire and Malakai’s tyrannical rule, because he believed in helping this empire. He wanted to free the families and individuals trapped here under Malakai’s rule, as he and his own family once were. Leaving his family in the Tridian Empire, he risked never seeing them again for the chance to free you.”
Which is one of the many reasons we thought he would be a good leader.
“This is your choice, however, and Tristan is only one potential candidate. You are choosing someone you can put your trust into for the future of your empire, for the future of your families, and generations yet to come. This is something you should discuss at length—”
“We put our trust in Commander Tristan.” Glancing up, I spotted a large man with his fist closed over his heart, a steady look in his eye as he stared with a look of hope and pride in Tristan’s direction.
“We second that,” another man, this one older and more refined, called from across the way.
“Tristan saved a group of children that were from our community,” a woman said, hands smoothing over the shoulders of a child standing in front of her. “The vampyre soldiers were trying to use them as a distraction by putting them in the line of fire. Commander Tristan saw through the ruse and saved them. We would be honored to have him as our leader.”
Several more community leaders spoke up, one after another, until the entire group seemed to have come to the same conclusion: Tristan was the man for the job. Shock and overwhelming emotion painted his face, leaving his mouth gaping comically as he shook his head from side to side. His eyes were wide as he stared at Kyella.
She offered him a nod, resting her hand on his shoulder for a short, quiet moment. He murmured something so low that even I could not hear him, and she smiled gently in response. Nodding, she dropped her hand and took a step back, offering him a moment to speak to his crowd of supporters.
He heaved a heavy sigh, though a look of resigned determination knitted his brows together as he considered those gathered before him. His voice was steady and clear as he spoke. “I was born and raised in the Thaician Empire. I found the love of my life and had my daughter here. When I left, it was for their safety. I needed to guarantee their future. I am beyond humbled by the trust you place in me. Honored by it, even, but it is a decision I must make with my family.”
“Of course,” Kyella nodded, turning her attention to the crowd. She offered a bright smile, not at all perturbed by Tristan’s response, before offering, “Until Commander Tristan speaks with his family, we will continue just as we have been, restoring the empire and planning for its future!”
Tristan offered a short nod to the crowd, one that Kyella mirrored, before they stepped in our direction. Though Tristan stood square shouldered and steady, there was an air of overwhelm to him. Reaching out, I punched him lightly on the shoulder.
“These people respect you, Tristan.” Elijah’s voice brokered no argument as he spoke.
Kyella’s voice was soft as she added, “They need you.”
“I feel a calling to help these people,” he admitted, glancing over his shoulder at the hopeful faces staring back at him. He seemed resigned as he turned to face us. “But I can’t make a decision like this without my family.”
“And when they inevitably support you?” I asked, knowing without a doubt that Bailey and Rina would move the heavens above to be with Tristan wherever, under any circumstances. Their family was a precious thing, something filled with love and respect. Compassion was core to who they were, and I didn’t doubt there was enough of that goodness between them to heal this entire empire given the opportunity.
