Or trembling before it.
“They will be held accountable, and in the interim, my father will once more bear the crown of the Mage Kingdom until this is all sorted out.” Murmurs of surprise volley around the foyer, but I ignore them, instead looking to my family, my father nodding in approval. When the guards put their swords away, I drop the shield of my magic. When there are no attempts to harm them, and focus again on the eight council members I’ve captured.
“You cannot do this!” Borris howls, red staining his cheeks. “We deserve respect for what we have done for the kingdom! For the Crown!”
“Please continue to shout about what you deserve, Borris,” I begin, lining the council up before dragging them behind me as I begin my walk to the lowest level of the palace. “I’m sure you’ll find the walls of the dungeons to be an amenable audience.”
Chapter One Hundred and Eleven: Nox
Returningtothedungeonsis more anticlimactic than I thought it might be. I’m not a stranger to killing men. I had happily slain mortal guards without a second thought as Rhea and I escaped, had vowed to kill anyone who got in our way. But what occurred in this damned place was something I had never done before. A kill had never been so…personal. So inefficient. So bloodthirsty. As I pounded Stephan’s body to a pulp for the way he spoke of Rhea—for what he insinuated—killing him had been all of those things.
I don’t have regrets about what I did, but I can’t help but wonder what Rhea will say when she finds out. Her words from the tower, the day of her failed attempt to leave, come rushing back to me.I don’t want you to kill for me. I just want you. I can’t even blame killing Stephan on a way to get closer to bringing her home. I had pulverized him before he could have even given me anything useful. No, what I had done was cruel. In those moments, I had fallen prey to my anger in a way that was so fucking unworthy of the type of man Rhea deserves to haveat her side, yet the thought of anyone else getting to experience life with her sends my heart beating against my chest in a painful and riotous manner. I will not keep what I’ve done from her. Once she is safe again, I will tell her everything and hope that, despite how my mind has tried to distort our last moments together, her love for me is how I actually remember it. Tender. All-encompassing.Just for me.
“What is your plan, Son?” my father asks at my side, the members of the council in individual cells surrounding us. Arin is here as well, having been brought directly from the training yard by my guards. The asshole whines about his false imprisonment despite his charges of attempted regicide.
“They will all stay here where they will be interrogated by you and anyone you trust until I return from the Mortal Kingdom. I want to know every single person that was involved with the abduction of Rhea, the collaboration with King Dolian, and the underhanded treachery that took place in order to get you removed from the throne.” As I speak, I pace in front of the cells, meeting each council member’s gaze.
“Let us not forget how they poisoned you with magic and herbs,” my father adds, earning some comments of confusion from a few of the councilmen.
But it’s impossible yet to know who was truly aware of what Kallin was plotting, and who, if any, didn’t realize just how corrupt his plans had become. “Whoever is found guilty will be killed.”
“You can’t be serious!” Councilwoman Naji shouts, her fingers curling around the iron bars. “You cannot expect us to simplywaithere while you go on a suicide mission to save a woman who does not need saving!” Her chest heaves while her tears catch the light of a spelled flame. “This is madness, Prince Nox!”
“No, this is theconsequenceof the madness you created.” Pausing in the center of the aisle, I lift my arms out at my sides. “You tried to force me into submission, to create some twisted fantasy world where we can just keep to ourselves and pretend that no one outside of this border is worthy of worrying about. That line of thinking might have worked a long time ago, but it no longer rings true.”
“Your Majesty, I understand your need to punish those of us who you believe wronged you,” Councilman Arav says calmly as he sits at the back of his cell, twirling his magic over his knuckles. “But do know that some of us were fed lies by Kallin about Lady Rhea.”
Borris scoffs, banging his closed fists against the bars. “You were all too eager to believe those supposed lies, Arav.”
“Because I was told it was for the betterment of the kingdom! That sheliedabout being from Santor. That the Daxel family lost their way.” He runs a hand down his face, his magic dissipating. “I should have seen it for the farce that it was. What was your plan, Kallin? To eventually take the crown for yourself?”
“I don’t care about your bickering,” I interrupt, turning to look back at my father. “They do not leave these cells while I’m gone.”
“I will only have those I trust guarding them.”
“Thank you.”
My father smiles as he places a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm. “I’m sorry, My Son, that I did not do better as your king. That I could not have predicted how my own failures would fall to you.” I hold his gaze as I return his gesture, my opposite hand squeezing his shoulder. I can’t find it in me to refute his claims, not yet. He seems to recognize that in my gaze and offers a sad smile in return. “But I am proud of the man you have become, Nox.”
I nod in thanks, though I don’t know if I feel worthy of the sentiment. I doubt he’ll feel the same about me when he discovers Galen.
“Go on. I’ll keep things handled here until you are back. Until youbothare.” He draws me in for a hug, and then I head towards the dungeon exit.
“You’re fuckingpathetic, Daxel,” Arin seethes as I near his cell. “I hope when you find her, those pretty green eyes are lifeless.” Magic writhes along my bones, spelled flames flickering as shadows peel away from the walls. “I held her after we knocked her out.”
My eyes meet his, feral rage wrapping a fist on the air in my lungs and trapping it there. I hear my father’s voice but it’s muffled beneath the way my power rises within me.
“It wasmewho carried her to the beach, my fingers gripping her body tight enough to feel her curves. To feel the heat of her skin through that incredible dress.” He licks his lips before quirking them to the side. “Do you want to know why I’m telling you this? Of course, you do. It’s because I know that you won’t do anything, not when you’ve got a moral line to hide behind. No—”
It’s effortless, the way I command the shadows to turn into something sharp. Slicing through his neck and watching his face show the horror of what I’ve done for a split second before he tumbles forward is easier than taking my next breath. As shouts and screams filter through the chaotic haze of bloodlust that coats me, I drink it in.This is what you made me, I think to myself, but even that feels like giving them too much credit. No, I’ve always had the capacity to becomethis, I just hoped that Rhea would never have to see it.
My voice is calm as I say, “He stays here to remind the council to talk.”
Bahira is waiting for me in the foyer when I make my way back up from the dungeons, wearing her pack and idly twirling her spear as she glares at Haylee, who stands across from her. Glad to see she has her weapon again.
“I just need a few minutes to wash up and change,” I tell her, gesturing to the stairs that lead up to my rooms.
“Your Majesty, Nox, please. Can I speak with you?” Haylee asks, as she steps in front of me, laying a hand on my forearm.
