A chorus of “Yes, Your Majesty” filled the room, their gazes still downcast toward the floor.
“Let today be a lesson to you all. This war is coming, and wewillbe on the right side of it. You’re dismissed.”
The sound of feet scuffling across the floor filled the space as the men of the council rose and slipped out the door, but Daemon’s gaze was trained on his father. He hadn’t spoken to—or seen—him since their argument a few days ago, and thelastthing he’d expected was for him to barge in and have his back.
After everyone aside from his mother and father left, and as the door closed behind Lord Slater, Daemon’s brows pulled together as a tangled web of emotions ran rampant through him. He was grateful that his father had stepped in, but it didn't make sense after the conversation they’d had. Nothing seemed to make sense anymore.
Daemon scrubbed a hand down his face and blew out a short breath. “What wasthatabout?” he asked, unable to keep the sharpness from his tone.
“Daemon—” His mother’s tone was full of reproach, but his father held out a hand and gave her a gentle nod.
“It’s okay, Avyanna. He has every right to be upset with me.”
“Upset? You attempted to upheave my entire life with no regard to how it would affect me, this kingdom, or the realm!”
“You’re right.”
Shock slammed into him like a tidal wave, and Daemon couldn’t help the recoil from the words. “What?”
“I said, you’re right, son, about everything. I shouldn’t have let her manipulate me. Shouldn’t have agreed to that asinine marriage. I struck when I should have stayed my hand. If I had known—” King Evander blew out a breath and sank into one of the chairs surrounding the table. “If I had known it would have escalated to…tothat. If I had known she was planning to kill Queen Adelina sooner, I would have done something to stop it. Turns out I didn’t know much at all, and for that, I am immensely sorry.”
“As much as I appreciate your words, Father. It’s not me who needs to hear them.” Daemon took a hesitant step forward and rested his hands on the back of a chair.
“I can’t change what I’ve done, Daemon. But please allow me to help remedy it. Tell me what you need me to do, what you need our kingdom to do, and I will ensure it is done.”
“How do I know you won’t run back to Davina and tell her everything that we have planned?”
As if speaking her name had summoned it, King Evander launched into a coughing fit. Queen Avyanna knelt at his side, pulling his handkerchief from his pocket and handing it to him as she rubbed soothing circles along his back. When the coughs finally subsided, his father pulled the fabric away, the white linen once again painted in crimson.
“You may not trust my motives, son. But trust me on one thing. That bitch deserves to have the wrath of the Goddess rained down on her, and if I can put even the smallest hitch in her plan, well?” A cocky smile pulled across his blood-stained lips. “Then I can die with a shred of my soul intact.”
“Father—”
“I thought I wasn’t your father anymore?” His smirk grew a fraction before another cough wracked his body. “Listen, Daemon. You’re going to be king one day, and that day may come sooner than we ever thought. And though I wish you wouldn’t, if you choose to stay mad at me and keep me at arm’s length, I would understand. But give a dying man his last wish?”
“Evander,” Queen Avyanna whimpered, her eyes turning glassy as she stared at her husband.
Daemon held his father’s gaze; the green of his eyes—once so similar to his own—were losing their vibrancy. Losing the fire that had always swirled in their depths. But there was also a glimpse of the man he once knew. The one Daemon thought he’d lost after his father bartered his only son to save his own skin.
Losing a shuddered breath, Daemon nodded. “Together, then?”
“Until the very end.”
The sun’s rays beat down against the harbor, sinking through the sweat-soaked linen of Daemon’s tunic and bathing him in a burning heat. Yet still, he worked. The rope slid through his hands in rhythmic motions as he completed the intricate loops and twists of the knot he was working on. He’d just pulled it taut when the sound of light steps and the swish of fabric reached his ears.
“Hey, little brother,” Yvaine trilled as she got closer, the chime of her bracelets ringing through the air as she waved in his direction.
Daemon stood and brought a hand to his brow to block out the blinding reflection of the sunlight bouncing off the water’s surface. “Back already?” he asked, a small smile pulling on his lips.
“It’s been four days, D.” He shrugged nonchalantly, and Yvaine’s mouth popped open. “Don’t be an ass!”
A light chuckle rumbled in his chest as he closed the distance and embraced his sister.
“Ew, D. You’re gross.” She squirmed in his arms before giving up and wrapping her own around his waist. “I knew you missed me,” she said smugly.
“Always, Vaine.” He released his hold and eyed her curiously. “So, how’d it go?”
“Can’t even give me a second to breathe first?” When Daemon gave her a bland look in response, she rolled her eyes and huffed out a breath. “Fine. Everything went well. Both Malaena and Lunaria are warded as instructed, and the Priestess’ added additional ones around the temple as well.”
